Is it normal for there to be small pockets in mortar post brick cleaning?
This is where the mortar hasn't been mixed properly and small clumps of sand are washed out, as shown.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff151/melbournelyn/mortar1.jpg
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff151/melbournelyn/mortar2.jpg
Bricks are Austral Renovation Red, wouldn't recommend now they come out of Craigieburn - not enough of the darker colour variation that they used to have. Whole house looks orange!
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Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Pockets in Mortar post brick cleaning 3Nov 12, 2007 7:34 am Quote: Spiders have to live somewhere. 
And apart from the spiders homes, I'd say they used the wrong grade of sand or it got contaminated as I would not expect that many rocks to be pulled out during the cleaning phase. Steve Re: Pockets in Mortar post brick cleaning 4Nov 12, 2007 9:25 am Also known as mortar blowout.
The divots are ok. The holes are not and will need to be filled up to meet aussie standards. Talk to your builder.
They will fix it up!  10 Jun 2007 513 Outer Melbourne Gold Member Re: Pockets in Mortar post brick cleaning 6Nov 12, 2007 11:47 am  Yak_ChatQuote: Spiders have to live somewhere. And apart from the spiders homes, I'd say they used the wrong grade of sand or it got contaminated as I would not expect that many rocks to be pulled out during the cleaning phase. Steve Wrong grade of sand alright - it was RED (our contact specified yellow). 
Wildlife are fine ... just not in the walls!! Matt, what is the scientific difference between a divot and a hole? There are only a few sections of wall that are like this, but it is really noticeable. Thanks for your suggestions, we will discuss it with the site supervisor and start a spider breeding program! Re: Pockets in Mortar post brick cleaning 7Nov 12, 2007 11:57 am  Lyn Yak_ChatMatt, what is the scientific difference between a divot and a hole? LOL Nothing scientific....just ask a golfer!! A whole is where you can see through to the inside of the house (ie the silver paper) and this needs to be filled up. The divots are ok but if they are going to mix a batch of mortar to fix the holes get them to fix the big divots as well. Shouldn't be a major issue I'd have thought. Raking the mortar out to 25mm and repointing is best but this might be met with resistance from your builder. Do you have an independent building consultant who has… 3 631  Building Standards; Getting It Right! Here is info on and some Dos and Don'ts Do check the mortar composition and if any additives are added then don't use a water pressure cleaner You will probably have to… 1 725  Building Standards; Getting It Right! Thanks for the reply! In NSW it's seven years but the builder says this is not structural. 2 1308 |
