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Author Topic: Cracks in external Brick work  (Read 6790 times)

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Viki2410

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Cracks in external Brick work
« on: April 26, 2020, 05:44:47 pm »
Hope everyone is safe and well.

We’ve been in our Persimmon (yes I know) new build for almost 10 months now.
We’ve had plenty of issues but the newest one is a very long crack that has appeared above our french doors in the kitchen all the way up to the bedroom window above it. The crack actually goes through the brick and mortar and is in a reasonably straight line. I’ve checked on the inside wall and there are no cracks as of yet.

I’ve asked Persimmon to get someone out to look at this ASAP as I’m very worried. My issue is that I do not know what could have possibly caused this and I do not understand enough about the issue to make sure I am not being fobbed off. I have found you have to understand the issues they come to fix otherwise they do not complete the job properly.

My question is what could have caused this? What do I need to insist on Persimmon looking at/doing to get to the root of the problem, ie not just replacing the bricks.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Thanks
Viki


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Re: Cracks in external Brick work
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2020, 01:09:41 pm »
Firstly thank you for hoping that the forum readers are safe and well at the present time. Sadly no one else has!

At first I thought this was a clear case of structural failure either foundation failure or a too weak lintel. However,  looking at the photos I am not so sure. The reason being the bottom brick above the lower lintel has yet to crack.

So It could be either:
1) Impact damage ie the forklift truck slamming into the scaffolding.
2) Thermal movement.
3) Shrinkage of the timber frame and/or lack of provision for movement of it.
3) Something else.

As Persimmon manufacture their own bricks it could be that the brick is defective in some way.
You really do have to let Persimmon cut out the bricks and re lay them. I would advise being there and taking photos once the brick have been removed and photos of your inside walls BEFORE any work is done.

I would also advise you write to the NHBC so there is a written record of this clear defect, should it re occur subsequently, especially in years 3 to 10!

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Tim Fee Snagging Inspector

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Re: Cracks in external Brick work
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2020, 04:05:30 pm »
My reply is not based on any expertise, just some experiences. Do you have any expansion joints on that particular wall?

On my development, one of the builders is Persimmon. An acquaintance has bought one of their houses. In passing one day some time back, he showed me something on a neighbours property, which had similar red bricks as yours. Persimmon had failed to provide an expansion joint, on one wall and so a worker cut one into the brickwork using a 9" disc cutter from top to bottom.

However, they didn't use any sort of guide nor dust extraction. So the end result looked like a crinkly chip, and neighbours with pink coloured cars.

Hope you get yours successfully rectified.