Recent Posts

91

Snagging and defects / Re: Snapping/Cracking Noises Heard In Room Below

« Last Post by New Home Expert on May 22, 2023, 07:35:40 am »

I wish I had a pound for every time I see a post with this issue.
It is micro cracking and the only solution is to take down your ceilings and cut away the wall board adhesive near the joists.
Read this:  http://www.brand-newhomes.co.uk/Joint-statement-on-cracking-sounds-from-ceilings.pdf

Please read this post:
http://forum.brand-newhomes.co.uk/snagging-and-defects/ceiling-microcracking/msg5315/#msg5315
http://www.slkremedials.co.uk/
http://forum.brand-newhomes.co.uk/snagging-and-defects/minor-issues-with-new-build-home/msg5296/#msg5296

Lots more posts on here search "micro cracking" in the search box or ceiling cracking noises.

92

General discussion / Re: Water ingress to garage.

« Last Post by New Home Expert on May 22, 2023, 07:28:47 am »

First of all, don't plaster this forum with multiple posts on the SAME ISSUE!
It wastes my valuable time.

I've answered your post below.  Thanks for mentioning elsewhere, it was a completed home built by Taylor Wimpey.

I hope you don't exchange contracts until this is addressed.
Extensive works will be required in the neighbours property comprising of excavation to below your garage floor level, then a waterproof tanking applied to the garage wall from foundations to at least 150mm above ground level (neighbour's side). Then the tanking will need protecting, usually a 100mm skin of blockwork, and the top of the tanking and protection should be have a lead flashing cut into the brickwork 25mm, pointed and dressed over the wall.

If the builder refuses to address this you will have all the information you need to walk away.

If you exchange contracts, you will be forced to legally complete and have a long drawn out battle with the builder and perhaps the NHBC trying to get the work I outline above done.

93

Snagging and defects / Re: Cold rooms on one side of house

« Last Post by New Home Expert on May 21, 2023, 05:18:13 am »

With timber frame, there should be insulation between the studs on the inside which is the same thickness as the width of the stud.  It is OK for a electrical back box to crush the insulation in that small area. But.... there should be a fully-sealed vapour barrier over the insulation (behind the plasterboard) of all external timber frame sections.  This should not let in cold air.

94

Welcome - Member Introductions / Re: liability for optional extras?

« Last Post by New Home Expert on May 21, 2023, 05:11:47 am »

Once you have paid for the extras, you wont get your money back unless the housebuilder cancels the sale/reservation.

There is no need to pay for these until just before the work needs to be done so don't.
If the builder's sales (they are on commission for extras!) insist walk away. Housebuilders are struggling to find buyers and they will want your sale, not a cancellation.

Optional extras are always more expensive. Try dealing with the trades or site manager direct.
In some cases there may even be no extra cost such as moving a socket.

95

Welcome - Member Introductions / Re: Petition for stricter regulations on new builds

« Last Post by New Home Expert on May 21, 2023, 05:06:36 am »

Your petition isn't going to get anywhere because what you want exists now.

Every stage of the house build is inspected by either local authority building control or a private organisation accredited to do it such as the NHBC. In addition there are warranty stage inspections which are more thorough.
This of course depends on whether they are actually carried out as required by law the Building Regulations, and the competence and diligence of the individual inspector.

As for redress, there is now a New Homes Ombudsman, something I spent 8 long years campaigning for.
It is not currently statutory, and is questionably independent, but it now exists, thanks in no small part to my own efforts.

96

Snagging and defects / Re: Snapping/Cracking Noises Heard In Room Below

« Last Post by lukey on May 19, 2023, 08:07:11 pm »

I have got an endoscope, really tempted to cut a hole in the ceiling and see if I can figure out whether its microcracking...

97

Snagging and defects / Re: Snapping/Cracking Noises Heard In Room Below

« Last Post by lukey on May 19, 2023, 06:08:02 pm »

In one of the locations (above the living room which is split into two rooms by a partition wall) the Builder came today and took off the skirting board and checked that the wall was properly secured and I believe put in some more screws where some were missing, although it doesn't appear to have had any impact.

98

Snagging and defects / Re: Weak / Sandy Mortar

« Last Post by floraljo on May 17, 2023, 12:55:14 pm »

Did the nhbc do anything about this? I'm intrigued since they haven't done anything about my garden!

99

Solicitors and Legal Issues / Lawyers and class action

« Last Post by floraljo on May 17, 2023, 12:42:28 pm »

I love you for setting up this forum and sharing this info. Very disappointing that home owners can't club together on these issues and collectively make changes.
I'd be interested to know of there are lawyers working for groups of residents on some of the issues new build owners are raising. If so, does anyone know which solicitors/companies are working on which issues? Thanks

100

Snagging and defects / Drainage Channel

« Last Post by andrewjackson1981 on May 15, 2023, 07:52:01 pm »

New to the site and looking for a little guidance.
We have just moved in and there is a drainage channel (see photo hopefully) that has been built between the walls of the garage door entrance. The door closes on top of this so that the channel is visible inside. Is this correct and is it also right than the channel doesn’t drain into anything, it’s just a long channel?
I would have thought that it should be outside the garage walls and that it should have a pipe that leads into the drainpipe drainage?
The house builder has told me this is not a defect?