Marcus Read

Thank you, Joe90. Therein lies my dilemma. I am tempted by such a product due to the proximity of the sea and the sheets of rain that beat down on our house regularly. However, many people have told me never to seal period brickwork and that moisture will find its way behind and cause untold damage moreover hydraulic lime takes years to cure and the process of getting wet is part of the curing process. I am worried that a sealant might be good for the bricks but compromise the way the hydraulic lime mortar works. On the other hand, there is Joe’s 90s comment about the large number of spalled and hollow bricks. Much of this is due to the soft (red-rubber-style) nature of the bricks themselves and the birds pecking at them for their nests, but some of it must also be due to the repeated action of frost on the surface-layer during cold wet winter month, hence I am still considering the matter…

Thank you for the really interesting replies I have received to this thread. I am also interested in what SimonD has written, including the link about the Stormdry treatment which seems quite similar. But even Simon ends by cautioning whether it is worth applying this to a period property that has survived the elements for 140 years and has been built using materials that were designed to get repeatedly wet and dry. Moreover, the house despite its build-date of 1887, surprisingly has got cavity walls, so the outer skin getting wet does not seem to be causing any significant dampness indoors even in its currently dilapidated condition. Nevertheless I am still thinking about it…

Very interesting, thanks!

Thank you. These are both interesting and relevant replies. In the case of Ajn, the only thought would be it's a bit too early to know for sure. Shame you can't have two houses, one with and one without, to see. And in the case of Markc, yes, it's the freezing trapped water that is that I was warned about, but the guy assures me that this does not happen with the new, breathable treatments. I'm tempted not to treat the bricks, as it's a bit of an unknown quantity. But will keep mulling it over, till time runs out... and keep looking for answers here. Hopefully, I'll also get an answer from somebody who has used this product and has some feedback on their experience. Thanks again.

Hi there. We've bought a huge 'project' house. It's a Victorian red-brick house, which has never been repointed since the house was built in 1880. We are currently cutting out and replacing hundreds of hollow/spalled bricks, and will be repointing the house with hydraulic lime mortar. We live by the sea and the house has to endure lots of wind and rain. The bricks are red-rubber style handmade bricks and are obviously quite soft, give how many had deteriorated. Our specialist pointer has suggested we apply Remmer's microporous one-coat façade cream to the brickwork after repointing, as it's breathable and will help the bricks repel water and may inhibit further deterioration in the future. Given the huge cost of the repairs, we're obviously keen to do anything to try to make our repairs as permanent as possible. On the other hand, we have had other professionals tell us not to treat the bricks with anything, as they are are meant to get wet, and then dry out, but that a weatherproofing treatment can trap moisture inside the brick and this will actually accelerate their deterioration. Ah... says our pointer, but they're talking about older treatments, which do not breathe and that this problem does not arise with Remmer's or similar new breathable treatments. Do you have knowledge in this area, and what would you recommend? Many thanks, Marcus