Cowboy brickies!???

A

Ant247

Joined
31 Jul 2021
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Country
United Kingdom
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???

A157442B-E681-49C1-9892-23936EB685E5.jpeg


A02119B2-62D7-44A4-BDB9-CA54F70CF2F0.jpeg


48B753DB-59FE-494E-8FC5-483D7789BD92.jpeg


27AE392E-21A8-4F6E-A640-D3295E25DEB3.jpeg
 
Sponsored Links
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
 
sxturbo said:
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
Click to expand...

I can ask them to add on more mortar from the sides. Would that address it?
 
Are they ensuring the holes in the engineering bricks are filled?

@Notch7 will be able to give better advice
 
Sponsored Links
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.
 
Notch7 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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?
 
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 :idea: maybe Keitai has started bricklaying,he'll be along soon asking for advice.
 
Last edited:
Ant247 said:
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?
Click to expand...

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.
 
I’m no brickie, but that 1st mortar bed looks too much imo, then skimped in other areas:confused:?
 
Notch7 said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
D

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Sponsored Links

Similar threads

B
Brick identification
Replies
4
Views
376
bandejapaisa
B
G
Render Plinth
Replies
2
Views
2K
gregers
G
S
Rendering over damp bricks (below dpc)
2 3
Replies
32
Views
17K
Alastairreid
Alastairreid
C
DPM AND DPC
Replies
14
Views
7K
chirpychippy
C
G
render and DPC
Replies
4
Views
11K
AndersonC
AndersonC
Back
Top