Not ideal. Sack brickie now?

[flanagaj]

Just had a good look at the foundation masonry done by the brickie last week and it’s rough.

 

he say it doesn’t matter as it’s not seen.

 

 

[Redbeard]

Hmm. What does that out-of-plumb bubble represent? How far is it leaning in how tall?

 

From LABC Warranty:

"How far out of plumb can a wall be in the UK?

Wall panels should be erected to the following tolerances: • +/-10mm from plumb per storey height. +/-10mm from plumb over the full height of the building. +/-3mm from line of sole plate, with maximum +/-5mm deviation from drawing". In pic 3 (with a slack line on top of the blocks) where was the line when the blocks were laid?

 

Is this the brickie you were planning to use above ground?

 

 

 

[BotusBuild]

IMO, do NOT use this person for anymore work, particularly above ground. 

 

I had someone do some work for me recently who I can heartily recommend, based RG6 4 postcode area (S Reading)

 

PM me for details

[flanagaj]

44 minutes ago, Redbeard said:

Hmm. What does that out-of-plumb bubble represent? How far is it leaning in how tall?

 

From LABC Warranty:

"How far out of plumb can a wall be in the UK?

Wall panels should be erected to the following tolerances: • +/-10mm from plumb per storey height. +/-10mm from plumb over the full height of the building. +/-3mm from line of sole plate, with maximum +/-5mm deviation from drawing". In pic 3 (with a slack line on top of the blocks) where was the line when the blocks were laid?

 

Is this the brickie you were planning to use above ground?

That vertical bubble is only over two courses.  

 

Yes, this was the brickie that we were planning on using, but he'll be given his tools tomorrow morning from the lock up.  It's very disheartening that a tradie think that work is acceptable.  I've just got my laser level out and the corners of the garage are 20mm out on the horizontal.  There is also a block that's got no vertical mortar, it's literally directly butted to the adjoining two blocks.

 

 

[BotusBuild]

7 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

I've just got my laser level out and the corners of the garage are 20mm out on the horizontal.  There is also a block that's got no vertical mortar, it's literally directly butted to the adjoining two blocks.

That is SH1T - a technical term 🙂  What I'd expect from a week 4 apprentice.

 

I'll PM you the details now!

Edited yesterday at 13:49 by BotusBuild

[Redbeard]

I used to hate doing footings and blockwork in trenches, because I did not do it that often. However these were generally small - medium extensions where the footing job was too small to be of interest to a busy brickie. So I was really picky of my own work... So my out-of-plumbs' or 'out-of-squares' were tiny, as I was always pulling myself up - and checking again... and again... 

 

To lift a term (thanks @BotusBuild) you need someone who gives a sh1t - sounds like @BotusBuild knows the person. Good luck in the 2nd go.

Edited yesterday at 13:56 by Redbeard

[Nickfromwales]

That block-work is shockingly poor. 
 

Zero GAF, and there’s no way whatsoever that person should be doing anything for face work.

 

If you don’t care about stuff that’s not on show, to that extent, as the horizontal line looks like a waveform, then there won’t be much more care for the remainder. 

 

Shite. 

[flanagaj]

I'd paid them for the days they did and now I still owe him £250 for some engineering bricks, but I'm in two minds whether to tell him that he can take the £250 out of the £550 I paid him.  Just undecided whether it's worth the aggravation.

 

Edited yesterday at 17:35 by flanagaj

[ETC]

Why are you building sub-floor blockwork in cavity construction? Would be better solid - plus easier and quicker to build.

[flanagaj]

2 minutes ago, ETC said:

Why are you building sub-floor blockwork in cavity construction? Would be better solid - plus easier and quicker to build.

He said he was happy to do cavity blockwork.  I'll ask the next bricklayer whether he'd prefer trench blocks.  

[ETC]

No need for cavity blockwork below sub-floor level.

[Russell griffiths]

It’s a ball ache job in a trench that narrow, two courses of trench blocks, or I prefer concrete blocks. 
 

[saveasteading]

@flanagaj

 

Could you please answer some fundamental concerns? Otherwise I'm close to losing interest in helping.

 

Have you planning permission?

Have you a construction design by Achitect/Engineer/skilled builder?

Have you appointed a building inspector? If so are they happy with you?

Do you have a thought out plan re construction management and details at interfaces?

Do you have builders lined up or is it a sequence of one after another?

 

Im concerned for you.. this could go very wrong indeed. But this forum is for advice not managing your whole project.

 

This is where the Scottish system has its main benefit.. you can't start and make it up as you go. Maybe you should go the "full plans" route too.

 

[Gone West]

5 hours ago, saveasteading said:

Maybe you should go the "full plans" route too.

For a newbe self builder I would have thought that full plans is a very good idea/essential.

[Mr Punter]

49 minutes ago, Gone West said:

For a newbe self builder I would have thought that full plans is a very good idea/essential.

 

+1.  For a new dwelling a full plans submission is needed.  Building notice is OK for small works only.

[flanagaj]

It was a full plans application and yes we have planning.  Nothing has changed in relation to the drawings and the builder who was partially retired bit off more than he could chew.  I felt sorry for him, but the drawings clearly showed 7N blocks below DPC.  The fact that he struggled to lay them accurately is not down to me.  The joys of hiring trades in an area where you know nobody.

Edited 6 hours ago by flanagaj

[saveasteading]

39 minutes ago, Mr Punter said:

Building notice is OK for small works only.

 

Not strictly true I think, although some councils imply that it is only allowed for small projects.

Other councils may say 'should' rather than must.

 

 the planning portal use  the phrase:  "it is perhaps best suited to small work."

 

But it presents a huge risk and you have to be confident of  getting everyhing right, and comlying with all regulations and also hoping that the bco agrees with you and your designers.

 

I've done commercial projects worth in the millions on building notice.... sometimes it was the only way to complete the project to the programme  required.

eg the one where I met the client for the first time, there was no design, their requirements were complex, and they wanted to use it in exactly a year.... and it was on landfill... and they didn't own the site yet...  and politics required that we used the local LA, who didn't like being hurried.

 

BUT again. I've had heavy meetings with BCO's flexing their muscles about their personal interpretation of the reg's, and it is scary to think they may stop the job/ want a stair removed etc.

 

Right now we are converting a steel barn, and it is complex and unconventional. Being done on notice with a private bco, but we are a family of Architect and Engineer and being a main contractor, and with a Structural Engineer who can handle the complexity and accept (can I say relish?) that things might change along the way.

 

SO I am being pedantic just for clarity. Full plans is highly recommended / essential for most projects on BH.

Perhaps it is sensible that an LA says 'only for small domestic projects' even if not strictly accurate.