New Home Owners And Snagging Forum
Advice on buying a brand new home => Snagging and defects => Topic started by: Rdb on July 06, 2017, 08:19:42 pm
-
I have had an interesting experience lately with a consultant Barry Haseltine MBE who NHBC use to assess mortar issues. I gather from the claims manager that they use him a lot.
Anyone else who has had similar issues please can you PM me.
I dont recommend posting comments here other that to state you have had issues - or stick strictly to 100% verifiable facts.
-
I really think you need to contact via PM our member PSE
He has been battling the NHBC with a similar defect.
It also, (reading between the lines) seems to be similar concerns in your mind!
Like you, he has Barry Hestletine MBE (87) as the NHBC's "independent" expert.
So the NHBC claims manager tells you the NHBC use him a lot!
You do have to question just how independent he is - practically an employee?.
It also goes some way to explain why he takes many weeks to produce what is by that time, a relatively straightforward report based on many previous test results from many different test labs.
It also demonstrates that the issue of weak or sub standard mortar is widespread and something that industry needs to address by regular testing of mortar cubes taken on site each week.
-
It would appear from the attached file the NHBC has been using Barry Haseltine (MBE) for weak mortar problems for years as this was even dated 1999.
In the attached file Malcolm Hollis, professor of building surveying at Reading University stated regarding the weak mortar "This (repointing) is a minimal way to resolve a problem that shouldn't exist in a building constructed at the end of the 20th century." He added the inspection of the buildings during construction was deficient and had failed the homeowners.
So nothing has really changed then except we're now in the 21st century.
Finally, I wonder why BBC Wales refused to interview Barry Haseltine (MBE), the international expert who the NHBC had look at the site???
-
Weak mix mortar is becoming a serious issue and NOT confined to isolated cases.
So the usual excuses/explanations of localised frost damage, brick acid cleaning and re knocked-up old mortar don't wash!
The NHBC and Barry Haseltine are fully aware of the problem, a problem that is going unchecked and will only get worse. Imagine the embarrassment for the government if 30% of the million new homes by 2020 which were never going to be built anyway, have to be demolished due to weak mix mortar and cement replacement additive.