Quarter-brick install

[Jerry Simon]

I've been hired to dispute a structural engineer's assertion that an exterior wall rotted out due to a lack of weep holes in the brick veneer. Problem is, the house doesn't have what we call brick veneer; it has 1/4 brick glued to an OSB substrate. (This is an insurance thing.)

My question is; what prevents moisture from getting through the 1/4 brick and mortar and rotting the OSB substrate? The mastic?

[Jim Katen]

I've been hired to dispute a structural engineer's assertion that an exterior wall rotted out due to a lack of weep holes in the brick veneer. Problem is, the house doesn't have what we call brick veneer; it has 1/4 brick glued to an OSB substrate. (This is an insurance thing.)

My question is; what prevents moisture from getting through the 1/4 brick and mortar and rotting the OSB substrate? The mastic?

What the heck is 1/4 brick?

Is is like Z brick?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Jerry Simon]

I've been hired to dispute a structural engineer's assertion that an exterior wall rotted out due to a lack of weep holes in the brick veneer. Problem is, the house doesn't have what we call brick veneer; it has 1/4 brick glued to an OSB substrate. (This is an insurance thing.)

My question is; what prevents moisture from getting through the 1/4 brick and mortar and rotting the OSB substrate? The mastic?

What the heck is 1/4 brick?

Is is like Z brick?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

Yup.

[hausdok]

Hi,

So, you've got a layer of this stuff stuck to the front of the house without any flashings or a way to keep water out? Are there two layers of asphalt saturated paper and wire lath between the brick and the OSB? If not, throw in the towel now; you'll lose.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[kurt]

Yeah, the only thing you could say would be "No, the wall didn't rot out due to lack of weepholes; it rotted out due to there being no waterproofing details whatsoever."

Kind of amazing that the engineer made the call that he did; what a maroon........

[ghentjr]

Try this link for a better understanding of the "thin brick systems". I have had it on a section of the front of my house for about 15 years with no seepage or leakage. I used the insulated panel system. This type brick is not designed to be directly applied without any kind of moisture protection. You can just google thin brick.

http://brickit.com/system_inlsulate.asp

[Jerry Simon]

Try this link for a better understanding of the "thin brick systems". I have had it on a section of the front of my house for about 15 years with no seepage or leakage. I used the insulated panel system. This type brick is not designed to be directly applied without any kind of moisture protection. You can just google thin brick.

http://brickit.com/system_inlsulate.asp

Thanks...that is going to help.

[Jerry Simon]

Turns out the 1/4 brick was glued directly to the wall sheathing (a fiberboard sheathing - not OSB as reported). There was a moisture barrier between the sheathing and the studs, but nothing between the brick and the sheathing except adhesive.

Engineer's report said nothing about weep holes missing, just talked about a missing moisture barrier between the sheathing and the brick.

The damage was catastrophic.

[hausdok]

So I guess you won't be disputing him, huh?

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Jerry Simon]

So I guess you won't be disputing him, huh?

OT - OF!!!

M.

No dipute, but still got paid. Love this gig.