Long Gaps Between Brick and Soffit

[Door7000]

New build approx 3 1/2 years old.

I have noticed long gaps between the soffit and the brickwork. On the corners there is another level of brick, but in between the corners there is a run of about 6ft with a 2" or so gap. On the other wall there is something similar.

Is this normal?

Right Side Close Up

Right Side

Left Side

Left Side Close Up

 

[Alastairreid]

No its not normal, its terrible finishing.
Either finish with a cut course of brick or drop the soffit lower to cover the last course.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have noticed long gaps between the soffit and the brickwork. On the corners there is another level of brick, but in between the corners there is a run of about 6ft with a 2" or so gap. On the other wall there is something similar.

I think you mean a gap between the fascia and the brickwork. The fascia is the vertical L shape, between edge of the roof and the gutter. The soffit rests on the bottom of the L of the fascia, the ledge filling the gap between fascia and the wall.

The soffits seems to have been omitted completely.

https://www.stormclad.co.uk/blog/soffits-fascias/

 

[Swwils]

Is this one of those new bat / bird / insect friendly roofs?

 

[catlad]

They must have run out of bricks, Squirrels will be happy!

 

[Alastairreid]

Is this one of those new bat / bird / insect friendly roofs?

I've seen nesting boxes incorporated into brickwork in new builds before but that would be a new one on me.
It does look intentional though.
Maybe the op should check the attic and see if there is some sort of nesting box in the eaves.

 

[Door7000]

Only recently noticed the issue due to lots of bits of loft insulation on the ground beneath it. So yes there must be some nesting going on there.

Poor finish, or incorrectly installed this is a job for the housebuilder, right? Even though it's outside of the 2 year snag timeframe this would have to be an NHBC call?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Poor finish, or incorrectly installed this is a job for the housebuilder, right? Even though it's outside of the 2 year snag timeframe this would have to be an NHBC call?

Yep, worth chasing it up.

Needs sorting quickly, before the nesting starts.

 

[catlad]

Yep, worth chasing it up.

Needs sorting quickly, before the nesting starts.

Which year!

 

[datarebal]

I have seen a similar idea incorporating an insect screen venting the loft .
If it is like it on all sides see if there is a screen.
Probably not but worth checking

 

[Nige F]

I have seen a similar idea incorporating an insect screen venting the loft .
If it is like it on all sides see if there is a screen.
Probably not but worth checking

Could vent the cavity - in front of the insu. slabs. And the loft ?

 

[datarebal]

That was the idea on projects I had seen in the past .

 

[Door7000]

I checked with the neighbours and theirs is fine. On one side the 2" gap is filled in with brick and messy pointing that looks like it was spread on by hand, on another side it seems to be just a row of muck used as a filler.

It doesn't look as if there is any plastic work missing as the neighbours have the same configuration of fascia and soffits - it's just this gap in brickwork they have left off our house.

Here's a few more close ups

In that last picture you can see some insulation. On the floor beneath that area is this:

If I may sidetrack for a minute; hope that's OK. Whilst viewing the neighbours garden I noticed that the air bricks had half pipe terracota around them to stop the stones covering the vents. This was not done for my house so do I need to do something similar?

As shown in this image it would not be possible to put a half pipe because of the short distance between wall and slabs. Should I just ensure the vents are not blocked periodically, and just move the slate by hand.

In this picture half of the air brick is covered by slab!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Air bricks should be well clear of any obstructions, so neither photo is satisfactory.

 

[^woody^]

Is this normal?

It's not normal to only notice it after 3 1/2 years!