Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Aug 03, 2010 11:54 am So our bricks are finished and have been cleaned, it all looks ok, but there are a few issues we have, I’m just not sure how much of a problem any of it actually is. Below are some photos, please feel free to comment on what you think and any recommendations you may have on what we could or should do would be very much appreciated. As far as I know the tolerances for expansion joints are between 7mm and 13mm, can anyone correct me on this? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Expansion joints above our bi-fold doors, I have not been able to measure these yet, but they look to be nearly 20mm also Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The general look of the mortar is very disappointing, not only is it very uneven (the spacing between bricks is very very random and changes frequently) but there are a number of bricks that are visibly crooked Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ They have patched any holes in the mortar, however, what they used is a completely different color to the mortar, the photo doesn’t make it look all the bad, but when you are there looking at it in person, it is like comparing a green to a white Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Some random odd bricks Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I am thinking of getting in an independent inspector to check it all out, but I’m not sure it is going to be worth it, we are having an inspection next week and I plan to bring all these issues up when we meet with our CSR, but a few people have told me I should ring him now and bring up the issues with the bricks before we meet. I just don’t know what to do, the bricks for our house have been such an issue from the start and we are just so disappointed with how it all looks Current status: Busy making the house our home Built PD Francis 29 on our 576m2 block at Reflections in Tarneit Reflections Estate Thread Our Build Thread Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 2Aug 03, 2010 2:40 pm I'd be ringing and asking him about those issues Wiz...then if you get fobbed off (or feel as if you have) I'd be getting an independent inspector...... Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 3Aug 03, 2010 2:45 pm Agree with Dee. RF Build: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=34534 Flooring: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39733 Chat: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=53303 Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 4Aug 03, 2010 2:49 pm Thanks Deemaree and Raleighfarm, that's what I thought, I know this sounds stupid, but I wasn’t sure if I actually had anything to complain about, didn’t know if I was being too fussy. I am going to ring him now and see what he says Current status: Busy making the house our home Built PD Francis 29 on our 576m2 block at Reflections in Tarneit Reflections Estate Thread Our Build Thread Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 5Aug 03, 2010 2:49 pm Keep us updated! Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 6Aug 03, 2010 3:35 pm We are going to have an inspection on Thursday afternoon, he said that he has asked for a few things to be fixed already but we will go through it all on Thursday to make sure that he didn’t miss anything, he also said that the expansion joints will be filled with caulking compound so they won’t be as noticeable. The interesting thing is that the bricklayer is going overseas very soon, so we only have a small window of opportunity, just my luck Current status: Busy making the house our home Built PD Francis 29 on our 576m2 block at Reflections in Tarneit Reflections Estate Thread Our Build Thread Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 7Aug 03, 2010 4:03 pm Hi Wizard, I wouldn't be happy with pic 1; shouldn't they fill a gap that large (on the window sill) with mortar? The fact that you can see the green frame wrapping in this and pics 2 & 3 is (IMHO) unacceptable. Re pic 4: over the duration of my build I have had much use of my new favourite word (which I picked up from a Scottish friend); when something's a bit wonky or just plain doesn't look right it's "squint". That wall sure looks squint to me Pic 5: Has the patching mortar maybe not dried fully yet? It's a bit hard to see how bad it looks from the picture but surely that's something that the builder could easily fix if it's worrying you. Pics 6 & 7: look the random reddish brick wouldn't really worry me but it doesn't look all that noticeable from the picture you have taken. Maybe see how difficult it would be for them to fix (ie; is it a structural pillar and is removing and replacing one brick going to compromise its load bearing abilities). And about the "R" the bottom line is the bricky should never have put that brick in if the writing on it could be seen. Hopefully it'll be easy to wash off?! As I'm sure you've heard said before; it's your house, you're paying a lot of money for it and you need to be happy with it. Hopefully the inspection of Thursday goes well Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 8Aug 03, 2010 4:14 pm Thanks grom40 grom40 shouldn't they fill a gap that large (on the window sill) with mortar? The fact that you can see the green frame wrapping in this and pics 2 & 3 is (IMHO) unacceptable They are going to fill it with some sort of caulking compound, I still think the gap is too wide though, at least we won’t be able to see the green wrapping grom40 Has the patching mortar maybe not dried fully yet? It's a bit hard to see how bad it looks from the picture but surely that's something that the builder could easily fix if it's worrying you Dried – yes. Cleaned – no, so I am waiting to see how noticeable it is once they clean the mess from the patches up grom40 look the random reddish brick wouldn't really worry me but it doesn't look all that noticeable from the picture you have taken. Maybe see how difficult it would be for them to fix (ie; is it a structural pillar and is removing and replacing one brick going to compromise its load bearing abilities) It is very noticeable, if it was anywhere else on the house, it wouldn’t bother me either, but it is right at the front door, I can just imagine every person walking up to my front door and asking “what’s with the red brick” . It’s not a load bearing pillar so it can be fixed easily grom40 about the "R" the bottom line is the bricky should never have put that brick in if the writing on it could be seen. Hopefully it'll be easy to wash off I agree, and yes, hopefully it does wash off grom40 you're paying a lot of money for it and you need to be happy with it Once again, I agree 100%, I guess I am being very fussy, but for the amount of money this house has, and will end up costing us, I don’t think it is too much to ask to have things done properly Current status: Busy making the house our home Built PD Francis 29 on our 576m2 block at Reflections in Tarneit Reflections Estate Thread Our Build Thread Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 9Aug 03, 2010 8:05 pm I don't think you are being very fussy at all. You pay for a certain quality so you expect a certain quality. We are spending