Replacing concrete blocks

[Tobybrown]

Hello,

We’ve recently moved into a terrace house where the neighbour had recently ‘completed’ a rear ground floor extension that comes up about an inch from our fence.



Turns out that their builder decided he could get away with using concrete blocks for the bits of this wall hidden by my fence (despite the plans calling for a brick faced wall). As the result my neighbour has a few courses of bricks, followed by about 1.5m of concrete blocks topped off with about 5 courses of bricks again.

The neighbour now wants to take down a fair bit of our fence to render this wall. He’s got a new builder, but even if he was a saint, there will inevitably be a fair amount of damage to the garden, including quite a bit the previous owners (who were professional gardeners) spent money we don’t have on. Also my understanding is that rendering needs maintenance, so if we replaced the fence this may all happen again in 5 years.

Naturally we feel for our neighbour, and want to help, but we’d prefer not to trash our new garden so we’re wondering if there are any alternatives - for example, is it possible (even if more expensive) to replace the concrete blocks from the inside of his new extension?

Any help would be really appreciated!

 

[kingandy2nd]

No, replacing the blocks would be ridiculous difficult given there are two skins to the wall and it’s likely that their extension is finished and plastered inside - it would be a huge cost. Likely they’d still need the fence down to make good the brickwork anyway.

Rendering the wall would benefit you as you could then take down the fence which also requires maintenance (on both sides), and just use the nicely rendered wall - which will require a lot less maintenance than the fence.

All you should ask is that when they do the work, that they return your garden to exactly the same state it was prior to the works - get it in writing with photos if you must.

Rendering that wall is actually likely to benefit you (ascetically) than it will do anything for your neighbours....so don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

 

[Tobybrown]

Thanks for responding Andy.

Fair point on the benefit of the rendered wall.

Just so I'm clear, is the 'it's impossible to do from the inside' point that it really is impossible (or at least would cost as much as the extension itself) or is it more at the 'ouch, that's going to hurt' level?

Though we want to be good neighbours and all, we weren't the one who either appointed cowboy builders to do a job on the cheap (there's a fair bit wrong with other parts of the build from what my completely unprofessional eye can spot) or the ones who simply got unlucky.

With this in mind I'm trying to get a feel for how much we'll be screwing them if we decide we don't want this to become our problem. A bit I can live with (having to find a bit more cash and then replaster their interior) a lot (we'll have to knock it down) I probably can't.

Appreciate that this isn't a forum on ethics and morals, and that living in a city has a cost though.

 

[kingandy2nd]

Building in block where not visible is quite a common practice, not really a cowboy for doing that - although if done without agreement it’s naughty.

If they are concrete blocks (not lightweight type) then they will be 100% fine to be left as they are. Like I said before, the render will be purely for looks and as you’re the people that have to look at it, it benefits you.

Rendering a wall, few hundred pounds. Propping up a roof, demolishing two walls and rebuilding, replastering, fixing electrics, plumbing (and possibly a kitchen) then cleaning and redecorating.... maybe 10 or 20 times the cost. Not impossible, just ridiculous.

If I were the neighbour, I’d just leave it as it is right now.

 

[Tobybrown]

Great - thanks Andy.

Good to know that external concrete blocks aren't automatically a no-no, but I'm not sure I'd be able to tell ones designed for the purpose from the other. He mentioned something about the council telling him he's got to render it, but I'm not yet sure why (I'm also not clear how they could have spotted the problem without coming round to my house and peering out from the first floor).

Feel a bit like I've not been told the full story yet, so will keep digging.

And thanks for sharing your experience, really appreciated.

 

[^woody^]

It does not need rendering, and you both do not need the 3-5 year repainting either.

Lift the fence up or put a trellis on top

 

[Mobo_14]

If you do decide to render just go for the full wall rather than a patch in the middle.

 

[23vc]

I’ve had building control tell me they don’t like exposed blocks long term due to water absorption so that may be why they’re on the hook to render it. See if they can just slap a few coats of weatherseal on it instead if that’s the reason. Tbh though given it’s pretty much totally protected by your fence it’s probably a non issue

 

[Tobybrown]

That sounds likely - thanks!