How to repair external render at foot of building

[les_danger]

Area by the corner of the house by the doorstep has gone, what should I use to fill it in? I'll clear the vegetation out beforehand obviously!

If it makes any difference, it's a solid wall and this bit will be in front of a suspended timber floor. Any help much appreciated, the more detail the better.

 

[Wayners]

Need some drainage along the ground against wall. Don't think you should have cement render along as that will trap moisture.
Bricks need to be replaced and with lime mortar.
Be worth getting a survey with a written spec to put right.

 

[JohnD]

It is a plinth, applied to hide (it does not cure) damp

Actually it makes it worse.

Where is the DPC?

How old is the house?

 

[les_danger]

Thanks John. Plinth, that was the word i was looking for!

Yes, old house probs 1880s/90s. I can't see an obvious DPC running through it* but then i'm no expert. No signs of damp on the inside of the main house mind, but there is at the back near the kitchen.


*Actually i'll have a dig around that black part next time i'm there.

 

[JohnD]

The damp often occurs when the ground or paving has been raised since the house was built. Lime mortar does not resist damp well. It will be worse if there is a leaking drain or downpipe nearby. You will probably need to dig a bit for a proper repair.

In London, DPC has been compulsory for 149 years. Other towns and cities brought in similar regulations. It is most often slate. In some cases dark blue or red, very dense, bricks were used.

 

[ree]

OP,
Why not post pics showing much more of the brickwork & pointing around the front doorway, & a pic of the plinth as it returns?
Pics of the rear, inside & outside, where damp is present would also help.
Given you have a suspended floor, & a solid wall then the joist tails under the floor would need investigating?
Are any air bricks present around the house?

Remove the all the plinth completely - all around the house.
The pointing needs grinding out to a 25mm depth, & re-pointing with sand & lime.
All damaged bricks need replacing - the corner might be tricky for a DIY'er so you may as well use a brickie for all pointing & replacement brickwork?
There's no indication of a raised ground level.

 

[les_danger]

OP,
Why not post pics showing much more of the brickwork & pointing around the front doorway, & a pic of the plinth as it returns?
Pics of the rear, inside & outside, where damp is present would also help.
Given you have a suspended floor, & a solid wall then the joist tails under the floor would need investigating?
Are any air bricks present around the house?

Remove the all the plinth completely - all around the house.
The pointing needs grinding out to a 25mm depth, & re-pointing with sand & lime.
All damaged bricks need replacing - the corner might be tricky for a DIY'er so you may as well use a brickie for all pointing & replacement brickwork?
There's no indication of a raised ground level.

Thanks ree, yes I'm planning on getting it repointed once the weather permits. Was on the fence about trying to do it myself as not only is the amount vast but also not sure my finish would be up to much as a DIY'er. I'll try and get more pics when I'm back there. I think the damp in the rear is more to do with other issues, this is the only bit where the plinth has come away. And yes there are air bricks all around the house where there are suspended floors.