New steps bridging DPC - is repointing and sealant sufficient protection?

[Molly1112]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice regarding a new set of steps recently installed against my wall (please see attached photo).

The Situation:

• DPC Issue: I’ve noticed that the 2nd through 4th steps are built directly against the wall and appear to be sitting higher than the Damp Proof Course (DPC) level.
• Preparation: Before the steps were built, the wall was repointed and treated with a waterproof sealant.

My concerns:

1. Is this setup acceptable? Is the waterproof sealant/repointing enough to prevent rising damp or moisture bridging into the internal wall?
2. Water Ingress: Is there a high risk of water leaking through or "bridging" the DPC because of the height of these steps?
3. Remedial Work: If this is a problem, what are the best ways to fix or remediate this? (e.g., installing a drainage gap, flashing?)
   
   Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

 

[noseall]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

If the steps breach the damp, then so does the back yard. If it a modern cavity wall, then you are unlikely to have issues. Mould could be a remote issue if the walls are not insulated.
The step increments are awful and poorly thought out. All it needed was the additional 50mm of rise taking off the bottom step and they would have worked properly, with equal risers.

The sleeper at the top will be a slip hazard nightmare.

2/10

 

[stevie888]

I think they would have looked better without the side upstand.

Really weird as they've laid a course on edge on the bottom course as if to deliberately make it higher. No City & Guilds award for this one.