Mould at the base of external brickwork

[Dan Gravell]

I have some mould growing on some external brickwork. Here're a couple of pictures:

wall has a soil pipe running behind it, from the bathroom upstairs down into the drains. Now, this mould was growing about a month or so ago so I removed and scrubbed with some bleach. I guess there's still a possibility I need to clean it properly with some fungicide, but I am now putting my pessimistic hat on and deciding I might have a problem here.

Aside from panicking, what would you do? Are there specialists who can find out what's causing this?

Thanks, Dan

[Tabby]

Mould appears to be coming from gaps around the brick, which will inevitably trap soil & water. If that's whats hapening I'd repoint around the brick, raking any muck out.

NT

[Phil L]

You can find out yourself by removing this brick and having a look behind - it looks like it's been out before, the pointing around it looks like there's gaps in it, the chances are, two slaps with a bolster chisel and the thing would be out. That said, it's hardly anything to 'panic' about - it's below the DPC and if you had a leak on the soil stack, you would have smelled it in the house by now, and noticed drain flies flapping about.

It's not mould anyway, it's fungus and fungus only usually grows where it's permanently damp, maybe the water holds there after rain? - the slab in front of it may need lifting slightly.

If you don't want to take the brick out, just point around it with some sand and cement, the chances are that it's just holding water in the joints, simply repointing it will stop this and the fungus will disappear.

[Dan Gravell]

Thanks. I guess I'll treat it with a proper fungicide and then repoint, then.

There're no smells that I've noticed.

[Spamlet]

Peziza domiciliana:

comes and goes on our old walls and on doormats on the compost heap, and even once or twice on carpets in the car.

Nothing to worry about in the main.

S

[Tabby]

pointless

[Dan Gravell]

Ok I'll just remove and repoint then...!