Cowboy brickies!???

[Ant247]

TLDR: do these pictures show cowboy brickwork??? What should I do?

Please help, and tell me if I am worrying over nothing???

My builder has openly said that he isn’t able to get professional bricklayers in (they are all busy!!) so he is using his labourers to do the brickwork in order to get the project completed. I am not fussed, as long as the walls don’t fall over, are straight, it keeps heat in and water out. The blockwork will be rendered so am not too bothered about how it looks at this stage.

The building control officer (appointed by my builder) said that you cannot render the engineering bricks under DPC as the render would allow moisture to go up past the DPC.

Will these bricks below DPC be visible on the outside? Can they be repointed? My builder mentioned he was going to do a ‘double DPC’ if that helps???

 

[sxturbo]

Oh my.

I mean they don't look terribly out, but they've gone a bit light on the mortar...

It's not a job I would be happy about

 

[Ant247]

Oh my.

I mean they don't look terribly out, but they've gone a bit light on the mortar...

It's not a job I would be happy about

I can ask them to add on more mortar from the sides. Would that address it?

 

[sxturbo]

Are they ensuring the holes in the engineering bricks are filled?

@Notch7 will be able to give better advice

 

[Notch7]

Don’t render below DPC, it’s bad practice.

The builder is kind of right a double dpc can help, but It won’t stop rain splash….so it’s a real compromise.


The builder should have talked the options through before starting.

what you can do is have bell cast render at DPC, then paint below to ground or even render.

 

[Ant247]

Don’t render below DPC, it’s bad practice.

The builder is kind of right a double dpc can help, but It won’t stop rain splash….so it’s a real compromise.


The builder should have talked the options through before starting.

what you can do is have bell cast render at DPC, then paint below to ground or even render.

Thanks Notch7. If it helps, the rear of the extension (I.e where the first coarse of block work has not been done) will be a 3Meter sliding door.

I’m just wondering if it’s a level threshold (I.e external patio floor and internal kitchen floor are on the same level) will I still see those engineering bricks and does it matter?

 

[Charlie George]

No decent builder would allow work like that,would you trust him with the rest of the build?
Stop them now, take it down and wait for a Bricklayer.

Just had a thought maybe Keitai has started bricklaying,he'll be along soon asking for advice.

 

[JOHNBOY42]

Kin ell........... if that is the start of it I would be very suspect about the rest of it.....

 

[Mottie]

I was going to say it looks alright to me. I’ll stick to cars………

 

[Notch7]

Thanks Notch7. If it helps, the rear of the extension (I.e where the first coarse of block work has not been done) will be a 3Meter sliding door.

I’m just wondering if it’s a level threshold (I.e external patio floor and internal kitchen floor are on the same level) will I still see those engineering bricks and does it matter?

you won’t see them with a level threshold

if you are having a sliding patio door with a threshold flush, then the brickwork is already wrong.

are the builders going to chop out the bricks later or have they forgotten?

how will the surface water be dealt with? - flush cill needs special aco drains and underground pipe work - has that all been planned?

what steps is the builder taking to ensure the screed and tiling will finish exactly at the right level for both running through from existing floor and meeting the flush cill - it’s a detail that is critical and often goes wrong. You need to really really lean on the builder to make sure it’s at the front of his mind.


If it was, I wouldn’t accept labourers doing brickwork - brickies have a feel for the wetness of the bricks and blocks, whether the mortar is right and they have skills to lay the mortar and set the blocks for maximum strength as well as visually tidy.
Bricklaying is an under appreciated skill.

I’m not knowledgable enough to comment on whether what has been done is acceptable - hopefully a pro brickies on here will comment. You need advice on this before going to far ahead.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

I’m no brickie, but that 1st mortar bed looks too much imo, then skimped in other areas?

 

[Charlie George]

I’m not knowledgable enough to comment on whether what has been done is acceptable - hopefully a pro brickies on here will comment. You need advice on this before going to far ahead.

That "brickwork" is in no way acceptable, and i am a bricklayer with nearly 40 years experience, the bonding of the blockwork is wrong too,letting them carry on will not end well.

 

[stuart45]

The brickwork is about average for a pair of Hoddies. Although the NHBC don't recommend render below DPC they do allow it if certain measures are taken. I wouldn't do it myself though.
6.11.7 Detailing - NHBC Standards 2021 NHBC Standards 2021 (nhbc-standards.co.uk)

 

[Charlie George]

The brickwork is about average for a pair of Hoddies. Although the NHBC don't recommend render below DPC they do allow it if certain measures are taken. I wouldn't do it myself though.
6.11.7 Detailing - NHBC Standards 2021 NHBC Standards 2021 (nhbc-standards.co.uk)

Are the hoddies called Stevie and Ray?

 

[Mottie]

Are the hoddies called Stevie and Ray?

I see what you did there.