Old bricks to be cleaned in the ground for more thann6 months
Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 2.50 PM
8 foot 15 m Georgian Old brick wall fell due to high winds would like them cleaned of lime mortar and re used to build the 8 foot wall most of the bricks are okay some of them are getting damaged. My builder is saying he can't use them after agreeing to it initially what should I do it is a pity to just skip some 3000 bricks/copings which are about 200 yrs old and was a feature
1 can the bricks be reused even if the builder is saying that he can't use them for the fear that the wall will get damaged is this a fact or is he pulling a fast one as the work involved is a bit more than he thought m
2 should I go to another builder or would it be the same will have to say here that my neighbour whose wall is an extension of mine has used the old bricks
Though he got the bricks cleaned soon after they fell
Very stressed about the whole issue please help
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
The second hand old bricks are perfect to use! We build chimney with reclaimed bricks often! Do not get rid off them if you do decide to go with a new brick as if there as old as you say they are will be worth £ I'm sure there will be many companies willing to use the old ones try someone else.
Answered9 June 2017
2
Anonymous user
This is a difficult one if the bricks are georgian you would really struggle to get a match for them if you had to replace a section in modern bricks as the old ones will be imperial 3""x9" even if you could get a matching modern brick you can,t get the guage to marry up with any existing.I very much doubt you could replace the copings it is wether you have enough whole bricks to rebuild the whole wall cleaning them is a simple enough process if very time consuming lime mortar can be rubbed of with a brick hammer and stiff brush usually leaving it looking reasonable if not brand new.The real problem is the quantities the wall measures 36m2 in 9" work that is 4,367 bricks unless there are any butresses or piers!
You would need all of the copings to finish the wall as it was.modern bricks do not merge into imperial as i said its hard to give a difinative answer without seeing whats left of the existing wall.
It may be that your builder realised the difficulty in sourcing old bricks to replace any that are broken or missing!
It is possible to build a composit wall with one skin in origenal and the other with a modern equivelant but you would still find it hard to match the coping with the modern.
The old bricks should be fine , if it was built with lime mortar they should clean up really easy.
Yes it can be a pain trying to match up any required for the damaged one but just takes a little bit of legwork.
Think your builder is just looking for the easy option.
Good luck alex
Answered9 June 2017
1
Anonymous user
What ever you decide don't let the bricks be thrown away if they are 200 yrs
old then am I right in saying they are roughly 2" high if so they are worth a minimum of £1.00 each
Answered10 June 2017
1
Anonymous user
Hello
Are the bricks damaged? Are they showing signs of cracking on the face?
If say 1500 are reusable but you need 3000 then obviously there is a major issue. As other builders have mentioned getting a match will be difficult.
Personally If I couldn't get a match I too would suggest starting again with a different brick rather than it looking like a patchwork quilt.
If you can get some pictures of the brick face an answer would be easier.
