Mike66

Hi, it is definitely the bricks that are wet. And the property is 1970s and there is a cavity wall that is filled with a foam type substance. And yes, the top photo is before I decided to take the concrete up. I have attached another photo that shows the underneath bricks with a fair bit of mortar missing.

I was concerned about a gap that had formed between my concrete path and the wall of my house. Over time the path has sunk and now slopes toward the house, so during rainfall I was worried that water might be running into the gap and potentially causing damage to the brickwork or leading to damp issues inside. (This was checked and no internal damp problems were found.) To address this, I cut a channel and will be installing channel drains. Since doing this, I’ve noticed something unexpected: after rain, the bricks in that area are now becoming very wet, seemingly through capillary action. This never happened before, even when water was running straight down the gap. I’ve now realised that the bricks below the original pathway level are exposed, and quite a lot of the mortar has come out of those joints. Could this be the reason the bricks are now getting so damp (as shown in the picture)? I assumed installing a drainage channel would improve things, but it seems to have made the wall wetter. Any ideas why this might be happening? And do you think I am doing the right thing by installing the channel drains? Thanks in advance.

Hi Russell, thanks for the advice. Is this similar to a French gulley? Also, from what you’ve said, do you think the rain draining down the gap so far wouldn’t have caused any damage to the bricks or foundations? Thanks again.

Hi everyone, I’d appreciate some advice about a gap between my concrete path and the brick wall of my 55-year-old bungalow. The path slopes towards the wall, so rainwater flows into the gap and has likely eroded the pointing over time. I’ve checked thoroughly—no cracks, no internal damp, and no history of subsidence or settlement. Can this gap be sealed safely without causing trapped moisture, and what products or methods would you recommend? Could this water ingress have caused hidden damage below ground, and is there any way to check? Finally, would sealing alone be enough, or is re-grading the slope or installing a drain strip essential to prevent future problems? Photos attached. Thanks in advance for any help.