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Windows & Door fitting

Loose bricks at top of window alcove

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.33 PM

I have just purchased a 1978 british house built by Barratt Homes and discovered something which didn't come up in the survey. There was a long crack in the plaster above the bathroom window (inside) and noticed that the plastic fascia at the top of the window was bowing. After prodding it a bit, it was clear that everything behind had was loose and disintegrated. So I hacked off the plaster (Which came off like sand) and the cement behind, to reveal a concrete ledge and a row of bricks. The bricks are completely loose and could just be pulled straight out. Is this a serious issue which requires a builder, or can I get away with re-pointing the bricks and putting up some plasterboard? I'm really not sure what's supposed to be holding up the bricks to be honest, apart from this piece of concrete which covers about a third of the depth, and the now disintegrated concrete. I would post pictures but I'm not sure this site allows. Any advice would be appreciated.

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4 Answers

Anonymous user

I would get rid of concrete lintel and replace with steel and cover with 18” cavity tray and out weep vents on external brickwork just to let any water out that may be causing damp hope this helps j&g building paving landscaping ltd
Answered8 December 2017
1

Amvic Roofing Construction

Rating: 5 out of 5
Feltham
Surely you need a specialist to see what is the problem...
Answered14 December 2017
1

RAM Repairs

Rating: 5 out of 5
Maidstone
Hi All loose bricks should be removed and layed back with new mortar. In order to achieve a firmness to the brick wall which had this type of issues you can either do eml and render to hold it togheter or better heli bars. Re-pointing is good to prevent water ingress and makes the wall look better..thats all and in your case this doesn't apply . Hope this helps
Answered8 December 2017
0

Anonymous user

You need to remove the concrete lintel and replace with a new catnic lintel fitting a cavity tray and weep holes that’s why water is getting in job is a must problem wont go away
Answered16 January 2018
0