Steel in mortar joint

[Inspectorjoe]

The 1956 house is wood frame with brick veneer. There were a few areas where the mortar has popped off, revealing rusting steel in the joint. They're unusual looking joints, but look original. The steel looks to be too heavy to be used as a tie.

Can anybody ID this?

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[Jim Katen]

They might be heavy wire ties or even a narrow ladder wire.

Were you able to see any long runs, or just short bits here & there?

[Inspectorjoe]

That's about as much as is visible. They are in a few randomly occurring areas. Of course, they're only visible because the mortar popped off. Who knows what's beneath the intact areas.

On another note, aside from the fact that you couldn't easily remove the mortar to repoint those spots, I'd think that long term, the steel would continue to rust and cause problems.

[Jim Katen]

That's about as much as is visible. They are in a few randomly occurring areas. Of course, they're only visible because the mortar popped off. Who knows what's beneath the intact areas.

On another note, aside from the fact that you couldn't easily remove the mortar to repoint those spots, I'd think that long term, the steel would continue to rust and cause problems.

I occasionally see distinct rust lines in the mortar of brick veneer, but I've never seen it cause a serious problem. I don't usually see it coming apart like it is in your pictures.

[hausdok]

I'm thinking poor quality galvanized wall ties that have begun to rust and spall.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike