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Holds coming loose in brickwork at home

Phil Laukens

23-Oct-2011
7:49:19 PM

I'm trying to add holds to an exterior wall of my brick veneer home, I don't want to drill into the bricks so I'm drilling into the cement between the bricks and placing expansion bolts.
The problem is the cement is soft and a bit too sandy so the holds aren't secure enough.
What are my options?
ie Can I also use a glue with the bolts and if so which type?

ropedonkey

23-Oct-2011
8:05:06 PM

By not wanting to drill into the brickwork you are only left with the mortar which generally not very strong. i think you maybe better of bolting timber to the wall and fixing the holds to that using t-nuts etc...
If your going to glue your holds on be prepared to sell them with your house!

IdratherbeclimbingM9

24-Oct-2011
12:11:41 AM

On 23/10/2011 Phil Laukens wrote:
>I'm trying to add holds to an exterior wall of my brick veneer home, I
>don't want to drill into the bricks so I'm drilling into the cement between
>the bricks and placing expansion bolts.

The answer largely depends on the age of the house, and the specific type of bricks used.
If it is a relatively new house that typically uses minimal material to achieve the construction, then it is potentially a bad idea, because expansion bolts will likely split the bond and the upper courses of brickwork will be dislodged, even if several courses remain bonded to each other. This is particularly the case where smaller wall surface areas are involved.

If you try to place bolts in the bricks themselves you are likely to find the bricks are hollow and won't take them with even a modicum of firmness, and if you manage to 'jag' a portion of the brick that has a solid interior, then the newer style of bricks will likely split.

If it is an older style house and the bricks are solid right through, then you may be OK with thin bolts...

>The problem is the cement is soft and a bit too sandy so the holds aren't
>secure enough.

Good cement should actually the strongest part of the brickwork bond.
It sounds to me like the place was 'built on the cheap'.

>What are my options?
>ie Can I also use a glue with the bolts and if so which type?

Your best option is to go and climb real rock ;-)
... or use some of the new types of construction glue to simply glue your holds onto the existing brickwork (no bolts involved), and hope the builder used sufficient frame ties to not allow the brickwork to be pulled 'away' from the wall, because if it moves enough, you will likely split the cement bond on the low course that contains the dampcourse (moisture preventative layer within the cement).

Failing that, then your best option is to build a free-standing woodie.
☺

Cool Hand Lock

24-Oct-2011
7:07:36 AM

Bolt 90x45xheight pine(treated if your there a while) vertically.
Then screw 1200x1800x19mm ply with 't' nuts fixed.

plus you could add some tilt to this, if need be

tariadamar

24-Oct-2011
8:29:46 AM

if it is going to be out side i would go with form ply it will last alot lot longer.

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