Gap between extension wall and side passage - how best to treat?

Dinarius

Gaps between our side passage and our extension (white wall in photos) have appeared over time.

How damaging could water be in these gaps?

What's the simplest DIY approach to treating this, or do I need major work on the passageway?

Thanks.

D.

passageway 1.jpg

Passageway 2.jpg

Passageway 3.jpg

Passageway 4.jpg

The Continental Op

That "should" be down below your damp proof course in the wall so it could flood there for a bit and not cause damp in the house.

If you want to you can fill with some form of cement mix or even mastic. Something that might be ideal in this situation (don't know about colour?) https://www.screwfix.ie/p/no-nonsense-mortar-repair-grey-310ml/361JP don't for get to get a mastic gun to apply it https://www.screwfix.ie/p/no-nonsense-sealant-gun/988hp

The wood you can see is probably the shuttering for your foundations and as it rots you may get more gaps.

Dinarius

Yes, I think it's below the DPC.

We've never had an issue with it.

It's just unsightly and I'd like to try and treat it.

Thanks.

D.

phormium

I have gaps like that all along back of house between path and plinth, annoys the hell out of me! I brushed in a load of dry sand/cement mix until gap filled but it was surprising how much it took! I did use sealant as suggested on another bit but as it's in full sun I think that just degraded over time and pulled away and looked even worse, might be fine in shade.

That should be well below damp course and in my case anyway it's just where the path has pulled away slightly from the house.

The Continental Op

+1 on brushing a dry sand/cement mix into the gap until its filled.

Dinarius

When you saying brushing dry sand/cement into the gap.......

1. Is it that rain water seeping into the gap on top of it then hardens it?
2. Is it possible to buy pre-mixed dry sand/cement mix? Or, do you have to mix it yourself?

A couple of the gaps I'm dealing with are too big to fix with tubes of cement, so your solution sounds better.

Thanks for any clarification.

D.

The Continental Op

https://www.mcmahons.ie/sand-and-cement-mortar-mix-standard-bag

You can water if after brushing it in if you like, but I'd just leave it because it will absorb water from the stonework around it and the air so it will go off in a week or two anyway.

Two part job if you like, brush in a dry mix but don't totally fill the gap then a couple of weeks later point it with a wet mix. Just make sure you keep the open bag sealed and very dry in the mean time.

The advantage of the dry mix is it should penetrate the gap better than trying to force in mixed mortar.

Dinarius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120652729#Comment_120652729

Great, thanks.

And, can I buy it pre-mixed?

Thanks.

D.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120652746#Comment_120652746

An example in the link, any builders merchants should have and probably Woodies, B&Q etc.

10-10-20

This type of pre-mixed product should be fine:

https://www.goodwins.ie/products/k-post-setting-cement-20kg.html?name=post+cement&type=simple

It's rapid-set cement and sand. Just clean out the gaps with water very well then let them dry for 12hrs and then tool this product in well, compacting it as best you can. Feather it off with a light brushing so that the cement doesn't stain the existing.

Dinarius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120652773#Comment_120652773

Gotta love boards.ie

Thanks all! 😉

D.

phormium

I bought it in Woodies, it's a small bag of sand, think it was 25kg and there is little bag of cement inside the sand bag so you just empty both out and mix together. There is no need for water because as mentioned it will absorb it anyway and harden, well it would in our normal climate! Maybe not this week though!