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.

Don’t seal it, leave it alone, the incorrect bricks have been used below dpc, nothing you can do about that, so you need to stop moisture building up against the wall. 
 

if you want a better fix you need to cut the path back by 100mm and fill the gap with free draining gravel. 
but that’s loads of agro unless your super keen and actually have a damp problem. 

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.

I doubt it's caused damage to the foundations but you can see the brick or mortar are leeching salts (the white powder) which is normally exacerbated by damp. Damp bricks can spall (bits flake off) when the water freezes. However they don't look too bad for their age. I wonder if the path is a lot newer?

 

Yes what @Russell griffiths suggest is essentially a French drain. If really keen you can drop some perforated pipe into the gravel and lead the water away to a soakaway or a drain if they allow combined sewers in your area. 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 29, 20251 yr by Temp

As @Russell griffiths says cut back the tar and replace with gravel. Gravel has a couple of advantages, its freely draining, and when raining helps stop water splashing up the walls. So a win win. Downside you may have a few weeds to pull out.

 

Or ignore it.