Any builders here? new build photos bit of an update
- Thread starter PDJ
- Start date
They will 're-point' the dodgy bits of missing mortar, then 'acid clean' all the brickwork. Basically pressure wash it with an acid solution to dissolve the residual mortar stains, 'scaffold rash' and runs.
Developers do it as a matter of course these days to make it all look lovely before you move in.
The gable first floor window doesn't match the ones on the front, though. :?
Developers do it as a matter of course these days to make it all look lovely before you move in.
The gable first floor window doesn't match the ones on the front, though. :?
Yes, for some reason those have been replaced (maybe put in upside down. It happens, often). When bricks are replaced like that is is difficult to get mortar on all four sides (as it falls out when you push the bricks in). It obviously rained quite hard before the mortar was dry so washed some more away leaving it looking like swiss cheese. They will point it in, but it will always be slightly visible as the mortar will be a slightly different colour. .PDJ said:
It looks like the mortar has run down the face brickwork on the lower half of the house, or it could be salt coming out of the bricks, although I suspect it’s mortar staining, either way if it’s cleaned down with brick acid and jet washed it should clean up okay.
Just seen the other photos,
It’s definitely mortar on the bricks, it should clear up, for some reason there’s been bricks patched up and not very well either, they need the mortar grinding out and repointing with the correct sand, cement mix.
If you have concerns over the build can you ask the builder if you can have a look round while the build is in progress, if so take a spirit level with you and check all around the house that it’s level and plumb, check for any bulges in the walls especially around the points where the scaffold lifts have been, roughly around every 1.8 meters vertically, the windows have been fitted so the staircase should have been fitted, check the treads for creaking and that the newal posts are plumb.
Unfortunately it’s pot luck as to the tradesmen that are working on it, not all of them care about their standard of work, nowadays most trades are run by “barrons” who don’t always supervise like they should and the site managers don’t inspect like they did 20 years ago, again some are pretty inept at their jobs and haven’t risen through the trade, so don’t always know what to look out for, their often too busy drinking coffee and talking to their mates on the phone, sad but true.
Just seen the other photos,
It’s definitely mortar on the bricks, it should clear up, for some reason there’s been bricks patched up and not very well either, they need the mortar grinding out and repointing with the correct sand, cement mix.
If you have concerns over the build can you ask the builder if you can have a look round while the build is in progress, if so take a spirit level with you and check all around the house that it’s level and plumb, check for any bulges in the walls especially around the points where the scaffold lifts have been, roughly around every 1.8 meters vertically, the windows have been fitted so the staircase should have been fitted, check the treads for creaking and that the newal posts are plumb.
Unfortunately it’s pot luck as to the tradesmen that are working on it, not all of them care about their standard of work, nowadays most trades are run by “barrons” who don’t always supervise like they should and the site managers don’t inspect like they did 20 years ago, again some are pretty inept at their jobs and haven’t risen through the trade, so don’t always know what to look out for, their often too busy drinking coffee and talking to their mates on the phone, sad but true.
They don't want you to see it until they are ready for you to, that's why! Probably quote H&S nonsense!PDJ said:
That last shot is great! They should all have hard hats on and the lad hanging out of the window is a H&S inspector's dream!
Just keep the pictures, in case you need them later. It should all be fine. One word of warning, though. when they acid clean the house it will look like the other one in the photos for about 6 months. Then the efflorescence (salt staining) and marks will show back up (not as bad as now though). It will then take about 2-3 years to 'weather' and any stains will slowly disappear.
As soon as you exchange, you will be under the NHBC warranty, so you won't generally deal with the builders for any problems.
You’ll only fall back on the NHBC “warranty” if the builders fail to honour their twelve or twenty four months defects liability period. After that it’s structural only.
The quality of that brickwork is very poor and reflects more on the site management allowing it to continue than the guys actually laying the bricks.
If those are the issues that you can see imagine whats going on that you can’t see!
I’ve been an architect for over twenty years and I currently work in design services for a district council building mostly social housing.
The quality of that brickwork is very poor and reflects more on the site management allowing it to continue than the guys actually laying the bricks.
If those are the issues that you can see imagine whats going on that you can’t see!
I’ve been an architect for over twenty years and I currently work in design services for a district council building mostly social housing.
Hoooosh 
that does not present well & once you move in then all the hassle is in your lap
Both my children have recently bought similar newbuild properties in the North west & neither were anything like that standard either during or after build .
Along with the obvious difference in mortar between scaffold lifts ( which shouldn't be happening as 99% of new build sites use a silo mix to prevent this happening ) why has the front pike got a cement pointed verge when the side gable has a dry verge ?
Everything about the build shouts corners cut , i really would avoid proceeding but accept that could be difficult , the developers have a system that railroads the buyers from the moment the deposit goes down to the point of completion .
If you are going ahead would be well worth employing a professional to snag the property on your behalf .
that does not present well & once you move in then all the hassle is in your lap Both my children have recently bought similar newbuild properties in the North west & neither were anything like that standard either during or after build .
Along with the obvious difference in mortar between scaffold lifts ( which shouldn't be happening as 99% of new build sites use a silo mix to prevent this happening ) why has the front pike got a cement pointed verge when the side gable has a dry verge ?
Everything about the build shouts corners cut , i really would avoid proceeding but accept that could be difficult , the developers have a system that railroads the buyers from the moment the deposit goes down to the point of completion .
If you are going ahead would be well worth employing a professional to snag the property on your behalf .
Southwestz4
Member
I did some site work a few years ago , I was doing snagging and it was builders responsibility for the first two years and then over to NHBCPDJ said:
