bought a new build but still have issues

stationairy

Hi hoping someone could offer me some advise

I bought a new build about three months ago and am having a nightmare with gleesons.

1) my understanding is it is against building regs for the garden to be any higher than two bricks below the damp course is this true as mine is only one brick below damp course ( see pic)



2) the garden came with grass laid and in parts of it there are big gaps and there are also alot of dead patches around fence(see pics) sent gleesons pics and they have advised its not there issue and just needs maintaining but not sure how maintaince will close the gaps
are they correct is there anything i can do ?






any help you can offer would be great

ed110220

Dead grass patches are likely caused by dry weather and lack of watering before the grass 'took' by putting down new roots. Similarly a bit of shrinkage is normal if it dries out.

Keep it watered and if the patches are not too big the grass will grow back, if larger you might need to put some grass seeds down. Fill the gaps with some soil.

Can't say about the damp proof course but can't see how dead grass patches after three months are the fault of the house builder.

ChumLee

Buy an edging iron and cut away the turf up against the wall.

manda1205

Building inspector told us we had to put our garden level one brick down from damp course, this is with an extension and last year. We also had to put shingle all the way around ours, not sure if that's necessary for everyone though, it may be because of our sloping garden.

Furts

stationairy wrote: »

Hi hoping someone could offer me some advise

I bought a new build about three months ago and am having a nightmare with gleesons.

1) my understanding is it is against building regs for the garden to be any higher than two bricks below the damp course is this true as mine is only one brick below damp course ( see pic)



2) the garden came with grass laid and in parts of it there are big gaps and there are also alot of dead patches around fence(see pics) sent gleesons pics and they have advised its not there issue and just needs maintaining but not sure how maintaince will close the gaps
are they correct is there anything i can do ?






any help you can offer would be great

The photo shows the grass but the soil level cannot be clearly established. Regardless, if I were in your position I would be asking for the garden to be 150mm below the dpc. An exception can be where there is a sloping access to a door and the garden is following this. This does not appear to be your situation.

The grass, or turf would not be an issue. Yes they have probably cut corners but this is easy to rectify. This is most likely because Gleesons could not be bothered to water the turf before you moved in.

Whilst I sympathise with your situation and I have been there an unfortunate truth comes from this. Buying a new build home is a very risky proposition.

Plumber90

New builds are always being built near enough level with the damp course now days.

Furts

Plumber90 wrote: »

New builds are always being built near enough level with the damp course now days.

But if they are then they should not be!

The problem with new builds is that standards get lowered as the years pass without the consumer being made aware. We then accept the situation because "they are all being done like that". The motor industry does not get away with this mindset when producing new cars. Neither should the new home building industry - houses cost vastly more so the standards and expectations should be higher and not lower.

Davesnave

Focus on important things.

The grass is an irrelevance, (especially when you find out what they've buried under it!:rotfl:) but being that close to the DPC isn't great, and if they don't shift it, you'll have to.

A new house is basically a blank slate and there will be snagging issues. Rather than a scattergun approach, seek out the matters that are costly in money or time and focus your complaints on those.

andrewf75

Can't see an issue with the dpc. The top of the grass is not ground level. The two bricks (150mm) is usually to a solid surface so that looks about right. presumably there are areas with hard surfaces? what does it look like there?

As for the dead patches you can't expect perfection just because its a new build. Focus on making sure the structural stuff is right. You can easily fill a gap with a bit of soil and scatter some seed.

Furts

andrewf75 wrote: »

Can't see an issue with the dpc. The top of the grass is not ground level. The two bricks (150mm) is usually to a solid surface so that looks about right. presumably there are areas with hard surfaces? what does it look like there?

As for the dead patches you can't expect perfection just because its a new build. Focus on making sure the structural stuff is right. You can easily fill a gap with a bit of soil and scatter some seed.

+1 and +1, and also +1 to Davesnave.

Back to OP now, for you now have three separate Forum posters kindly telling you the same realities about buying a new home.