New extension mould already, Kids have CF

jmgrice

Hi,
I have had a garage conversion recently for a play room/office for the kids/work. However, less than 6 months in and as soone as we've had a spot of rain. Got black mould on the inside of my walls.

Really worries as the kids have a lung condition and we've had to take them out along with their toys for safety.

I called the person who arranged it and he assures me its because I have no paving slabs down so water is collecting around the side and not running away. He's apologised for the delay in relaying the slabs round the extended garage and is coming on Monday to fix.

My question is, does this seem legit? I'm worried as the extended part is on a floating floor built on a concrete base, so worried about the wood and the space underneath.

There aren't any air bricks?

It has got a damp course.

Pics attached.

Any advice? As I'm worries this will get covered up instead of fixed

Edit: Can't attach pics, but outside there's water around the bricks it as its lower then the surrounding area where there are still slabs. The bricks on the outside are really dark but only up to the level where the slabs should be

Furts

Garage conversions are a perfect home for cowboy builders so alarm bells sound when the topic is mentioned. The first question to resolve is did you have a Full Plans Buildings Regulation application, then site inspections, then a Completion Certificate?

If the answers are negative then alarm bells continue to sound. If the answer is positive then it is impossible to pass judgement without seeing details/photos of what is occurring.

Doozergirl

What Furts said.

You can post a broken link to photographs, so the site doesn't recognise it as a web address, and one of us will fix it for you.

Mr.Generous

Is the mold low down or high up? Has the garage got proper guttering fitted? Has it been plastered inside, and if so what was done to the single skin garage walls prior to plastering?

Chanes

You should have certificates for the garage conversion. Having said that, we bought a house with a garage conversion that was signed off to standard by the local council and it wasn't at all, no insulation in the roof void being my main annoyance, so I don't have much faith in them now.

Furts

Chanes wrote: »

You should have certificates for the garage conversion. Having said that, we bought a house with a garage conversion that was signed off to standard by the local council and it wasn't at all, no insulation in the roof void being my main annoyance, so I don't have much faith in them now.

This is being unfair to the Inspectors. Site inspections and sign off can only be based on what can be seen. If a builder wishes to bodge and act fraudulently then they will cover up all these bodges - they know how to!

An Inspector is not the fail safe procedure for consumers and consumers need to be made more aware of it. Ultimately consumers need to excercise far greater care in getting all building works, home improvements and maintenance undertaken. Far too many consumers could give a monkeys about any of this.

Taking the last few days as an example I have been dealing with a typical modern consumer. They have a nice house, nice cars, and plenty of money. Their approach is "we could not care less about anything, anywhere, be this labour, materials, safety, consideration of neighbours...but the work must be cheap and it must be quick". Needless to say they have no interest in applying for Buildings Regulations.

Chanes

Furts wrote: »

This is being unfair to the Inspectors. Site inspections and sign off can only be based on what can be seen. If a builder wishes to bodge and act fraudulently then they will cover up all these bodges - they know how to!

An Inspector is not the fail safe procedure for consumers and consumers need to be made more aware of it. Ultimately consumers need to excercise far greater care in getting all building works, home improvements and maintenance undertaken. Far too many consumers could give a monkeys about any of this.

Taking the last few days as an example I have been dealing with a typical modern consumer. They have a nice house, nice cars, and plenty of money. Their approach is "we could not care less about anything, anywhere, be this labour, materials, safety, consideration of neighbours...but the work must be cheap and it must be quick". Needless to say they have no interest in applying for Buildings Regulations.

No, it isn't being unfair to the inspectors at all, I made no slur against them or their ability, I am stating that regardless of being signed off it wasn't as it should have been, I don't know how that happened it was done before we bought the house and all we had was the certification, short of taking out fittings what else could we do except trust in the paperwork and a survey.

Anyways, If the inspections and regulations are not fit for purpose in that they do not protect the consumer sufficiently and inspectors can be so deceived, then don't you think they should be changed?

Really, I wasn't insulting anyone's professional ability, I was saying that the process isn't as robust as it should be.

phil24_7

I will say that FAR too many building inspectors are happy taking the word of builders, especially if they have built a rapport over time.

They should be seeking physical evidence of ALL the things they need, not just asking questions and writing down the answers.

I had quite a few problems with a past builder/project, most of which would have been avoided if evidence of works had been sought by the building inspector. The builders that replaced the original took a great many pictures throughout as evidence for me and building control as it is impossible to monitor ALL works carried out.