Bricks from old debris can hollow out the foundation and walls of a new home. The age and load bearing capacity of these bricks has reduced, due to which there is a risk of the wall collapsing or developing cracks in the future. Not only this, due to the crooked shape of old bricks, cement consumption and labor costs also increase.
Decrease in strength and durability of bricks
Any brick has a certain age. If the brick is from a 20-30 year old house, then it has been exposed to sunlight, rain and weather for so many years. With time the brick begins to weaken, due to which its ability to bear load significantly reduces. Such bricks are not able to bear the heavy load of the new house.
Improper shape and size
When an old house is demolished, while removing the bricks their corners get broken or cracked from the middle. Due to the shape and size of bricks getting distorted, they do not fit properly with each other when they are used to make a wall. This can make the wall look crooked and spoil the finishing.
Excessive consumption of spices and weak joints
Old bricks are broken and crooked, so more cement and sand mortar has to be used to fill the gaps between them. Engineer Deepak Kumar explains that filling too much mortar not only increases the cost of the wall, but also reduces the strength of the wall due to improper coordination between the bricks.
dampness problem
Old bricks have already absorbed moisture for many years. Their porosity increases, allowing them to absorb moisture from the new plaster. Due to which dampness and crust start appearing on the walls of the new house very quickly. This not only spoils the paint, but also has a bad effect on the health of the people living in the house.
danger of salt peter
There is often a problem of ‘salt’ in old bricks. If there is a high salt content in old bricks, it will cause the new plaster and paint to discolor. Once salt gets into the wall, it becomes a very expensive and difficult task to repair. Let us tell you that saltpetre is a disease that occurs in the walls of the house which gradually makes the bricks and plaster hollow.
Disadvantages of installing old bricks
Delay in construction work and increase in labor cost
Cleaning and sorting old bricks and using them is a very time consuming task. It takes more time for the mason to set the broken bricks, which increases your labor costs. The money that is saved by not buying bricks is often spent on labor and extra spices.
Where can old bricks be used properly?
According to engineer Deepak Kumar, if you have a lot of old bricks left, then instead of installing them in the main walls, you can use them at these places.
- To prepare the base before laying the floor.
- In the foundation of the outer boundary instead of the main wall of the house.
- For filling roof slopes or unpaved roads.
Disclaimer: The claims made in this article are based on YouTube videos and information found on the internet. NBT does not take responsibility for its truthfulness and accuracy.
