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