Failed brickwork pointing - insurance claim?

Fewie

Hi All

the pointing on the brickwork of my home is very soft, and is eroding somewhat.  All elevations are affected, with those that face the prevailing winds/rain showing the worst issues.  The erosion seems to be a lot worse in the last few few months, given the strormy/wet winter.

i am in the process of inviting quotes for the works, each builder who has visited so far has suggested that the whole house should be repointed.  It’s a smaller 4 bed detached property so the amount of work is sizeable, I expect the quotes will reflect this.  

The house is only 15 years old (I bought as new build), and to my mind such work shouldn’t be needed, to repoint the whole house at this stage goes beyond maintenance surely?

I have contacted the builder and they have said all warranty and liability for both them and the NHBC has passed, they have suggested I raise an insurance claim as a “structural issue”, does anyone have any experience of this?  A quick google seems to suggest insurance companies would regard this as maintenance, and therefore not covered.

can anyone offer any advice and guidance?  I fear I will have to cover the bill myself.

rob7475

I very much doubt your home insurance would cover this - it's wear and tear.

New homes usually come with a 10 year warranty so your well outside of that too.

Pointing should last longer than 15 years but if they used a weak mix or the building is very exposed, it would affect the life of the pointing. You mentioned the pointing is soft which would suggest there was too much sand in the mix. From the photo's, it doesn't look too bad yet so I'd say you could probably hold off another couple of years before getting it done.

DullGreyGuy

Fewie said:

Hi All

the pointing on the brickwork of my home is very soft, and is eroding somewhat.  All elevations are affected, with those that face the prevailing winds/rain showing the worst issues.  The erosion seems to be a lot worse in the last few few months, given the strormy/wet winter.

i am in the process of inviting quotes for the works, each builder who has visited so far has suggested that the whole house should be repointed.  It’s a smaller 4 bed detached property so the amount of work is sizeable, I expect the quotes will reflect this.  

The house is only 15 years old (I bought as new build), and to my mind such work shouldn’t be needed, to repoint the whole house at this stage goes beyond maintenance surely?

I have contacted the builder and they have said all warranty and liability for both them and the NHBC has passed, they have suggested I raise an insurance claim as a “structural issue”, does anyone have any experience of this?  A quick google seems to suggest insurance companies would regard this as maintenance, and therefore not covered.

can anyone offer any advice and guidance?  I fear I will have to cover the bill myself.

Home insurance is written on an insured perils basis, other than HNW insurance, and so for you to have a valid claim you would need to show that the damage has been caused by fire, flood, escape of water, earthquake, theft etc - you'll see the list of perils in your policy book in the Buildings section. 

You seem to be suggesting that this however it potentially a defective materials or workmanship issue which won't be an insured peril, and to go further, is likely explicitly excluded as well in case a flood happens and surfaces the defective materials issue. 

Perils have to be a singular event too, so a storm that rips the roof off overnight not the cumulative effect of heavy rain over 15 years. 

grumpy_codger

Looking at the photos, I don't see any need for repointing.

EssexExile

All looks fine to me.