Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 24, 1999 10:46am | #1

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   Is this brick veneer?

   Are there any windows near the leak?

2. 
   clayb | Jun 24, 1999 11:41pm | #2

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   mark,
   1. No, seems like three course thick.
   2. No, there is a porch (second story) around the corner from the problem area, but has asphalt over the decking (plywood i guess) and seems to be well flashed at the house.

3. 
   Guest_ | Jun 25, 1999 01:31am | #3

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   Not to be a nit picker, but do you mean "three course" or 3 wythe wall? A 3 course wall would be 3 bricks high. A 3 wythe wall would be 3 bricks or about 12" thick.

   What is the condition of the mortar? Are the mortar joints raked or struck, etc?

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 25, 1999 02:23am | #4

   *Hi there,The North West Corner of the house. Seems like the prevailing wind is driving the rain into the soft joints of the mortar.Another thought would be the possibility of a cistern supply pipe being hindden in the wall cavity.Regardless, you can do a water test by setting the hose to heavy spray and direct the flow towards the corner in the same manner driving rain would hit the wall, and then you can check it out during the day, to find any leaks.Gabe

4. 
   clayb | Jun 25, 1999 03:43am | #5

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   Matt- Uh, yes three bricks thick. As for the other terms, raked and struck, I'm afraid I am not familiar with them. I'm really kind of in the dark on masonry issues on the whole, "If it ain't wood..."

   Gabe-There is a vent pipe, but it runs on the outside and comes out of the structure well below the problem area. I am going to put the hose on it though...

   Thanks everyone,
   Clay

5. 
   Guest_ | Jun 25, 1999 04:08am | #6

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   Our water main is metered. If yours is the same turn off all taps cisterns etc and check to see if the meter trips over. If it does you could have a pipe leaking in that area.
   Astruck joint is when the mortar is cut off flush with the brick. A raked joint is when the joint is raked out slightly below the face of the brick.

6. 
   clayb | Jun 25, 1999 10:27pm | #7

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   The brick is slightly raked, but that might just be because everything is so old. There is a patio with bricks loosely spaced there as well, could rain get trapped against the house and then wick up? I admit, I haven't really gone over it very well as this is a small problem in terms of what's going on in the rest of the house.Am going over this weekend and do a thorough investigation and report back with findings, that is if anybodys still interested at this point.

7. 
   Guest_ | Jun 25, 1999 11:54pm | #8

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   Clay,First thing I would do is re-check the roof, Especially any details along edge such as flashing,gutters,drip edge,and soffit and facia work.Get out a hose and work the area over pretty good.My concern is that you mentioned that the metal roof is only 5 years old and yet it has already been coated.I know very little about this particular roofing material but it doesn't seem like it should have to be coated that soon.

   Next I would check and see about the water wicking it's way up from the ground or over from a clogged or leaky downspout.I once saw a parged chimney that had water wicking a good 6-8 ft. up the side of the chimney from ground water and the base of the chimney was located inside a garage.

   I am very curious about this problem and ,sorry to say, I suspect it will be a tricky one to solve.

   Good Luck,Stephen

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 26, 1999 01:42am | #9

   *Clay:Last night I typed you a long note and then the server went down...Anyway, look at this web page:http://www.enginex.com/cdabrick/masonry.htmMy point was that if the mortar joints are in poor condition, they can, indeed emit water. Certain types of joints are more prone to this than others. The mortar joints may need to be repointed. On the other hand, as stated above, you need to locate the source of the leak(s) before starting remedial measures.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 26, 1999 09:19am | #10

   *ClayBHave you been in the attic space yet? Not looked into, but been in? My mother used to tell stories about the ghosts in the attic that scared her as she grew up in several ancient farm houses in Illinois. As she got older she found out that a couple of them had either a small tank, or pipes run back and forth in the attic for water storage (a literal "stand pipe" as she would say.)The actual water source was a windmill and the small storage would help even things out. I have no idea if this is true (in her case or in yours:) you know how those ghost stories go) But it would seem to me that there was some reason I had to here this story 50 times in my youth. Maybe it was so that I could pass it on to you! :)Scott

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 01, 1999 08:44am | #11

   *Gee, I expected at least a minor flame on this one...:). Scott

8. 
   clayb | Jul 01, 1999 09:56am | #12

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   Scott,

   Nice story, I appreciate it, however client and I have both decided to ignore wet space till a later date. Not sure if I've lived up to my Breaktime responsibilities here...

   As for the flame ask dickey, he's the major flamer around here.

9. 
   clay_b | Jul 06, 1999 06:43pm | #13

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   Back corner of three course masonry structure, five year old standing seam roof with 1/2 yr. old silver roof paint job, seeks explanation for soaking wet sheet-rock/studs in said corner on first floor. Moisture has touched second story joists (water stains out from wall two feet), but not for a while (all is dry and well). Exterior brick has that glumpy paint some fools feel is necessary to put on brick, which is peeling somewhat 12 ft. up, but the paint doesn't seem thick enough to hold and divert water back inside two or three bricks (like the standard stucco scenario). Nothing really outside, like a bunch of trees or anything, corner has northwest exposure and is about sixteen feet away in both directions from two houses. The only thing is, the brick is from 1877, BUT this is the only water damage throughout the entire house that is not directly attributable to a leaky roof. Have advised the client to leave open and air out and wait for the REALLY BIG RAIN to watch what happens. Oh, yeah, also no plumbing within yards of problem area, in or out.