Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 Sep 29, 2017 2:32 pm Hi just wondering if any one knows about bricks and mortar I am very concerned as bricks are cracking and mortar is very sandy and comes off very easily It is also very patchy in colour as we paid extra for white mortar And throughout it has smears I do know it has had 3 acid washes The house is new bricks were done November 2016 I am getting mortar testing nexteeek done Would like to hear you feed back Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Brick mortar defect 2Oct 01, 2017 9:52 am You should have checked the mortar at the brickwork stage..why didn't you? Cover before here (excuse the pun) many times To date there is no resolution on that post "You will need to get an engineer to check & verify that the brickwork "is fit for purpose as per AS3700" From the photos It appears they have used a plasticiser with a lime based mortar which will effect durability and strength. Do you have your engineering Specifications/Drawings? " BTW, The reason the brickies use both plasticizers and lime based mortar is to facilitate speed of laying Unfortunately this also damages the mechanical characteristics/properties of the mortar joint Goodluck Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Brick mortar defect 3Oct 01, 2017 10:25 am Hi Yes I am getting mortar lab testing done nextweek Would the engineer drawings state the mortar As we did upgrade to white mortar Also once brickwork was complete they then done an acid wash which we immediately noticed yellowish stained colour on the mortar We told supervisor and then they had done another 2 acid washes and an efflorescence treatment Thanks Re: Brick mortar defect 4Oct 01, 2017 11:12 am You mean to tell me you don't have the Engineering Drawings? they should be checked against whats built, the codes & Australian Standards ,etc Upgrade mortar to what M3 or M4 , are you coastal, I noticed you have a BAL rating as well? OT for what it's worth I can't stress how important structural Inspections are..yet battlers still ignore them? Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Brick mortar defect 5Oct 02, 2017 6:47 am To me, it looks like your brickwork was cleaned late and the mortar has set too hard, consequently, they used strong acid to clean bricks and the acid has caused surface pitting. That will also cause surface looseness/powdering of the mortar. It will be interesting to see your mortar test. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Brick mortar defect 7Oct 04, 2017 10:30 pm So currently I have an expert looking at all this Also you are right I will highly recommend to get private building inspection with every stage as we only got it done at the end Yes we have the bal in this estate which was an extra cost to our end Mortar got tested 3/10/17 Waiting for results Re: Brick mortar defect 8Oct 04, 2017 10:37 pm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I have attached afew other pics But also I have noticed throughout again bricks are cracking Will get pics soon when I go the the property in the next couple of days Re: Brick mortar defect 9Oct 05, 2017 9:25 am Sylve A chemical analysis of the mortar will reveal aerating agents (unfortunately this test cost thousand$) Do a thorough inspection yourself...Zoom your camera right in to the mortar..look for what appears as air bubbles HTH OT..The inconsistency in the mortar could have been picked up and the mortar rejected at the brickwork inspection stage by your own engineer. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Brick mortar defect 10Oct 05, 2017 10:17 am The additional photos you posted definitely show excessive acid etching. Your mortar test will show if it meets BCA standards. I prefer 1:1:6 mortar (cement, lime, sand) but many brickies now use plasticiser additives instead of lime. If used correctly (in accordance with manufacturers instructions) they will not adversely affect strength of the mortar, but like everything else it is up to the skill and care of the tradies on site. The bottom line is that you have cosmetically damaged mortar at the very least. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Brick mortar defect 11Oct 06, 2017 4:09 pm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Hi Here are afew more I took today I'm not an expert nor in mortar or bricks but I really feel this is very poor workmanship I have also going to the property Nextdoor which has just been built and mortar is smooth as and clean no mortar coming off just by running your finger through I am still waiting on this mortar lab testing which results should be in nextweek Thanks for your comments Re: Brick mortar defect 16Oct 06, 2017 5:31 pm sylve Do you think the acid washes could of effect the mortar strength and be causing the bricks to crack ? Are there photos of the bricks actually cracking, in the photos above the mortar joints are cracking ? It appears you have rolled joints which are generally characterised by a hard outer mortar surface. Once the acid etches the outer surface it erodes beneath the mortar should be hard and durable...not weak or flakey? Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Brick mortar defect 17Oct 06, 2017 5:39 pm Yes bricks are cracking both horizontal and diagonal and chunks on the face of bricks are missing When you running your fingers across the mortar it's sandy comes off Not only that they have fibbed to me as stated that in one off the pictures there was a massive gap blow out and supervisor stated that was mortar but the mortar testing expert told me it's not (it's very white ) The bricks have smears and some white power looking on the bricks These people are insane if they think that they will get their last payment It's just getting tiring now as this has been going on for a very long time now And they keep beating around the bush Can they fix it that's the question ..... They can't give me an answer Re: Brick mortar defect 19Oct 07, 2017 3:40 pm sylve Thanks for the update... Some builders prefer to treat clients like mushrooms Hide & keep you in the dark & feed you Cow Manure Please leave a PM if you prefer..but this information does help others Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Its the flashing and is normal. Some builders cover them up others just leave them handing. You can cover it up with an aluminium bracket or ask the builder. 7 11233 you need to understand the breakdown of warranties. 90 warranty is considered as minor defects rectification period where as the longer ones are more major/structural… 1 5339 Building Standards; Getting It Right! There doesn't look to be any rebate in the slab to prevent water from scooting under the window. AS4654 is the Australian standard to look at/refer to. They have… 1 10149 |