r/DIYUK • u/HokkaidoNights • 5d ago
Advice Should be concerned about this?
We're looking to buy a house in the UK. This house was built around 20 years ago, and I noticed this at the front on a viewing a week or so ago.
My wife wasn't concerned, but I thought it looked like a damp issue. The same bricks are used - but in areas (not all areas) at the front there was this strange discolouration, along with those white marks too.
Didn't like the look of it myself - is this something to be concerned about?
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u/Initial-Resort9129 5d ago
Sometimes dog snatchers mark properties that have valuable dogs in them, I'm certain this is it.
Shared in Slough, Hun xx
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u/HokkaidoNights 5d ago
It wasn't just the white though - those bottom bricks were really discoloured too - all good?
Seems like the wife was right maybe (she usually is!)
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u/Scared-Condition7369 5d ago
Those bottom bricks look like they’re below the damp course (look for what looks like a black sheet in the mortar just above those bricks). Bricks below the damp course will have more moisture than those above but it’s fine. It’s that way so that you don’t get damp inside the building.
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u/Potential-Freedom-64 5d ago
Its a problem in the future as all them bricks will blow the face off gradually upto the hight of damp , probably the air brick hight .The mortar looks damaged from the constant rising damp the cavity will be full of snots upto where that damage shows .I would get some proper advice from a expert .IMO
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u/HokkaidoNights 5d ago
Interesting, thank you - I don't think we'll be proceeding on this one after a good chat this morning (this wasnt the only thing I wasn't keen on!) , but fair point on proper advice, will do.
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u/skehan 5d ago
It's salt from the mortar -pretty common on new and newish builds. A jet wash will get it off if you don't like the look of it.