Dodgy brickwork on new build - advice required

monkeymarbles

The attached pictures show what, in my opinion, is poor brickwork on my exchanged new build.

Am I being too fussy, do I make a deal of it pre-completion or post-completion?

Photo 1 shows the zip joint between two walls - I've marked an orange line to show how not straight it is.

Photo 2 is where they've moved the vent and used half bricks instead of full to fill the gap, again boxed in orange. 

Photo 3 is between 2 windows where the alignment of the brick mortar and bricks is really poor. 

What do people think? P. S. There's a few other concerns I've got but all appear easy fixes, these 3 I'm less confident.

The interior build quality and other externals is great so I don't want to slate the builder. 

stuart45

They moved the vent, but left the tray in the same place. 

bpj

monkeymarbles said:

Am I being too fussy, do I make a deal of it pre-completion or post-completion?

I don't think you're being too fussy at all, that looks very shoddy. I'd raise it immediately, though I do wonder what they'll be able to do about it.

thearchitect

I am less concerned about the alignment or otherwise of the perpend (i.e. vertical) joints brickwork. The quality of the rest of the work is, however, shoddy:  unevenly and poorly finished with localised spread over arrisses and on to the face of the masonry.  No attempt has been amde to evenly strike flush the mortar or, if that is what some prefer, brush it lightly when green to give an aesthetic texture.   The detail at the vent is crude, to be kind, and requires remedial work. I am concerned that there may be an inadvertent risband at the internal angle.

The first thing you'll need to watch is the standard that the British Standard requires.  These are typically functional rather than aesthetic.  Unfortunatley I do not have a copy immediately to hand as my practice doesn't do a lot of facing brick.  Secondly, be aware that repointing is quite onerous (even raking-out with power tools) and market rates are around £25/sqm for labour alone.  The developer will thus do their best to disuade you from such action.

Secretsusie

I think overtime that would annoy me, but not sure how they can rectify it.  

stuart45

Secretsusie said:

I think overtime that would annoy me, but not sure how they can rectify it.  

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monkeymarbles

All - thanks for your replies. Some good direction there, cheers.

I assume that the sledgehammer is for me to smash up the builders offices if they don't remediate 😂

monkeymarbles

thearchitect said:

I am concerned that there may be an inadvertent risband at the internal angle.

Hi - thanks for your advice. But in layman's terms, what is an inadvertent risband please? Google failed me. 

monkeymarbles

Ah, I've found the risband joint explanation and see what you mean. Interestingly the other side of the outcrop is block-bonded though as it is obvious, plus it's really well masoned. It's only a small outcrop so not massively structural I hope. 

stuart45

monkeymarbles said:

All - thanks for your replies. Some good direction there, cheers.

I assume that the sledgehammer is for me to smash up the builders offices if they don't remediate 😂

That could be an answer to the problem. 
I've been a bricklayer since leaving school, so when people have issues with their brickwork I do try and see both sides of the problem. On large sites the subbies often put pressure on their brickies to produce. Slower ones will sometimes last less than an hour, even if their work is OK. Unfortunately on larges sites the same bricklayers that did a really good job on some ones extension will probably not produce quite the same quality on a large site. Another problem is that subbies often get the hoddies to joint up.
The problem with the pier is that it does not work brick sizes, so when they cut the 3/4s some are smaller than others making the perps wander around. 
It's worth bringing up these issues you have with the developer. The tray above the vent should really be sorted, and they can sort the brickwork around it at the same time.
I can't see that you have a butt joint on the internal corner.