Bricks vs breeze blocks and plaster

Furts

Annie1960 wrote: »

What's a starter kit?

I cannot make out what is happening just on the strength of one photo, hence my provisos.

But the jointing and pointing of the facework is rough, and there are no ties projecting, nor a starter kit to extend upwards the lower brick wall. It might be a window going in here hence the wall does not get built higher. But if so it is not usual to have a window in the corner of a wall.

You appear to be saying the brickwork is sub contracted - do I have that right? I strongly suggest you get an experienced friend/family/somebody to take a critical eye to what appears to be happening.

My instinct is things need nipping in the bud, not only with workmanship but also with the specification. Not knowing the wall detail is concerning and makes me wonder if other items will be similarly vague.

Annie1960

Furts wrote: »

I cannot make out what is happening just on the strength of one photo, hence my provisos.

But the jointing and pointing of the facework is rough, and there are no ties projecting, nor a starter kit to extend upwards the lower brick wall. It might be a window going in here hence the wall does not get built higher. But if so it is not usual to have a window in the corner of a wall.

You appear to be saying the brickwork is sub contracted - do I have that right? I strongly suggest you get an experienced friend/family/somebody to take a critical eye to what appears to be happening.

My instinct is things need nipping in the bud, not only with workmanship but also with the specification. Not knowing the wall detail is concerning and makes me wonder if other items will be similarly vague.

There will be a door going in. I know there are problems with the standard of the work.

My real question is to identify exactly what materials have been used. The drawings specified 2 layers of bricks, but blocks have been used instead. It would help me if I knew exactly what words to use to describe the blocks so don't describe them incorrectly.

I also want to calculate the difference in price between 2 layers of bricks and what I've been given. I am aware that 2 layers of bricks would be more expensive for the builder to provide as he hired a bricklayer. Bricks are more expensive to buy than blocks, and more expensive to fit as they take longer.

I'm not really needing comments about the quality of the work as building control are involved so I know this.

Thanks.

Furts

Annie1960 wrote: »

There will be a door going in. I know there are problems with the standard of the work.

My real question is to identify exactly what materials have been used. The drawings specified 2 layers of bricks, but blocks have been used instead. It would help me if I knew exactly what words to use to describe the blocks so don't describe them incorrectly.

I also want to calculate the difference in price between 2 layers of bricks and what I've been given. I am aware that 2 layers of bricks would be more expensive for the builder to provide as he hired a bricklayer. Bricks are more expensive to buy than blocks, and more expensive to fit as they take longer.

I'm not really needing comments about the quality of the work as building control are involved so I know this.

Thanks.

As mentioned in a post earlier they appear to be ordinary 7 Newton concrete blocks. They could be 3.5 Newton concrete blocks which would come out pence cheaper.

The cost difference is impossible to say - nobody but you knows the extent of the work, nor the quantities involved. Equally two skins of brick sounds wrong. Hence matters may not have been priced in this way with the builder assuming this was a typo. I think you are going up a blind and futile alley on this item, but that is your decision.

The workmanship is a concern. Equally concerning is your faith in Building Control. I have seen many dreadful pieces of work passed by them. Remember the two golden rules here. They are neither your quality control mechanism, and neither are they your Project Manager. They may refuse to sign off work, they may ask for work to re-built, but if the builder does not play ball you still have the problems.

As I said before, please nip matters in the bud before they progress too far. Indeed, you may already have done so - over to you here please.

cyclonebri1

Furts wrote: »

As mentioned in a post earlier they appear to be ordinary 7 Newton concrete blocks. They could be 3.5 Newton concrete blocks which would come out pence cheaper.

The cost difference is impossible to say - nobody but you knows the extent of the work, nor the quantities involved. Equally two skins of brick sounds wrong. Hence matters may not have been priced in this way with the builder assuming this was a typo. I think you are going up a blind and futile alley on this item, but that is your decision.

The workmanship is a concern. Equally concerning is your faith in Building Control. I have seen many dreadful pieces of work passed by them. Remember the two golden rules here. They are neither your quality control mechanism, and neither are they your Project Manager. They may refuse to sign off work, they may ask for work to re-built, but if the builder does not play ball you still have the problems.

As I said before, please nip matters in the bud before they progress too far. Indeed, you may already have done so - over to you here please.

