Poor Brickwork - Do I have a case? (Persimmon)

Decepcionada19

Hi Clarkey01, This is no consolation, I know, but you should read the recent Trustpilot reviews on Persimmon. By all accounts, their tales of woe were met by outright indifference and denial, too. My local newspaper did a report (within the last couple of years or so) about people who had really serious problems with their Persimmon new builds and were just ignored by the company. I'm not sure if the negative press stirred Persimmon into solving those particular issues but I do think that video you took needs to be given wider publicity. I wish you all the best.

stuart45

Admitting it wasn't perfect is a bit of an understatement. I'm a time served bricklayer, so I can spot any faults in brickwork easily.
Brickwork (unless something like a rubbed arch) isn't perfect, but there are rules and standards, and should be clean and pleasing to the eye. You need someone to be with you at the NHBC meet, so they can't fob you off.

clarkey01

stuart45 said:

Admitting it wasn't perfect is a bit of an understatement. I'm a time served bricklayer, so I can spot any faults in brickwork easily.
Brickwork (unless something like a rubbed arch) isn't perfect, but there are rules and standards, and should be clean and pleasing to the eye. You need someone to be with you at the NHBC meet, so they can't fob you off.

Hi Stuart.
I've been thinking of getting my own survey done on the brickwork - worth doing?
Persimmon is going to be present when the NHBC visit in March, part of me thinks I should tell them no and only have the NHBC present?

They kept telling me my problem is I was expecting the appearance of a 'clay brick house' and that the scars/indentations are down to the manufacturing of the concrete bricks (from Edenhall).

I appreciate all the replies thus far  

thearchitect

Clarkey - frame your complain in terms of the advice set out here:

https://www.brick.org.uk/admin/resources/g-good-site-practice-workmanship.pdf

clarkey01

Decepcionada19 said:

Hi Clarkey01, This is no consolation, I know, but you should read the recent Trustpilot reviews on Persimmon. By all accounts, their tales of woe were met by outright indifference and denial, too. My local newspaper did a report (within the last couple of years or so) about people who had really serious problems with their Persimmon new builds and were just ignored by the company. I'm not sure if the negative press stirred Persimmon into solving those particular issues but I do think that video you took needs to be given wider publicity. I wish you all the best.

Hi Decepcionada19,
I did look into them and I saw bad reviews, negative feedback and I raised this when I came to buy my plot.
The reason for my move was due to a growing family, needing to stay in the same area and needing more space. 
This development was closest to the schools and had an amazing view of the valley and when I looked at the showroom and their early Kendals they all looked fine?
The quality on this estate is so inconsistent and it appears to have co-inside when a change of brick from clay to concrete.  

We also had an apprentice work on our brickwork and have photos of him working alone.....They told me he incorrectly identified himself and that he was actually graduated....Make your own mind up.  

On Monday I even showed the construction director and earlier Kendal and said to him 'If my house looked like this we would have never met' to which he turned around and said they were completely comparable (apart from Clay vs Concrete). 

On my first video I actually filmed an earlier Kendal and as you can see the brickwork is pretty good to my untrained eye. 

stuart45

Hi Stuart.
I've been thinking of getting my own survey done on the brickwork - worth doing?

  Definately worth getting at least someone in the trade to take a look.  Numerous faults (one example at 3.03 in the video)
Known as a zipper joint up the side of the frame. 
Tell them you wanted Stretcher bond in the facework, not Burglar bond(they can walk up the brickwork)

clarkey01

clarkey01

Updated the thread with some pics. 
I have the NHBC coming out on the 5th - Any advice? or just let them do their thing?

clarkey01

Just to bring this thread to a close...
Persimmon paid for a 3rd party to come out and rectify the brick work 1 side at a time. 
It took several weeks but it got done and I'm a-lot happier.
Why I had to go through several hoops to get a proper job done is beyond me.

stuart45

Well done for sticking to your guns. Glad you got it sorted.