Issues buying new build

stevoh

Hi All

I’ve found a new build in a perfect location. There’s not much on the market and I’m going through a very challenging period with family illnesses, so need somewhere easy and quick to move in to.

I’ve been speaking to the neighbours and they’ve had a tonne of issues with their properties, which were eventually resolved, but took time and a lot of hassle.

A family friend, who doesn’t have any background in this area, thinks there may be issues with the brickwork. There’s a white deposit around the bricks on one of the walls, and he says (I haven’t been able to verify) that the mortal crumbles when pulled with a finger nail in the area where it’s white.

A builder friend who isn’t in the area ir able to see this, initially said the white deposit was likely to be just salt seeing from the bricks, but on hearing about the mortar crumbling said that it’s time to walk.

The site manager is saying there’s no issue with the brick work or mortar and that he doesn’t want to discuss this any more as he can see we don’t agree.

How can I get this house rubber stamped? It’s so frustrating to think that you can pay top whack for a brand new house in the UK from what is supposed to be a top quality developer, and it may be completely in re-sellable. 

UnderOffer

Another no expert here, but white deposits are not unusual at all and I’ve always been told that’s it’s salt from the brick work.

The builder isn’t going to demolish and rebuild for you, so I’m not sure what you are seeking from them. Do other properties on the site show similar salt deposits? Have you knocked to ask if they’ve had any issues? 

New builds always have a settling in period, with cracks and things just breaking, (our boiler/tank leaked through to living room within 8 weeks of moving in to a 1 year old house), was just bad luck, if you are a nervous buyer then perhaps a new build isn’t for you. 

Mutton_Geoff

stevoh said:

How can I get this house rubber stamped? It’s so frustrating to think that you can pay top whack for a brand new house in the UK from what is supposed to be a top quality developer, and it may be completely in re-sellable. 

www.homesnag.co.uk

No connection, just a happy customer. The site manager represents his employer, not you. Don't believe a word.

stevoh

UnderOffer said:

Another no expert here, but white deposits are not unusual at all and I’ve always been told that’s it’s salt from the brick work.

The builder isn’t going to demolish and rebuild for you, so I’m not sure what you are seeking from them. Do other properties on the site show similar salt deposits? Have you knocked to ask if they’ve had any issues? 

New builds always have a settling in period, with cracks and things just breaking, (our boiler/tank leaked through to living room within 8 weeks of moving in to a 1 year old house), was just bad luck, if you are a nervous buyer then perhaps a new build isn’t for you. 

Thanks. I get that the white patches aren’t a concern and that we can have snagging issues so will get a snagging survey done.

The part I’m concerned about is weak mortar as I understand that’s pretty much game over. 

stuhse

White deposits as others have said are just salts. It's common with new brick work and nothing to worry about, will go away over time.  The mortar issue is different and potentially more serious.  You need to determine whether the lose material is just the salt residue, or if it is actually the mortar crumbling.  Mortar these days is not usually mixed on site, it is delivered by mixer wagon to tubs and as such i usually a reliable product.  What could cause crumbling is if the newly laid mortar has been subject to freezing temperatures before it fully set.  The water within the mortar freezes and destroys setting process.  If just completed now, your house will have been built in the winter months.  Bricks shouldn't be laid in low temperatures, but production pressure and lack of quality control on site means it does happen.  My advise is investigate this further using someone who knows what they are looking at.

GDB2222

If in any doubt at all, get a surveyor to have a look. 

stevoh

stuhse said:

White deposits as others have said are just salts. It's common with new brick work and nothing to worry about, will go away over time.  The mortar issue is different and potentially more serious.  You need to determine whether the lose material is just the salt residue, or if it is actually the mortar crumbling.  Mortar these days is not usually mixed on site, it is delivered by mixer wagon to tubs and as such i usually a reliable product.  What could cause crumbling is if the newly laid mortar has been subject to freezing temperatures before it fully set.  The water within the mortar freezes and destroys setting process.  If just completed now, your house will have been built in the winter months.  Bricks shouldn't be laid in low temperatures, but production pressure and lack of quality control on site means it does happen.  My advise is investigate this further using someone who knows what they are looking at.

Thanks. That’s pretty much what my builder friend said. I know the house was completed in Dec. Don’t know when the bricks were laid as I don’t know the timeframes they work to.

who would be able to verify this? Would a full structural survey give me this piece of mind? My builder friend said it depends on the surveyor. He’s strongly advising me not to buy a new build in general. 

Tiglet2

stevoh said:

Hi All

I’ve found a new build in a perfect location. There’s not much on the market and I’m going through a very challenging period with family illnesses, so need somewhere easy and quick to move in to.

I’ve been speaking to the neighbours and they’ve had a tonne of issues with their properties, which were eventually resolved, but took time and a lot of hassle.

A family friend, who doesn’t have any background in this area, thinks there may be issues with the brickwork. There’s a white deposit around the bricks on one of the walls, and he says (I haven’t been able to verify) that the mortal crumbles when pulled with a finger nail in the area where it’s white.

A builder friend who isn’t in the area ir able to see this, initially said the white deposit was likely to be just salt seeing from the bricks, but on hearing about the mortar crumbling said that it’s time to walk.

The site manager is saying there’s no issue with the brick work or mortar and that he doesn’t want to discuss this any more as he can see we don’t agree.

How can I get this house rubber stamped? It’s so frustrating to think that you can pay top whack for a brand new house in the UK from what is supposed to be a top quality developer, and it may be completely in re-sellable. 

If the only reason you are interested in this property is because you think it will be easy and quick, you should probably be aware that it doesn't always follow that logic.  (An independent) Solicitor will often find lots of issues to enquire about, which makes the process just as long and drawn out as most other transactions.  

Please buy a house because you love it, not because you think it will be easy, quick and hassle free.  If this is that house, then get a full structural survey and choose an independent solicitor, not one recommended by the developer.  

Postik

Go up to one of the walls and stick your finger into the mortar to find out if it's hard or not?

The weak mortar thing is indeed a horror story come true but I don't think it affects that many new builds. As someone else pointed out, the mortar is pre-mixed elsewhere and then delivered onsite for consistency.

The white deposits are efflorescence (salt) and nothing to be concerned about.

stevoh

Postik said:

Go up to one of the walls and stick your finger into the mortar to find out if it's hard or not?

The weak mortar thing is indeed a horror story come true but I don't think it affects that many new builds. As someone else pointed out, the mortar is pre-mixed elsewhere and then delivered onsite for consistency.

The white deposits are efflorescence (salt) and nothing to be concerned about.

Thanks. I heard it was the premixed stuff that was causing a lot of the issues

LegallyLandlord

Also with new builds, do check if there’s an estate charge or other service charge, and whether it’s capped. That can affect the resale value. Is it leasehold or freehold?