Council building work

[Celestine]

Re: Council building work

Indeedy, I'm absolutely baffled by that too.

The stringency we apply for contractors to join our approved list is extremely high. (This is for within corporate buildings, I'm in charge of managing facilities in Council Buildings), yet contractors approved for external residential works seem inferior.

Seriously, you need to get a survey done to quantify cost of rectifying this dreadful work then issue a claim against the Council.

[Celestine]

Re: Council building work

Incidentally, I would also issue a FOI against the Council for their criteria for contractors joining that list and what the Council does to monitor quality and adherence to said criteria.

[bluebottle]

Re: Council building work

My late father was in the construction industry for 45 years and ended his career as a building inspector, checking the quality of workmanship of things like the work that's been done on your house. If your local council think they're going to wash their hands of the workmanship shown in the photos you've posted, I'd go round to your local council's HQ and kick the Chief Executive's backside around the car park one way, then back again the other way for an encore! I agree 100% with Celestine that there is no way the brickwork was done by a bricklayer. When my father was alive, he had a saying, "If you're going to do a job, do it properly. If not, don't do it at all." Whoever did the work on your house shouldn't have done it at all. Invest in some steel toe-capped boots and kick the backside of your local council's CEO around the car park at its HQ, as suggested above.

[rpjjuk]

Re: Council building work

Thanks all, for your import and advice.
I have sent a letter, including copies of the photos, to my local council saying that this work is not satisfactory and asking that a meeting be arranged to examine the work at my house.
I will update the post as soon as I hear from the council.

[rpjjuk]

Update

Just had a phone call from the boss of the councils building dept. He and his deputy would like to visit me next Tuesday and discuss the problems with the building work.
Any advice on what to say etc would be appreciated.

[bluebottle]

Re: Council building work

If I may make a few suggestions, RPJ, you could mention issues like -

What effect does the work done have on the structural integrity of the building? (Is it going to fall down?)
What effect could the work done have on the building in the short to medium and medium to long term if not rectified? (Could it affect the rest of the house and cause problems, like cracking, subsidence?)
Why was the work passed when it clearly wasn't up to an acceptable standard? (It certainly isn't up to the standards demanded by local authorities - see Celestine's posts)
Does the builder they recommended hold CITB and CSS accreditation? (CITB = Construction Industry Training Board; CSS = Construction Safety Scheme)
Is Calamity Kevin registered with an OFT accreditation scheme and when was he last assessed to determine whether accreditation should continue or be revoked?

These are the sort of questions your local authority needs to give straight answers to, regardless of whether it makes them feel uncomfortable. They gave the money to fund the work and, as such they have a duty to ensure that public money is being spent wisely. Giving it to the Calamity Kevins of this world is not spending public money wisely. The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) is a possible avenue of complaint and resolution should you run into a brick wall. (Sorry, no pun intended!)

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council building work

http://www.fototime.com/inv/037FE6D5BFE1DC1

I don't know if you will be able to see these pics of the new wall.

Yes, I've seen them.

Was the wall meant to look so quaint, rustic and haphazard,. as if its builder was half-blind, half mad or simply, seriously squiffy?

[rpjjuk]

Update !!

Update
The council turned up and basically tried to give me a load of B*******t. They tried to say that considering the age of the house the new brickwork was ok. No mention or apology for the fact that their builder used an illegal gas fitter.

I had noticed something before the council came, the builder had only rebuilt the wall above the damp proof course. There are two courses of bricks under the DPC which were laid by the first builder using the 19 to 1 mortar mix. This means that the wall is resting on two courses of brick held together by 19 to 1 mortar and below the DPC which means it would probably never dry out.

The council argued about this and said they needed to go back to the office and look at some plans. They said they would get back to me. The next day I had a phone call from one of the council people that had inspected the wall. She said that she was not convinced that the bottom two courses of bricks had been laid using the 19 to 1 mortar mix.
I asked her if she, and the other person that inspected the wall with her, were qualified in any way. She replied that they were not chartered suveyors but had a lot of experience in the housing service.
I then suggested that the council get a chartered surveyor to inspect and report on the work carried out on my house. She said she could get someone who was qualified from another department within the council and ask them to do a report. I suggested that perhaps the person might be a bit biased as they work for the council. She was taken aback at this suggestion and said that the person would make a fair and unbiased report ( and pigs might fly lol ).

I said that she was welcome to get a qualified person to inspect the work but that I would reserve the right to get my own chartered surveyor if needed.
It has been two weeks since we spoke on the phone and I have heard nothing from the council. I have just emailed the council and asked for an update.

Some more pics showing the bricks under the DPC:
http://www.fototime.com/users/rpjjuk...co.uk/Builders

[Celestine]

Re: Council building work

Great photos, but they show your real name and address. Might want to amend.

You need to get 3 quotes from a professional, insured, recommended builder.

Quote for complete rebuild of wall and lower courses.

Then send the final quote selected to the council suggesting you will be taking them to court to recover this amount.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council building work

What might a high pressure water jet do to the inadequate mortar?

How well do you suppose the wall would stand if the lowest bricks were loose or even missing? :rofl:

[Main man]

Re: Council building work

Looking at the pictures it looks like the builder has failed to leave a minimum distance between Ground and DPC (around 6")

Have to agree the brickwork is shocking.

Has Building Control issued a completion certificate?

[rpjjuk]

Update !!

Council say that a certificate is not needed as it is a replacement of an existing wall.

[Celestine]

Re: Council building work

No building control only get involved in structural works and those subject to environmental, H&S, structural etc elements.

But that is irrelevant, the Council are liable as they offered the Preferred Contractors list.

Do the FOI to find out how the list is managed.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council building work

Is the brick layer a member of AA?

No, not the Automobile Association - Alcoholics Anonymous!

[rpjjuk]

Re: Council building work

Email from council. One of their chartered suveyors is coming to look at the problems on Wednesday.
Anyone know how I can check his name to see if he is a qualified chartered surveyor?