What bricks are these?

[mills705]

Currently under going a home insurance claim due to impact. A neighbours brand new car was reversed into our front room. 

 

The insurance company are saying that the bricks of our house are unusual and hard to source? Can anyone confirm this is the case please? 

[Nickfromwales]

They’re ‘stones’ not bricks.
 

But first you need to rule out whether they’re stone cladding or solid stone.

 

Any loose enough to remove?

 

As far as a claim, you should ask for a stone mason or very good Bricky to say if these can be picked out whole, cleaned and reinstated. A new area will likely stick out like a sore thumb.

[Nickfromwales]

As for the neighbour, maybe some driving lessons or a trip to Specsavers? 
 

ffs!?!🤦‍♂️ 

[mills705]

1 hour ago, Nickfromwales said:

They’re ‘stones’ not bricks.
 

But first you need to rule out whether they’re stone cladding or solid stone.

 

Any loose enough to remove?

 

As far as a claim, you should ask for a stone mason or very good Bricky to say if these can be picked out whole, cleaned and reinstated. A new area will likely stick out like a sore thumb.

See this pic. They are bricks come stones? 

 

Interesting you say that. 

 

Arguing on the repairs at the moment as they say they aren't able to replace them. 

 

And as for spec savers he has been charged with careless driving.... although he now has a Corsa on his drive. He managed to write off a 75 plate MG with less than 10 miles on the clock! 

[ProDave]

They are most likely immitation stone bricks, often cast from concrete in a mould with colouring.  Bradstone was a well known manufacturer about the time that house was likely built, I don't know if they still exist.

 

As above, you will be far better off getting the builder appointed to rebuild this, to salvage as many as possible of the original bricks for the outer face as possible, any new ones should be interspersed rather than having a patch of new.  But don't let anyone tell you they are not available, they will be from somewhere preferably any "new" ones needed will be reclaimed and similar age / weathering.

 

It will be an insurance claim so make sure you have a loss adjuster / surveyor on your side to make sure it gets rebuilt to your satisfaction.

[marshian]

10 minutes ago, mills705 said:

See this pic. They are bricks come stones? 

 

Interesting you say that. 

 

Arguing on the repairs at the moment as they say they aren't able to replace them. 

 

And as for spec savers he has been charged with careless driving.... although he now has a Corsa on his drive. He managed to write off a 75 plate MG with less than 10 miles on the clock! 

Crickey That's a bloody hard hit!!!

[Nickfromwales]

Nothing worse than someone trying to save money on their TV licence, and using your drive-thru to watch the end of Catchphrase! 
 

“Say what you see!”  
 

erm…..

 

”the ass end of next doors car”.  

[ProDave]

I am shocked that a brand new car has been written off by this.  As said above, that was some hard hit.

[Nickfromwales]

24 minutes ago, ProDave said:

I am shocked that a brand new car has been written off by this.  As said above, that was some hard hit.

Brand new cars are held together with double sided sticky tape. 

[Mr Punter]

Interesting to see they have used what looks like a mix of 30mm eps board and blown graphite eps beads to insulate the wall.

 

I would guess the car is an auto or EV.

[Nickfromwales]

4 minutes ago, Mr Punter said:

Interesting to see they have used what looks like a mix of 30mm eps board and blown graphite eps beads to insulate the wall.

 

I would guess the car is an auto or EV.

House has prob been retrospectively blown in with beads on the external walls.

 

Probably a cold room too, with that horizontal radiator …..

[ProDave]

1 hour ago, Nickfromwales said:

Probably a cold room too, with that horizontal radiator …..

It is now with a big hole in the wall.

[Nickfromwales]

2 minutes ago, ProDave said:

It is now with a big hole in the wall.

My apologies, I hadn’t noticed that  

 

Prob best to stop this before we get shouted at 👀

[SteamyTea]

2 hours ago, mills705 said:

And as for spec savers he has been charged with careless driving.... although he now has a Corsa on his drive. He managed to write off a 75 plate MG with less than 10 miles on the clock

does he go to AA meetings, and I am not on about the Automobile Association.

[saveasteading]

9 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

A new area will likely stick out like a sore thumb.

As @ProDaveI'd guess these are cast concrete in stone effect. And that your chance of rebuilding 'as was' is tiny because there will be some damage.

Even if new or reclaimed were available as substitutes then  they would not match as batching or age will make them different colours or textures.

So unless these are inherent to the house design, or you love them, you will need a much greater area replaced in new masonry. The repaired house must look as if it was original or the value will plummet.

You may have to be  very firm on this because insurance companies like collecting, not paying.  The Loss Adjuster for your own insurer is likely to be helpful and professional on your behalf, especially as the other party will be paying.

 

You need to see a formal proposal and they should have it approved by an independent professional and by building control.

 

You'll get more help on here I'm sure.  It is best to remain anonymous so don't post pictures of the whole house, but anything from outside showing the context (adjacent areas of wall) would help.

 

Meanwhile, only if you want to answer, are you still living there or been moved out for safety and comfort?