big $$$$ on these new houses and sometimes near enough is not good enough. Stick to your guns for what is important to you. RF Build: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=34534 Flooring: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39733 Chat: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=53303 Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 10Aug 03, 2010 8:34 pm Our bricks had two different colours on each end, one end was grey the other brown. I had 6 brown ends on front of the house, I compained about them and they simply cut them out and replaced them with bricks with grey ends. So be fussy Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 11Aug 03, 2010 10:46 pm Hey wizard, I would highly recommend a look at the Building commission standards and tolerances guide http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/resources/documents/S+T_GUIDE_07.pdf Chapter 3 Masonry page 22 onwards of the pdf. Sets out what the tolerances are and whats considered defective. Our Build - Places Fairhaven 23+ - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28045 Our Landscaping - Belial's Backyard - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=45375 Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 12Aug 05, 2010 8:27 pm hi wiz, We have had a few problems with our bricks also (mortar too soft, bricks not straight, missing wall ties, etc). Some pics are shown here --> viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36391. We have since agreed to have the house fully raked and repointed professionally. 1. For any bricks which you are not happy with and clearly stand out as being a diff colour / not straight, ask the builder to replace them 2. If the mortar colour is noticeably diff, you could ask your builder to try Nawkaw to match the colour 3. I wouldn't worry too much about the expansion joints. Once they put caulking in there it should be ok. 4. Check the strength of your mortar... Is your mortar supposed to be raked or rolled? Run a key across it to see how much sand comes off it. If it can rub out with your finger then ask the builder to possibly carry out a mortar test. Building Monaco32 with Carlisle Homes in Alamanda Estate 20/08/2010 - HANDOVER 24/8!! Blog - http://ourmonaco32.blogspot.com/ Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14415 Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 13Aug 05, 2010 9:07 pm How did the inspection go Wiz? RF Build: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=34534 Flooring: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39733 Chat: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=53303 Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 14Aug 05, 2010 10:35 pm hey wizz just saw your pics and i would definately not accept any of it. the mortar inacuracey would drive me crazy kinda like a crooked picture you just have to straighten the odd brick here and there just not acceptable the expansion joints look too wide but may come up ok when caulked good luck with it and your not being silly little things will drive you crazy you will notice it everyday visitors probably wont lol stay safe happy building Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 15Aug 06, 2010 7:56 am Thanks to everyone who has posted bingoshelley you will notice it everyday visitors probably wont lol My girlfriends dad and 2 brothers are builders, they will notice everything, in fact, I will put money on them being very critical of everything in our house when they come and visit. So we had the inspection yesterday, first of all, I have to take my hat off to our CSR, from the start of the build we have picked up a few minor problems, and without saying anything to him, they get fixed. During the inspection we picked up a few problems with the plaster work, all of which he had already picked up and requested to be fixed, he even picked up a major problem in our garage that even we missed. So, what about the bricks? When we got there, he had already gone around the house and marked all the bricks that were a problem, he picked some that we missed too, the worst side is the garage / alfresco side, it is the most appalling job ever, and that was our CSR that said that. He is going to organize for his boss to go out and have a look at the brick work today and is going to recommend the bricks come down and get redone on that side of the house plus he had already booked the brick layer for Saturday to fix the smaller problems. I guess we will find out what is actually going to happen in the next few days, but now that we have had the meeting, we feel a lot better about everything, he even said to us that he is glad we are picking up these sorts of problems and bring them to his attention early and the fact that he is picking up all the problems that we are picking up before we even ring him shows how good a job he is doing. Hopefully this is the last of the problems, but if it’s not, at least we know we have someone there to help, it’s not over yet, but could not be happier with Porter Davis and the people we are dealing with. Current status: Busy making the house our home Built PD Francis 29 on our 576m2 block at Reflections in Tarneit Reflections Estate Thread Our Build Thread Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 16Aug 06, 2010 8:55 am Good heavens Wizard.. just saw this thread, was going to say I'd sent DP over to have a look, and perhaps give you a referral on an inspector..but you're all over it! Glad to hear they're doing the right thing Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 17Aug 06, 2010 9:01 am Thanks sarahl, you know what, I'd like that number for the inspector anyway if thats ok Current status: Busy making the house our home Built PD Francis 29 on our 576m2 block at Reflections in Tarneit Reflections Estate Thread Our Build Thread Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 19Aug 06, 2010 9:07 am Well good to hear they are attacking the problem instead of just getting defensive and ignoring it. Good luck wizard Our Build https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36661&start=40 Land Settlement - 19/07/09 Building Deposit Paid - 14/02/10 Site Scrape - 25/08/10 Slab - 01/09/10 Frame - 15/09/10 Roof - 21/09/10 Pre Wire/Plumbing - 23/04/09 Bi-Folds - 24/09/10 Bricks - 13/10/10 Plastering - 13/10/10 Cornice, skirting, shelving - 14/10/10 Re: Please help with our bricks, how much of a problem is th 20Aug 06, 2010 7:14 pm Great to hear that they are on the ball with it all too. It makes such a difference. Well done for speaking up I always get anxious when I have to deal with something like this. RF Build: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=34534 Flooring: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39733 Chat: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=53303 I have stone pavement (?) in my backyard around the pool. I have not tended to them and so there is moss growing on them. I intend to clean them but was wondering what the… 0 1184 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair to do it properly you need to dig out the garden and waterproof the outside of the wall. There are some products you can put on the face of the bricks but the water is… 2 4624 |