Pith · Planning library
Understand what you can see
Start with a careful record of the wall, without disturbing it. These guides help you describe visible conditions so an assessment can focus on the right questions; photographs alone do not establish a cause or structural condition.
Brick repair & replacement
Cracked bricks or cracked mortar joints
A crack through a brick and a crack following the joints are different observations. Record the pattern before deciding that either one needs only a surface patch.
Read the guideFlaking brick faces
A flaking face can leave loose fragments and an uneven wall surface. The useful first step is to record which bricks are affected and where they sit on the building.
Read the guideLoose masonry and safe observation
Visible loose or displaced masonry deserves a cautious response. A better photograph is not worth standing beneath material that may fall or touching it to test movement.
Read the guideRecurring damage beside an old repair
When cracking or deterioration returns next to a patch, the history of that repair becomes important. A new surface treatment may not address the reason it returned.
Read the guideWhite deposits on exterior brickwork
White marks are an observation to document, not enough information to prescribe cleaning or repair. Their timing and position can help an assessor decide what to investigate.
Read the guideDocumenting a changing wall crack
A dated record can help explain whether a crack appears to be changing. It does not replace an assessment or justify delaying action where movement or loose material is apparent.
Read the guideDamage near the base of a brick wall
Lower wall damage is easier to understand when the ground and surrounding features are visible. A close-up of a single brick can omit the context needed for assessment.
Read the guideBrickwork around a leaking opening
Water visible inside near a window does not automatically mean the brick directly outside is the only cause. Show the full opening and explain the history.
Read the guideMake a more informed plan
Understand your repair.
Explore the decisions that shape your brick repair, from the first observations to the final details.