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Is moisture in brick wall normal?

Water in exterior, where brick layer stands out, on level of ground floor. Shown photos as I walk past the wall and stop to look at each hole full of water.

It is in this half of building, in the other half the same kind of holes are not full of water.

I am renting, just would like to know whether this looks normal - if not, then what is the name for it, both for this kind of structures and this kind of water accumulation. This would help me report it to the landlord or strata, if needed.

Thanks

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EricL

Hello @st22

Thank you for sharing your question about the moisture coming out of your brick wall. When moisture forms on the front side of the bricks, it is an indication that waterproofing was not applied behind it. This means that any moisture trapped in the soil behind the wall is flowing through the brick giving it that constant wet look.

It can also be a leak in the plumbing and waters passing through the brick seeking escape. But if it is this serious, it would have to be a very significant leak to make the entire wall wet.

It becomes a hazard if you have to walk on it because if it is constantly wet, moss and mould will form on it making it very slippery. It will eventually damage the brick wall but it will take a long time before it becomes structurally dangerous. In the interest of safety, I recommend informing the strata management to make sure they are aware of this issue.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

st22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/20399#Comment_20399

Hi @EricL

It's a vertical building wall, no walking on it involved.

Someone mentioned to me about weep holes, here is a diagram how building looks like. Hope it helps.

I will inform the strata about it and get back to you about their findings.

Meanwhile if you have any additional tips or advice, it would be most welcome, as I am interested in knowing what is going on too.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/72917#Comment_72917

Hello @st22

Thank you very much for that excellent diagram of your building. I suspect that this is not the first time that this water issue on the bricks has been encountered. If holes were drilled into the wall their obvious purpose would be to help water pass through more quickly.

Generally, in order to stop the water from passing through the bricks, the soil behind the brick wall would have to be dug up. The rear face of the brick wall would need to be sealed with waterproofing. An agi-drain hose would be placed along the bottom of the brick wall to divert the accumulated water out into the drain.

However, because the wall has been soaked for quite some time, it will probably take a while before the entire brick wall dries up again.

Eric

st22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/99875#Comment_99875

Hi again @EricL Thank you for your response. Could you please upload a diagram to illustrate your note about water proofing the brick wall - I have trouble following starting from "rear face of the brick wall" - is this the side of brick wall that faces the interior, like garage or apartment - if so, then what is it made of and where would the drain hose go and where would the water go then? Many thanks!

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/116781#Comment_116781

Hi @st22

I've placed a general diagram of what it could look like. This is the common fix applied when water is permeating the brick wall. Accessibility and cost are usually the two factors that need to be considered when considering this kind of repair.

If you have any other questions, please let us know.

Eric

st22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126496#Comment_126496

Hi @EricL Thank you for the clarification

The other side of the wall is not soil, it is interior - garage. attached diagram of view of the building from the back, rather than from the side

Drawing(1).jpeg

1) as the brick wall does not side with soil on that level (marked with green arrow) does it mean waterproofing of the brick wall does not matter?

2) what's the purpose of weeps - there is a dozen of them at bottom of L1 - as if water ever enters a brick wall i.e. L1 and above - seems it does enter and the purpose of weeps is to remove the water - how does this water enter the brick wall?

3.1) I agree the drain pipe or its outlet being blocked could be a problem. does it usually finish above the ground or is it usually underground? I think there is a blocked drain in backyard, I will need to also send a note of it to strata

3.2) is this drain pipe for brick wall located below soil level, or above soil level?

thanks

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132963#Comment_132963

Hi @st22,

It's hard to tell where the water might be coming from. If this issue is only prevalent after heavy rain, then it's likely that ground water is seeping out of the foundations. I have a similar problem at my house. I'm on a slope, and water gets under the house and weeps out through the lowest brick wall.

Mitchell

st22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136948#Comment_136948

is it normal for such a double brick wall to have condensation on the inner side facing the interior - in the mornings - on walls which are facing the street only, not on common walls? or is it also a symptom of a structural problem? (this condensation results in mould when furniture is standing next to the wall, this didn't happen before)

the wall is painted on the inside and on top of this paint there is mould. easy to remove and i will need to move furniture, but if it's structural problem then i will need to clearly write about that to the agent

many thanks

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139700#Comment_139700

Hi @st22,

Are you referring to the same wall as the above images but on the other side or a completely different wall? Either way, I wouldn't call it normal to have condensation on an internal wall. If this space is open to the outside and elements, it could be water in the air condensing on the wall in the mornings.

I couldn't say whether this is an indication of a structural issue. However, if this is an undercover car park exposed to the elements, then it's pretty standard for condensation to form once warm air in the morning hits a cold surface and reaches its dew-point.

Mitchell

st22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141571#Comment_141571

It is a wall in a room on the second floor. Not the same wall as initially pictured, just it is the same building, so the same structural problems.

This room has two open windows, and no leaks, be that in windows, ceilings, or otherwise.

In the mornings I find the inner sides of some walls are covered with a thin layer of water. This also includes windows. On the inner side in a room where people live.

I would think it common for windows as the air is warm inside and it condensates when it approaches a cold surface.

But water on the inside of a double brick wall...? It is cold to touch too. This is strange to me. I thought bricks are good insulators.

Thank you for your advice in advance.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142974#Comment_142974

As you've mentioned @st22, condensation on windows happens regularly in bedrooms. It's a little unusual to see condensation on walls, but it doesn't particularly surprise me.

To verify whether it's condensation produced by the occupants or moisture transferring out from within the wall, check the wall at other times throughout the day. If you find moisture on the wall, say at 6 pm, and no one has been in the room all day, that could indicate other issues.

Mitchell

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142974#Comment_142974

Hi @st22 I've been following this conversation with interest...

Given all these strange water problems, I am wondering if there is a pipe or gutter leaking from above. This could cause the bricks to become saturated, which could show as a coating of moisture on the walls. The fact that it feels colder on an inside wall rather than similar to the inside air temp, suggests to me that an external source (ie a leak) is at work here. I'd recommend getting that possibility checked out.

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