Issues buying new build

stevoh

Postik said:

You sound very much like me @stevoh I am a bit obsessed with making sure something is perfect, especially the biggest purchase of my life :-)

If you are very vigilant and nervous then I question whether a newbuild is right for you.  When I looked at them I was told in no uncertain terms I could not have a survey or snagging done until after completion.  Which means whatever faults the house has, they have you over a barrel, and it's a bit of a lottery whether you end up with a good house or a bad one.

As I mentioned I bought a second-hand newbuild so I could inspect it and have surveys done, but even now there isn't a week that goes by where I don't find a new snag somewhere, albeit minor.  As @pinkteapot pointed out, with a second-hand newbuild or a much older house there will still be bodges and issues which you either live with or you have to sort out yourself.

Have you asked the developer if you can have a survey done before completion?  I suspect the answer will be no, but perhaps it's worth asking?  If it is possible then it could put your mind completely at ease.

Also did your builder friend have any suggestions as to why the bricks above the damp course might be wet?

They’re allowing me to do the full survey (I think). I told them I was doing one and so far they haven’t said no, although the site manager did flinch when I mentioned it.

Apparently it’s splash back from rain causing the damp issue. My friend said it’s a problem that needs rectifying, the site manager said it not an issue as it can’t get through the cavity. I suspect the later was a fob off.

Postik

stevoh said:

They’re allowing me to do the full survey (I think). I told them I was doing one and so far they haven’t said no, although the site manager did flinch when I mentioned it.

Apparently it’s splash back from rain causing the damp issue. My friend said it’s a problem that needs rectifying, the site manager said it not an issue as it can’t get through the cavity. I suspect the later was a fob off.

Sounds like maybe the damp course is too low if rain is able to splash above it in significant quantity?  There is a small strip of gravel around the edge of most of my house, I'm not sure if that helps avoid this issue or if that's somewhat irrelevant.

stevoh

Postik said:

stevoh said:

They’re allowing me to do the full survey (I think). I told them I was doing one and so far they haven’t said no, although the site manager did flinch when I mentioned it.

Apparently it’s splash back from rain causing the damp issue. My friend said it’s a problem that needs rectifying, the site manager said it not an issue as it can’t get through the cavity. I suspect the later was a fob off.

Sounds like maybe the damp course is too low if rain is able to splash above it in significant quantity?  There is a small strip of gravel around the edge of most of my house, I'm not sure if that helps avoid this issue or if 

Think it’s a design flaw with the house. This was taken today and I don’t believe it’s rained for a couple of days now 

[Deleted User]

stevoh said:

Postik said:

stevoh said:

They’re allowing me to do the full survey (I think). I told them I was doing one and so far they haven’t said no, although the site manager did flinch when I mentioned it.

Apparently it’s splash back from rain causing the damp issue. My friend said it’s a problem that needs rectifying, the site manager said it not an issue as it can’t get through the cavity. I suspect the later was a fob off.

Sounds like maybe the damp course is too low if rain is able to splash above it in significant quantity?  There is a small strip of gravel around the edge of most of my house, I'm not sure if that helps avoid this issue or if 

Think it’s a design flaw with the house. This was taken today and I don’t believe it’s rained for a couple of days now 

Bad design or someone forgot to fit something during construction. Definitely needs to be fixed.

UnderOffer

Oh, that does look awful. Would you expect to see the damp-course visible in those bricks, can’t see any in pic. Also, where does that drain pipe drain/feed into? 

Purely nosey question, but what’s the metal canopy above? What’s it’s purpose? 

stevoh

The neighbouring places are the same. It’s a balcony/car port 

stevoh

Site manager says there’s nothing to worry about. That in itself worries me. 

MultiFuelBurner

What's the level of the damp proof through that gate, have they laid the block paving up to the damp proof or higher?

You should see a black line above the mortar to denote the damp proof.

stuart45

stevoh said:

Site manager says there’s nothing to worry about. That in itself worries me. 

Bit like the vote of confidence for a football manager.
As you have said, the design is not great. The decking allows rainfall through concentrated on certain places, rather than evenly over the whole wall. It also blocks off the drying effect of the sun. Effloresance and lime runoff are signs of the brickwork being soaked. 
However, the cavity will probably protect the inner skin.

stevoh

MultiFuelBurner said:

What's the level of the damp proof through that gate, have they laid the block paving up to the damp proof or higher?

You should see a black line above the mortar to denote the damp proof.

The block paving is just under two bricks below the damp proof layer. There’s (supposedly) a second layer above that one