Mortar

CattyUk

Hello,

Just purchased a 14 year old house. Had a level 3 survey and was told all ok, just cosmetic issues. It said no significant deterioration or cracking was noted. 

As we have been here a few weeks now, noticing lots of bits of mortar breaks/holes in places. This is mostly the side elevation.

Generally the mortar feels pretty hard, few bits feel diff texture but generally ok bar at a few joints/areas

Does any of this look concering for a house that is only 14 years old?

Is it just a case of getting some sections repointed where damage?

Just worrying me as surely should last longer than this and wanting to make sure not a bigger issue

  ed. 

Grenage

It's not a big problem, just bash some mortar in where necessary.  In my limited experience, it's more common in the perps (vertical joins) where mortar isn't as deep as it should ideally be.

ThisIsWeird

It looks like 'missed' mortar rather than 'falling out', which is good news (well, the far better option). So, if you do get someone to spend an hour or so with a wee bucket of mort to make it good, then it should be permanently sorted.
It's no great surprise that some of the mortar will feel harder than others, as they will be from different batches, so possibly slightly different strengths or even freshness, but I'd have no concerns since it doesn't look like it's failing, but just some 'holidays' by a slightly sloppy brickie.
Whether it's worth doing is a different matter - I see nothing there that could allow water through that first skin of brick, and it's unlikely to cause any longer-term issues. But I can understand you wishing to do sort it on your new home.
The screw holes are the same - 'annoying' that they are there, but a fact of life on just about every house. Again, shouldn't be an issue.
If it can be accessed by a ladder, then this would be a nice Saturday-morn job for a local builder. Possibly expect some eye-rolling to begin with, but you are ultimately the customer

Dustyevsky

Often, we get posts on MSE that are a wall of text, so it's a refreshing change to get a wall of walls!

Personally, I see nothing much amiss there. The bricks have been laid a damn sight better than many I've seen, and there's no sign of movement.

Section62

CattyUk said:

Generally the mortar feels pretty hard, few bits feel diff texture but generally ok bar at a few joints/areas

Does any of this look concering for a house that is only 14 years old?

It looks hard... the mortar appears as though it may have been a bit on the dry side and a bit 'rich' (too much cement) when they did the pointing, which is also consistent with the overall rough work.  This can make the mortar more prone to shrinkage and cracking, and it looks like there has been some of that going on.

I can't see anything too serious though.

woody7777

Why are the different coloured bricks in the second to last photograph laid under the others with the vertical joints straight above them.

CattyUk

Good spot. I just went to look and only a 2/3 like that there and then as it should be

Is this a prob going to effect anything? 

EssexExile

CattyUk said:

Good spot. I just went to look and only a 2/3 like that there and then as it should be

Is this a prob going to effect anything? 

I don't see anything in any of the pictures that I'd worry about.

Section62

woody7777 said:

Why are the different coloured bricks in the second to last photograph laid under the others with the vertical joints straight above them.

Its the DPC - engineering bricks below, facing bricks above.  It is poor quality work to have the joints like that, but not enough that I'd worry about it.

stuart45

You have to be careful when setting out the bond with engineering bricks, because I've found when you put the tape on them there's quite a few that are around 210mm long. On the longer runs it can cause issues when most of the face bricks are 215 mm.