ᐅ Is it normal to have damp spots on brickwork?

ah-1986 schrieb:
However, I am increasingly noticing 'wet' spots on the brickwork (see picture). They are less visible on dry days but still appear even when it is not raining.

This is not "normal." Find a qualified expert and discuss these and any other issues with them _before_ you proceed to the building inspection.

Regards, Bauexperte

Sometimes water leaks through the open vertical joints in our walls. However, I have never seen stains like these before. It could be that the surface of the facing brick promotes condensation more than usual. Maybe moisture becomes visible on the surface more quickly. But that does not explain why the brickwork seems to be almost constantly damp.

Measuring the moisture levels is probably the best way to gain new insights.

Payday schrieb:
Below the window, the windowsill plus 2-3 rows of bricks underneath is normal (the water hitting the window needs to be able to drain somewhere).
In the picture it looks strange and gives the impression that water collects in the corner there and cannot drain properly.
Do you have an inspector for the final inspection?

Hello,

yes, we already had the inspector here, who is now coming to the final stage and the official inspection. I’m curious what he will say. It doesn’t seem normal to me either. It’s especially wet today.

There are now ice formations on the outside of the wall. Of course, it freezes at -9°C (16°F), but I have never seen anything like this on a house before. The building inspector is coming on December 14th.

Of course, water in the brickwork freezes if it is damp or wet there, since the insulation behind it only starts after the brick layer. If the damp brick freezes, the ice could easily damage (crack) the bricks. If new moisture continues to accumulate there after rain, rainwater may be pooling somewhere, or there might be a defect in the downpipe?!
This definitely needs to be addressed.

Attached is a photo of our house during the first winter. Moisture tends to collect on the windward side under the window because all the water that hits the glass gathers there. This can be avoided by using metal window sills, which are quite rare in brick-clad houses. We consulted with an inspector and the construction company, asked neighbors, and looked at other houses. All of these homes show this appearance and it is completely normal. Of course, it also depends on the color of the bricks. Some colors are visually much more prone to this than others.
At a corner of the house, however, this hardly makes sense because no more moisture accumulates there than at any other spot. A single window cannot absorb moisture but rather sheds it downwards, where it may then collect.

Otherwise, a nice house