FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you’re confronted with dampness and timber problems for the first time, remember that many other home owners will probably have had to deal with them as well, so here’s how you can benefit from their experience – by browsing through the questions we are most frequently asked.

If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, then go to our ‘Ask the Experts’ page and let us help you on a one-to-one basis.

How does Peter Cox isolate old fish tail ties? My mortar bed is about 10 mm thick

Because they will continue to corrode, old ties need to be either removed or isolated from further exposure to water and air. Physical removal usuallyÿinvolves taking out bricks which makes it a disruptive and more costly approach.

If the ties are heavily corroded, it is sometimes feasible to snap off the end of the tie in the outer leaf which is the section most susceptible to corrosion.

The alternative, andÿmore commonly adopted, solution is isolation. This involvesÿraking outÿthe mortar joint thoroughly to expose both sides of the tie and then either sliding a greased plastic sleeve over the tie or using polyurethane foam to encapsulate it.

The joint is then repointed, taking care to match the existing mortar as far as possible (although this is often difficult). It is much easier if the wall is being re-rendered.