Hi there, your mail box is full, sent a PM unrelated to this but blocked as full;)

cyclonebri1

Annie1960 wrote: »

There will be a door going in. I know there are problems with the standard of the work.

My real question is to identify exactly what materials have been used. The drawings specified 2 layers of bricks, but blocks have been used instead. It would help me if I knew exactly what words to use to describe the blocks so don't describe them incorrectly.

I also want to calculate the difference in price between 2 layers of bricks and what I've been given. I am aware that 2 layers of bricks would be more expensive for the builder to provide as he hired a bricklayer. Bricks are more expensive to buy than blocks, and more expensive to fit as they take longer.

I'm not really needing comments about the quality of the work as building control are involved so I know this.

Thanks.

Annie, I think you actually have a better spec than the quote, or what you asked for , for the same price? Can't see a problem with that.

Annie1960

Furts wrote: »

As mentioned in a post earlier they appear to be ordinary 7 Newton concrete blocks. They could be 3.5 Newton concrete blocks which would come out pence cheaper.

The cost difference is impossible to say - nobody but you knows the extent of the work, nor the quantities involved. Equally two skins of brick sounds wrong. Hence matters may not have been priced in this way with the builder assuming this was a typo. I think you are going up a blind and futile alley on this item, but that is your decision.

The workmanship is a concern. Equally concerning is your faith in Building Control. I have seen many dreadful pieces of work passed by them. Remember the two golden rules here. They are neither your quality control mechanism, and neither are they your Project Manager. They may refuse to sign off work, they may ask for work to re-built, but if the builder does not play ball you still have the problems.

As I said before, please nip matters in the bud before they progress too far. Indeed, you may already have done so - over to .you here please.

bud has already been nipped.

I'm now trying to work out where I am and what needs to be done next. Understanding the materials used will help me to have a sensible conversation with my architect as well as Trading Standards.

I'm still not sure what the name of the insulating material is, maybe I've missed something.

Annie1960

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Annie, I think you actually have a better spec than the quote, or what you asked for , for the same price? Can't see a problem with that.

I've googled some prices and bricks seem to be more expensive than breeze blocks. Also, very specific bricks need to be used here, to match existing, and apparently these were even more expensive than normal bricks.

Interesting that you think otherwise - can you point me to a website about this?

Furts

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Hi there, your mail box is full, sent a PM unrelated to this but blocked as full;)

Sorry Bri, I have just deleted some to make space.
Thanks in avance.
Furts

Furts

Annie1960 wrote: »

I've googled some prices and bricks seem to be more expensive than breeze blocks. Also, very specific bricks need to be used here, to match existing, and apparently these were even more expensive than normal bricks.

Interesting that you think otherwise - can you point me to a website about this?

I am slightly bewildered about the query - not a criticism but instead my brain not understanding the issue.

What you have is a fully filled cavity. The product is a cavity batt (at least that is what I refer to them as). If you Google 100mm thick Crown, or Dritherm, or Rockwool Cavity Batt something should crop up. I will guess the size - perhaps 1200 long by 450 high as a guide for your searching.

Now my puzzle. Cavity walls are not built with an inner leaf of brick - never have been (within reason and with some exceptions.) But this never goes back to when cavity walls were introduced way back circa 1930 or before - so is not a new concept.

Yes your facebricks will need to match.

Turning to your inner leaf - in recent years it has become more important not to use bricks on the inner leaf. The reason is poor insulation, plus heat and noise transfer. The main one is insulation and think this one through. Bricks are fired clay and vary in shape, length and texture. They have holes through them, or are indented . The rough surfaces do not allow a nicely made Celotex insultion sheet to sit snug against them. Now I accept you may not know about Celotex or similar, but it is the principle and fundamental that counts here.

Inner skins are built of blocks for speed, for cost saving and to receive neat fitting insulation.

cyclonebri1

Annie1960 wrote: »

I've googled some prices and bricks seem to be more expensive than breeze blocks. Also, very specific bricks need to be used here, to match existing, and apparently these were even more expensive than normal bricks.

Interesting that you think otherwise - can you point me to a website about this?

No you miss my point, maybe bricks were more expensive, but you accepted the job at the price quoted, it doesn't need a website to explain that.

The blocks, both types will support the same load with ease and add better thermal ins, you have a better specked job than you asked for for the same price, sorry if you don't get that