Plastering & Rendering

Advice about repairing crumbling exterior brickwork needed

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.13 PM

The brickwork around the porch area (not really a porch, more of an alcove) of my flat has deteriorated badly. A number of the bricks have crumbled and developed holes. I've had one builder advise me on what needs doing, and he seemed like he knew what he was talking about. He advised that the most cost effective - if not pretty - solution was to hack off the damaged surface of the bricks and render over them on the inside area that's not so visible (approximately 0.5m x 2m) using pva sealer, applying a scratch coat (using 3 parts soft sand to one part cement mortar) then a float with waterproofing. For the more visible area he advised cutting back the damaged bricks (there are only 3 or 4) and fixing new bricks over the top of them with resin, then repointing. He's estimated this can all be done in a day, and quoted £445 including labour and materials (repainting to be done separately). I don't know if this cost is reasonable or not, or whether I should get more quotes. Advice would be appreciated!