OK to build foundation with old bricks?

[yakumo]

Hello

We are going to build a greenhouse where the bottom 40 cm is a brick facade.
My wife has found 80-year-old, clean-cut solid chimney bricks.

The question is whether it is "safe" to build with such bricks.
Is there a risk that they have become brittle? That the mortar won't stick? Or anything else I haven't thought of...

The brick wall will be laid on a foundation/sill of leca blocks.

Thanks in advance

 

[PNO]

I have had occasional bricks of old large bricks from chimneys and interior walls lying outside over the winter, and unfortunately, they have often frozen and broken when left outside. However, facing bricks evidently withstand the winter outdoors. So there is probably a difference between bricks and bricks. If it's old and has been used indoors, I wouldn't use it outside.

The actual masonry with old bricks is not a problem. Just soak them in water beforehand because dry, old bricks absorb a lot. Often, old bricks are not as homogeneous as new ones, so it's a bit of a challenge to split bricks without them cracking in a different direction than intended.

 

[Stenolofanders]

It will probably be fine. Since they are solid bricks, you should use weak mortar; I would definitely have used pure lime mortar, that is slaked lime, water, and sand. That is probably how they were originally mortared in the chimney. If you use a too strong cement mortar, the mortar will be stronger than the brick, and the brick risks cracking.

 

[Claes Sörmland]

It probably depends on the construction of the greenhouse. If water runs along the facade and down onto the bricks, it can easily freeze and break in the winter. If there is a roof and good drip edges over the bricks so that they stay dry, they will hold up.

 

[En dag ett passivhus..]

It probably depends on the construction of the greenhouse. If water runs along the facade and down onto the bricks, it can easily freeze and crack in the winter. If there is a roof and good drip edges over the bricks so that they stay dry, it should be fine.

Claes! What do you think about Skåne's driving rain on a garden wall (with a base of leca and roof tiles on top for drainage) built with used bricks? (seeing if I can revive the thread)

 

[Claes Sörmland]

Should work if the construction ensures that the water drains off and the tile is hard-fired.

 

[En dag ett passivhus..]

Should work if the construction ensures that the water drains off and the brick is hard-fired.

Can you see/feel if the brick is hard-fired?

 

[Claes Sörmland]

Can you see/feel on the brick if it is hard-burnt?

The harder it is burnt, the heavier it generally is. Google provided these densities:



Here: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...02013_35.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2Gc3Zlz9mkR_mqka84yOy2

 

[En dag ett passivhus..]

Generally, the harder burned it is, the heavier it is. Google provided these densities:

[image]

Here: [link]

THANK YOU!

 

[En dag ett passivhus..]

The harder it is burned, the heavier it generally is. Google provided these densities:

[image]

Here: [link]

Thanks!, good link.