Cracking up
Fury over builders’ wonky brickwork
Chris McDonald hit a brick wall trying to get snagging fixed at his new house.
He says the build is so poor, a child could have done better.
Yet Persimmon Homes are refusing to remove the brickwork at the front of the property and reinstate it.
Chris, 34, said: “I am furious. The property looks hideous.
“The brickwork is ver y messy. It’s not straight and runs in waves. Cracks have appeared three times and there are gaps in the mortar. A kid could lay a brick better.”
Chris and partner Danielle McNeil, 27, paid £210,000 for the property in Paisley and moved in on December 29.
He said: “We’d been told the house would be ready in March but we got the keys on December 19. I think they were trying to meet their year- end targets.”
Chris complained and was told the problems with the bricks would be rectified.
He said: “They attended to other snagging but nothing was done about the bricks. So I raised the issue again.
“Nothing was done until I emailed them in April when the brickwork started to crack under the ground-floor window.”
Persimmon sent a manager to Chris’s house. He said: “They agreed the workmanship was poor and said the bricklayers who had done the job were no longer on the site.” Persimmon ure proced ied simplif your DIYor require not Usethe do as you havebeen divorce you years. to consen t if two wife’s at least of the ted for n separa childre areno cost to The Also, there 16. under ge sheriff marria your local apply at £120. court is agreed to rectify the issues. But the problems persisted.
Chris, a gas mains layer, said: “There was a second crack in the same area after it had been fixed. Then a third crack appeared on the back of the building.
“The mortar is washing out and I have bricks that are the wrong colour in the wrong place and others which are moving.
“The other houses next to me are having similar issues. One had the gable wall rebuilt. But they won’t do that for me as they claim the standard is within tolerance.”
Chris contacted warranty provider NHBC. He added: “They said they work to a minimum standard and, if brickwork looks OK from 10m away, there is nothing they can do. Please help.”
I got on to Persimmon Homes West Scotland. They said: “It is important customers are happy THE JUDGE, SUNDAY MAIL, ONE CENTRAL QUAY, GLASGOW, G3 8DA. WWW. SUNDAYMAIL. CO.UK THEJUDGE@ SUNDAYMAIL. CO.UK in their homes. Each one is built in accordance with the NHBC standard and complies with building g control. This property y underwent an additional nal inspection f rom NHBC, BC, following an enquiry fromm the customer, which confirmeded no further action was required.” ed.”
Chris is raising a complaint plaint with NHBC to ask them to investigate further. place hadn’t done his job properly. I wasn’t about to pay BT to send someone else.”
I got on to BT, who sent out an engineer free fr of charge. And he fixed the problem within w an hour.
Helen, of Montrose, sa said: “After months of hassle, everything w was sorted with m minimum fuss.
“We have a new co contract which is half th the price of the old one on with the same benefits. be Thank you.”