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  • in reply to: Re: Re: IWI Vapour Barrier Research Experiment #38126
    Julian Williams
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      Andy

      How did the brick cream work out? I am trying to give a neighbour some guidance.

      The neighbour's house is an 1895 brick cavity wall end of terrace cottage with iron ties (gradually rusting, another story, another day). Neighbour just moved in and has a jobbing builder at work, taking some expected shortcuts. Anyway, previous owner was door-stepped in the 1970s and persuaded to take out a loan to add a thin 'protective' layer of vinyl/cement to the external face of the brickwork. Current occupying neighbour was recently also 'persuaded' by a 'specialist' firm, this time to remove the 'render' by pressure water jets mixed with sand, at a cost of 000s. Needless to say this has also 'cost' in removing both the 'render' and the first few mm of the brick surface and leaving an extremely rough finish, which I believe is now really vulnerable. I tried to attach a photo to show pre- and post- here, but could not work out how.

      Anyway the conservation area facade and half the gable end is ruined and neighbour absolutely distraught. The firm is halfway through the job and neighbour does not know whether to say 'finish' or 'go away'. Meantime builder is near end of refurb work, including 25mm Kingspan PUR on internal face of most parts of most walls. I don't think there is enough cash left to re-point in Non-Hydraulic Lime mortar then follow with a NHL render, which was my first thought for longevity of the exterior face; but perhaps this could wait for the money to appear.

      We have discussed what cold spot signs to look for at potential thermal bridge areas in case internal living conditions also start to suffer. But my heart goes out to her so for a possible idea to help the brick face be less vulnerable, I wondered what the current measured experience of a vapour-permeable and 'transparent' application (like Stormguard) is.

      I have asked around and done a bit of research but feedback appears to be 'mixed'. Some advice seems to say 'forget brick cream unless the surface is in top nick with no gaps, otherwise thisa which would negate best efforts. Before I fork out at the BRE bookshop in the hope that someone has already reached a tested conclusion, do you know – could Stormguard or similar bring a net positive influence?

      Julian

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