Historic brick evaluation show.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Looked at a brick double wythe home from 1905 with various types of deterioration visible in the basement.
I'd like to see a NACHI.TV show on evaluation of old brick wall structures. Variations in brick manufacture, mortar mixes, construction methods and how the ways that these things have changed over the years has resulted in different types of defects.
I think this would help inspectors identify defects and describe how serious they are, whether they're likely to continue and the likely causes.
It might also help them date changes in the home structure, which can be an issue in homes over 100 years old.

Does anyone else find this stuff interesting?

Below...
Furnace and water heater vented into a chimney. Looks like it has a continuous flue, but check out the debris in the cleanout beneath the point at which the flues enter the chimney.
If it doesn't have a continuous flue and deterioration continues it could block the exhaust vent. Or the sealant could shrink and crack.
Note brick/mortar damage from window leakage. You can also see at this window one of two sewer pipes which left the home (ABS disappeared into mortar and wall). The other is the PVC pipe in the last photo (3" to 6").

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by kshepard

Looked at a brick double wythe home from 1905 with various types of deterioration visible in the basement.
I'd like to see a NACHI.TV show on evaluation of old brick wall structures. Variations in brick manufacture, mortar mixes, construction methods and how the ways that these things have changed over the years has resulted in different types of defects.
I think this would help inspectors identify defects and describe how serious they are, whether they're likely to continue and the likely causes.
It might also help them date changes in the home structure, which can be an issue in homes over 100 years old.

Does anyone else find this stuff interesting?

I do.

Below...
Furnace and water heater vented into a chimney. Looks like it has a continuous flue, but check out the debris in the cleanout beneath the point at which the flues enter the chimney.
If it doesn't have a continuous flue and deterioration continues it could block the exhaust vent. Or the sealant could shrink and crack.
Note brick/mortar damage from window leakage. You can also see at this window one of two sewer pipes which left the home (ABS disappeared into mortar and wall). The other is the PVC pipe in the last photo (3" to 6".

I think that would be a great educational idea for all Members Kenton.

Thank you for bringing it up.

Marcel

[Christopher Currins]

I'm interested. I live in a historic district. Many double and triple wall brick homes. Also many with limestone stone foundations and retaining walls.
Also with multiple chimneys.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by ccurrins

I'm interested. I live in a historic district. Many double and triple wall brick homes. Also many with limestone stone foundations and retaining walls.
Also with multiple chimneys.

Yep, a lot of the old brick homes and other buildings in Denver have stone foundations of different types although some have brick inner wythe right to grade in the basement.

This one appeared to start out as a crawlspace and then was excavated to make room for heating equipment and storage... thus, the step, so they avoided compromising the cone of compression.

[Gerry Pallotta]

The 4" duct between the gas pipe and furnace not attached to anything, what's it for? I have never come across something like it. I suspect some sort of fresh air make up or return.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by gpallotta

The 4" duct between the gas pipe and furnace not attached to anything, what's it for? I have never come across something like it. I suspect some sort of fresh air make up or return.

Looks like combustion air Gerry.

[Gerry Pallotta]

Thanks Larry.
Thought as much, but without seeing where the duct went I wasn't sure. Still I have never seen it done this way.

[Gerry Pallotta]

By the way I agree with you Kenton on the brick evaluation course.

[Bob Elliott]

Those of us working in older cities and towns have great interest in this subject Kenton.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Combustion/make up air, you guys got it.

Some fairly good basic information on brickwork can be found in the Brick Industry Association Tech Notes.

I've found a trainer on just this subject. We'll see what we can work out with him.

[Gerry Pallotta]

Thanks for the confirmation. And keep us posted.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by kshepard

Combustion/make up air, you guys got it.

Some fairly good basic information on brickwork can be found in the Brick Industry Association Tech Notes.

I've found a trainer on just this subject. We'll see what we can work out with him.

Those Tech Notes are very useful Kenton.

I found this site in your own State that apprears to have good information.
I went through it and found it pretty resoruceful.

http://www.rmmi.org/AboutUs/ColoradoBrickCouncil.asp

Marcel

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Those Tech Notes are very useful Kenton.

I found this site in your own State that apprears to have good information.
I went through it and found it pretty resoruceful.

http://www.rmmi.org/AboutUs/ColoradoBrickCouncil.asp

Marcel

That's a good one Marcel, thanks!. I'll be giving them a call tomorrow.

[mjones6]

Kenton,
Great link, But l spent 3 hrs reading all about brick and missed the Bears game.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by mjones6

Kenton,
Great link, But l spent 3 hrs reading all about brick and missed the Bears game.

I feel your pain, Mark.

Sitting here working on an IAQ course 2 blocks from Bronco stadium. I can hear the crowd cheer occasionally and hear the loudspeaker but can't make out what they're saying. Someone else has control of the TV.