We are looking at an in ground, indoor swim spa. It has a roller cover so will be covered 95% of the time. 8mx3m in a 10mx5m room. Two of the walls are pretty much glazing and the other 10m wall we are thinking of doing the internal skin in face brick and then just leaving it exposed as a feature. It’s a cavity wall with outer brick, 200mm beads and then inner brick. 
 

we will manage the humidity in this room using mvhr, but it will naturally be more humid than normal. Would it be advisable to seal the bricks internally, can they be left as is?  My simple brain says ‘well bricks outside are left exposed’ but not at the humidity levels experienced here. Anything to consider with the mortar or anything over many years?

Anyone?

IANAL but the chlorine and water chemicals staining the bricks would be be a greater concern based on what I've seen spillages do to paving slabs. That and the porus nature of them. I wouldn't be comfortable relying on some aftermarket sealer as a perm solution.

 

Considered shower type tiles as a feature wall instead?

5 minutes ago, SBMS said:

Anyone?

This is what happens when it's your round but you get picked up early by the missus mate  

 

So, as it's a pool / spa, the chemical levels should only be a bit higher than you'd find in drinking water from the street (in the real, sane world) so no need to worry about the walls getting chewed out by high levels of chlorine.

 

In an ideal world the pool hall should be at a slight deficit, pumping air out to atmosphere faster than it sucks it in, that is so the humidity isn't routinely looking for an escape route into all the nooks & crannies of the fabric of the build. Have you got an airtight(ish at least) door pencilled in for between the pool hall and the rest of the domestic residence? These should, very much, be two separated envelopes.

 

 

Crossed post with @Andehh, so please don't think I was quoting and commenting from your post.

19 minutes ago, Andehh said:

IANAL but the chlorine and water chemicals staining the bricks would be be a greater concern based on what I've seen spillages do to paving slabs. That and the porus nature of them. I wouldn't be comfortable relying on some aftermarket sealer as a perm solution.

 

Considered shower type tiles as a feature wall instead?

Thanks -the pool has very marginal chemical levels as it has a uv and sand filter so may only need small chemical treatment. I was more concerned with the humidity level affecting the bricks… I guess if it does become an issue I could tile over the bricks??

Edited March 19, 20251 yr by SBMS