Brick mortar defect

This is how you get a wrong answer from an engineer. StructuralBIMGGuy says
"Not from what I've seen in your photos..although you will need to look at the wall loading to say otherwise"
The correct answer is:
The mortar has been lab tested and has FAILED to COMPLY
The mortar also has failed to conform to the contract specification, it was supposed to be 1:1:6 cement, lime, sand but it was not.
Failure to comply = DEFECT
Failure to conform= BREACH OF CONTRACT
Defective mortar is unsafe and unacceptable.

And you don't need any calculations or the MUMBO JUMBO below:
You will need to provide evidence, calculations & proofs of tensile and bending Stresses, Failure, etc
The hand calculations are very complicated/difficult ..enter FEA/multiphysics software (Time based simulations) and there are now provisions for such in structural codes.
Here's what the battlers & Punters need to do
1. Get copies of all engineering specs,data,etc. Have the engineering independently inspected
2. Take photos of non compliance and future anticipated problem areas before they occur
3. Advise the builder of consequences of his failure to act, non-compliance and anticipated remedies
4.The evidence matches the simulations
5. It then becomes a Waiting game... There are lawyers & Engineers that specialise in such cases

building-expert and you forgot to mention that you aren't qualified to give structure advice on non-compliance as per AS3700 the builders engineer is just going to override your opinion with calculations and proofs
The regulators/lawyers/courts will tell clients that...There are many old houses with < 5 MPa strength mortar..you don't see them getting pulled down unless an engineer says so...hth
OT if home builders/clients require further info, Data and proofs put up photos or/and leave a PM

No! I did not forget anything and I did not provide structural engineering advice. It must be obvious to all except to you that the mortar has been lab tested and declared noncompliant so I do not have to affirm that. I was simply stating that because it is non compliant it is automatically defective within definition of DBCA1995 for breach of warranty (somethung you would not know about.

You would do better to offer solutions, proofs & fixes (again ,but you can't) rather than state the obvious " LOL....Breach of warranty" remedies,etc,at a cost most can't afford.

Mortar has been lab tested and it has failed
I have offered a solution
"If your mortar has failed then brickwork needs to be demolished and rebuilt"

What other proof do you recommend?

You would do better to actually read posts and then try hard to comprehend what you read.

.. your data and proof as to why?
The testers have not recommended that the wall be demolished
LOL, and you don't read your posts mate

Hi
So today we have meet with supervisor and construction manager and they have given us 2 options
Render or rake repoint .....
However they did state the reprinting may damaged bricks
What do you think ?
Thanks

*repointing

That does not solve your problem. Surface fix does not address the real issue. The elephant in the room is wall ties that secure brickwork to the frame. Non complying mortar is structurally unreliable and may render brick walls unstable if wall ties that fix brickwork to frame cannot be bedded securely in weakened mortar. Raking may damage your brickwork ? why should you accept damaged brickwork?
Render? why should you accept that?

Can you just imagine wind gust toppling over wall insecurely fixed to frame and there are people or children under?
You have cosmetically defective brickwork that is also sub standard structurally, how is surface fix going to fix that?It cannot.

That is why I said demolish and rebuild brickwork. I also said that because I have already come across this problem before and my clients with my assistance compelled builder to pull down brickwork and rebuild.

BTW our big talking structural engineer on this forum missed the elephant in the room.

Where is the evidence that the ties/wall has failed?...Sounds like you are scaremongering
sylve contact Engineers Australia (EA) ask for the contact details for a Structural Engineer thats nearby and have them inspect the brickwork and discuss the options with them.

The evidence from lab test is that mortar has failed to comply, end of story.
The owner is entitled to have his house built in compliance of NCC and in conformance with the contract, end of story.
No Ifs, no buts and no excuses.

You have no idea about building, why don't you just stick to engineering roads and sewers.(God help us)

LOL pull it down... thats your Solution to everything
Again you're not licensed to offer Structural Solutions nor give advice
Sylve check with EA

Hey guys
I don’t want this to get nasty

every one is entitled to their own opinions

Thank you both

As for what we are going to do ....
No idea

You will need guarantees that what's been done is "Fit for purpose"
I suggest you organise that yourself. hth

I’ve never heard of a new house being raked and repointed

Render again that requires maintenance

We really don’t know what to do
Do I just leave it in vcat and sort it out via them

I'm sure it's done on a regular basis. You'll never know just by looking at it.

Get a structural engineer to see if it's safe to do so.

Somebody is missing something.
The owner has contracted the builder to construct his home in accordance with building contract, the regulations and standards and now mortar is (after lab testing) deemed to be non compliant.
Why should owner go to the expense of hiring an engineer?

Because the rake and repointed is one of the suggested options to remedy the problem by the same lab.

There are various degrees of failure, perhaps it's just slightly failed but still structurally sound if not distured hence rake and repoint or a hardener is a solution.

Actually, I forgot to suggest sylve speak to the lab technition to ask for futher advice on the possible solutions to fix.

Not everything is black and white.

I disagree with you there, it is black and white
1 Builder did not deliver 1:1:6 mortar as spacified = breach of contract
2 Mortar has been deemed as non compliant following a lab test = failure to comply with a NCC referenced standard

Is the mortar good enough even though it has failed? In my opinion this is not something owner has to prove(or accept) or go to the expense doing so. It's builder's failure to supervise brickies on site that is the root cause of the problem so the cost of any proof should be at builder's cost.
You have to remember that owner is the innocent party in this and why should owner accept something less than contracted and regulated.
Where does it stop? What else less than the standard should owner accept?
As for lab test recommendations they only deal with surface fix but the builder has already stated there will be some damage to brickwork. Why should owner accept damaged brickworkin new home?
My observation with lab test recommendations is that they do not deal with the potential failure of wall ties (pulling out of weakened mortar)during wind gust conditions and toppling the wall over. Who will take the risk for that?

How far are you prepared to go to protect or appease a builder that has not instructed or supervised bricklayers properly?

In my book builders get paid hansomely (in some cases obcenely) for what they do and if they err the should pay for their own mistakes. If that means demolition and rebuilding, so be it.

Hi

If we agreed to rake and repointing the whole house

What are some issues that I as the owner should I not except such as chipped bricks etc

They have stated the the bricks might bleed and therefore discolour the white mortar so I will request for normal grey cement

Thanks