Any builders on here?

I am currently having an extension built at the moment, and have a question or two after coming home and seeing the progress that was made today.

One of the outside walls is right next door to the fence that divides my back garden and my neighbours. The builder has started the wall in a conventional style, brick on the outside, breeze (sp?) block on the inside....wall ties...damp course all present.

But on the wall that you wouldn't see (from the outside), he has started using breeze block for the outer wall. Is this normal? Safe? Acceptable?

So, is anyone on here a builder....or know about building walls / regulations / best practices etc?

I am happy to talk to him about it, but I just wanted a 2nd opinion first!

Cheers .org!

when you say the wall that you wouldnt see ,do you mean the one next to the fence.
what happens if the fence is taken down.In my opinion the outside walls should be face brick,unless they are having a final finish like render etc

Yeah, if the fence was taken down, you would see it. But I cant ever see the fence coming down, as it marks the boundary between the two poperties.

send me a picture via pm or email alexander.matter at ukonline.co.uk but providing its the blocks aren,t being seen by anyone its perfectly acceptable to put blocks below ground or use them in wall construction providing they are tied properly..

ps.. I work for Costain as a design Coordinator

know what you mean mate.If you come to sell up it may cause you problems .What was stated in the original spec.Someone buying your house may spot it and use it to try and reduce the price.

i think thats what they normaly do but only because its cheaper and quicker for the builder, id want it all house brick.

Originally Posted by 454697819

send me a picture via pm or email alexander.matter at ukonline.co.uk but providing its the blocks aren,t being seen by anyone its perfectly acceptable to put blocks below ground or use them in wall construction providing they are tied properly..

ps.. I work for Costain as a design Coordinator

Thanks fella!

I'll send you an e-mail with a couple of photos......but it'll be after bathtime I'm afraid (I've told my Mum I'm 33 for goodness sake!)

Thanks again and standby!

I'd question what you are paying for, too. If his quote includes faced bricks, then that's what you should be getting, surely? If not, I'd want a reassonable explanation as to why.

Originally Posted by 454697819

send me a picture via pm or email alexander.matter at ukonline.co.uk but providing its the blocks aren,t being seen by anyone its perfectly acceptable to put blocks below ground or use them in wall construction providing they are tied properly..

ps.. I work for Costain as a design Coordinator

Costain - GRRR

Facing brick is more expensive than blockwork.
check what you agreed in the firt place, at the very least you want what you specified, failing that you want a saving from the builder for using block

can you tell i'm a QS?

right, i'd guess the builder has seen his chance to just use block as they think no-one will see the blockwork if its always covered by fence. but my points would be, could the build proper pointed brickwork with the fence in place?? i'd seriously consider taking the fence down to have decent pointed facework on the outside. surely the fence could be taken down and then put back up with very minimal cash and diruption!