Damp Bricks Outside - New Build House

rawy

Hi All

I wonder whether anyone can help with some thoughts on the below pictures which show one corner of a new build house I am looking at possibly buying. The bottom 3 bricks seem to be damp next to the roof downspout which goes into the ground. It seems to spread along the bricks under the door & down the side of the house. The kitchen is in that corner of the house, there were mold growing on the inside of the cupboards also.




What could this be?

Is it anything to worry about?

Thanks

Rawy

jcb208

The downpipes were fitted near the end of the build and water has run out the gutter outlet at the top splashing the bottom of the wall and ground which has made it wet,It will dry out

maninthestreet

Is that white mastic on the bricks?

Furts

All the brickwork has got quite wet in the past. In general it is not brilliant work, but the builder should clean it all up - you would not expect a dirty or stained new car, and a house should be the same.

The brown drainage should terminate below ground, or just about flush with the stone, so the builder does not have this correct. It looks bad, but it is up to you whether it bothers you.

Both observations - brickwork and drainage - illustrate a builder who does not bother about finish, snagging and presentation. Which prompts a question - what else is half hearted?

Davesnave

If that brickwork and drainage finishing indicates the overall standard of build, I'd be wary of taking this purchase any further!

daveyjp

The sloping solid paving slabs don't help either. All the water they shed ends up flowing into the gap around the outside of the drainage pipe hopper.

Furts

Davesnave wrote: »

If that brickwork and drainage finishing indicates the overall standard of build, I'd be wary of taking this purchase any further!

It looks like the builder has made a mistake on their levels. It is likely the weep vents are at dpc level, and 150mm down would be normal external level. Instead they have gone down to 225mm to give a finished level and in doing so then exposed the drainage.

It is possible all this brickwork was buried until the external works started (hence the mess), and/or the brickwork was made messy when they excavated down to three bricks below dpc.

Regardless, it does not present a pleasant picture and suggests all round sloppy work.