Question

Any tips on what to use to clean the last 2 rows of our brickwork, and what causes it? Its green and white along the bottom of the back of our house.  

Answer 1

Looks like it’s damp, the thin black strip in the joint above is the damp proof course. When it rains does the water collect along the side of the house there? The slabs are laid to the regulation height against the house but from your picture looks like they slope towards the house hence causing your issue.  

Answer 2

Try a pressure wash

Answer 3

I use algon it's also pet friendly. Google it

Answer 4

Until you stop the water puddling against that wall there's not a lot you can do.  

Answer 5

Brick acid

Answer 6

All those circle marks in bricks , indicate there’s been work done . cavity wall insulation may be ? Is the house bought or rented ?  

Comments

@concession it’s a damp proof injection cavity wall insulation is installed with different drill patterns all over the property

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@hilburn have your neighbours had it done too ? If so check their walls

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@concession it’s not my post just saying it’s not cavity insulation

Answer 7

Lime in brick and cement ' long handle d scrubbing brush

Answer 8

That's due to damp, and I would guess it's because the fall of the paving next to it is running in towards it. You have an injected damp course which protects the brickwork above, but anything below will be rotting and crumbling, and needs to be repointed really. Best opening gambit is to put a small drain in or drop the paving at the other side so the water runs away from the house. The brickwork can be cleaned with a power washer but be careful as it looks like you have the old lime-based mortar and it will be very crumbly. With no intervention it could cause problems inside, especially if you have a suspended floor (which I think you have, looking at the pics); the damp gets in and rots the end of the joists Hope this helps  

Answer 9

We have bought the house back in july. The garden does flood but doesn't come that much to the house as there is drains either side. We are planning on doing proper drainage to help the flooding on the patio as it streams off the grass. All new to this. Thank you for your help.  

Answer 10

Full picture if this helps more.  

Comments

Yes looks like it's from paving. As a temporary fix you could just dig a little trench at the edge of the paving, drop a few narrow drains in there, and have them run off into a soak-away (basically a hole full of pea gravel. Nice sized garden by the way!  

Answer 11

Looks like you had a rising damp issue and the patio isn’t helping being tight against the wall need a french drain or a aco drain tight against the wall to help take the water away

Answer 12

Wire brush and bleach

Answer 13

You could try sealing the bricks in the short term, paint on sealant but it wont last forever

Comments

Don't seal the bricks they are doing their job the 2 course below the damp proof membrane have water in them sealing them will stop them drying out could give long term problems in future pressure wash off the efflorecense will go in time when the salts have all "washed " out of the brick. Brick acid is good too.  

Answer 14

Right I'm a bricklayer this is salts in the brickwork its stopping when it reaches your dpc so nothing to worry about just try power washing it and it'll go in time

Comments

@headstone13 thank you

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Finally a proper answer from a tradesman and not a facebook diy'er

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@occupant5443 thanks pal

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@altruistic74252 you're welcome

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Was hoping someone was going to speak some sense. The good news is that the injected DPC is doings it’s job.  

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Im just so glad its nothing serious and appreciate everyones help. We have had nothing but problems with the house so i was dreading the comments. Some good news at last  Thank you. Currently power washing it.  

Answer 15

Problem with terraced houses is where to drain the water. My old house the garden was descending towards the house so drainage was similar you yours. All the neighbours have similar problem and ideas, drain it towards my neighbours house  

Answer 16

Mines all same on outside higher than that tho is also on inside to in kitchen risen above worktop now, rented property.  

Answer 17

I just power washed mine last year and painted the first two bricks brown looked good

Comments

@breastwork can I have a pic off it painted

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@wiltz79 @kordofan I will get a better pic later but not sure if you can see on this one - the bottom two bricks are painted brown same colour as drain pipe

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@breastwork looks good I'll be doing mine grey

Answer 18

Power wash it. Give it some brick acid if not totally clean then brush with some Thompson's water seal

Answer 19

You need a gravel drain around the edge of the patio as it’s where your water travels too along with any treatment that is used to clean the patio. Either that or narrow drain tubes going to a soak away pit.  

Answer 20

Power washing

Answer 21

Hi I jet wash mine yesterday day

Answer 22

I use wire brush on mine quick and easy

Answer 23

Damp of the rain and I also have a leaky gutter, that’s next on the list to fix try and keep on top of it building up again, I just used a jet wash

Answer 24

Jet wash it off. It's normal to get some raising damp up to the damp course.  

Answer 25

First question i would ask . is the water build up because the paving slopes towards the wall. poor a bucket of water away from the wall and see where it runs of. if towards it, then you might need some kind of drain installing along it and then draining away from the wall. or even a gap cut out filled with gravel to take water away