Replies

1. 
   r_ignacki | Jul 18, 2004 02:48am | #1

   When I read that it reminded me of this:

   Some time ago I had a pop-top job....older house...one activity was sistering on a couple lvl's to an existing double 2x8 beam in a cieling on the first floor...

   at the time I had this new happy-go-lucky spanish dude helping me....

   so the one day we were doing this I was called away for something else to take care of, leaving Bernardo there by himself to do this, a perfect opportunity to test this guy's skill, I explained to the boss.

   This beam went from one exterior wall , 13 or so feet to the other exterior wall, with a closet wall 2 feet before the other side, without having to tear every thing up, I told Bernardo if he could't fish the new lumber all the way to the other side, sitting on the closet wall will do, but we would have to post under it, etc .. etc.

   A little after lunch I called him to see how he was doing. He said..

   "We downt have to do any teeng to dis wall senor red, it ees a breek wall. I cut de small hole een de plaster and saw de breek inside. De closet wall ees a BREEK WALL!"

   This guy don't know what he's looking at I thought, when I got back there I peeked inside the hole(a small hole so we didn't have a large patch). Sho 'nuf, I am looking at what look's like morter oozing out from behind bricks, like when a bricklayer can't reach behind or is too lazy to strike off the joints where you can't see.

   What I'm REALLY looking at... is the scratch coat of plaster oozing past the narrow wood lath strips.  The closet wall studs were turned sideways, adding to the illusion of a solid brick wall.

   We knicknamed this guy   "Brickwall Bernardo"  after that.
2. 
   Piffin | Jul 18, 2004 03:04am | #2

   haven't really heard of that one before, but it was common in hoiuses of that vintage to daub plaster on the inside face of the sheathing between the studs to add thermal mass and to stop drafts when the wind blew. I would suppose that this builder took that idea up a notch, Fine Homebuilding and all....

    

    

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3. 
   DanH | Jul 18, 2004 04:42am | #3

   I think this is common in some other countries, though I've never heard of it here. The outside would probably have been stuccoed, I believe.

   To insulate they'll probably have to either build a stud wall against the brick (for fiberglass) or use sheet foam insulation. Probably the decision will depend a lot on how flat the brick is.

4. 
   Jaro | Jul 18, 2004 04:54am | #4

   Appreciate the replies so far.  It's definitely 'real' brick, they removed about a 5' X 5' section of plaster and lath.  Also, they'd like to install a new double hung window where there was none before.  Now what?  I know, call a contractor.  But you guys are the contractors.  Heeeelllllpp!!