Constantly wet bricks on external wall under window ledge - much worse after rain

i would advise that the damp patch below the window cill.that all the bricks smould be replaced with matching new ones , and also fitt a tray, between outer leaf and inner leaf off off wall + clean cavity out off any debrie , rewall new bricks and treat with silicone clear waterproofeR and repoint new area thats been walled regards D&D BUILDERS........ DAVID

Hi wjlon85 Sorry to hear about your damp problem, I will try to help as much as I can. From what you have said my suspicion is that the drip (which is the groove on the underside of your window sill) is not there or full of paint or has spalled away so no longer doing its job. When rainwater lands on your sill it runs over the edge and then back underneath towards the brickwork, this is stopped by the drip because water cannot jump across the min 5mm gap that the drip provides. If the drip is not there or full of paint or debris then the rainwater will pass across and soak the brick. If the brickwork directly under the sill has areas of missing pointing then this becomes a trap for water or a ledge for it to sit and collect on, making your problem worse. Oh whilst I remember, I think it very unlikely that your house has lime mortar. Unfortunately I can't see any photos but happy to look if you want to send them to me. Actions 1, check the drip, remove paint or debris and clean out. If spalled away and there is no drip there another one can be cut in assuming the overlap of the sill is big enough. 2, Repoint any areas where the existing is missing. This means raking out the existing to a depth of 10mm (anything less will fall out over time). Cement mortar is fine as long as you have the depth even if in the unlikely case of having lime mortar. 3, Make a cup of tea and wait. Though I should warn you that a saturated brick takes about a month an inch to dry out. Unless the bricks crumble easily there is no point in replacing them as they will dry out once the cause has been fixed. Best of luck and please let me know if you have more questions. Thanks IPS

Sounds like you need to repoint the mortar joints. Mortar represents almost 15% of your home so it needs to be up to scratch! Even though bricks are solid they will still soak up water of the mortar is in poor condition. Ensure no water penetration is making its was from the sill to the brickwork, hack out existing mortar and repoint using probably a lime based mortar (would have to see it first). Then and only If nessecary paint bricks with clear sealant. New pointing will also improve the look of your home as well as ensuring no water penetration. Best regards - Jas (Littlefields)

I’m afraid I don’t agree that you need to replace the bricks below your windowsill. You may have to replace some bricks if they are frost damage or blown. It sounds more like the windowsill itself is redirecting the water onto the face of the bricks so that could be an issue. And the pointing between the bricks may need replacing/re-pointing. There is no point in putting a cavity tray Cause cavity trays go above a window. Water can only come from above i.e. a broken gutter or windowsill redirecting it. From below via rising damp. Or blown in when it is raining onto the face of the Brick. I would say your windowsill is redirecting the water onto the face of the wall. And the pointing may need replacing which would be allowing the water to penetrate the wall.