New porch and DPC / DPM

[yog]

Hi
I would like some advice please.

I live in an edwardian house with solid walls which are rendered. We are having our front porch replaced. The floor level is the same as before, but is being enlarged. The previous walls were knocked out and footings put in.
At ground level, the contractor has put in two courses of engineering bricks then three courses of blockwork and then topped this off with eng bricks. There is no DPC anywhere, the mortar butts up to the render.

Simple question, should there be a dpc and where should it be. Do I need a vertical one between the new brickwork and the render too?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Paul

 

[Softus]

There is no DPC anywhere, the mortar butts up to the render.

Are you saying (a) that there's no membrane over the slab (under the screed), and (b) that there's no DPC between courses of bricks at the appropriate level, and (c) that the new porch isn't tied to the existing house?

If so, your contractor is nuts. Sack him.

Simple question, should there be a dpc...

Of course there should.

...and where should it be.

At the same height as the DPC in the existing house, and it should be made to be contiguous with the membrane (the one you appear not to have).

Do I need a vertical one between the new brickwork and the render too?

Er, no. What do you think that will achieve, other than to ensure that the porch will waft around in the breeze?