New Garage Build

[may1day]

I have just had a new garage built, the other was sectional concrete and not fit for purpose.
The wall which backs on to the neighbouring garage is block, the builder advised this, as it doesn't show. There is a gap between the garages and the rood is single pitched, so in effect the rain should fall into my garden.
The block wall gets soaked every time it rains and its only summer. I just don't know what to do, I don't want to fall out with builder.

[Old_Geezer]

If concerned about the wall getting damp, discuss your worries calmly with the builder. Sounds like a better guttering system may be needed.

[TonyV]

Was the builder working to any plans / specifications. Depends on what blocks he has used, do you know? The fact that its not seen is no reason to use potentially inferior materials, that potentially will have a shorter lifespan than brick, plus its far quicker to to lay blocks rather than bricks. I really wouldn't worry about upsetting the builder, he hasn't got to live with it long term. Best advice I can give you is that you get a surveyor to have a look and see what he thinks. Hopefully you are paying by stage payments.

[TonyV]

^^^^^
May1Day Sorry didn't read your post correctly, if garage is finished, you wont have any money leverage which is what I was thinking about, but my other advice still stands.

[may1day]

There is no guttering as that side of the garage is high, so the idea was for water to run down the roof, which some does but the block wall is soaked and I am paying by the instalments paid 75%. I don't want to fall out with him and I never asked for a budget build.

[Ryzen]

Is it single block or double..and is there a cavity? Do you mean soaked on the outside or inside?

[may1day]

single and the wet is coming through to the inside

[Ryzen]

Then I would assume that the water is soaking through,or you have a leak.Either way its shoddy and needs attention.

[may1day]

a leak from where though ?

[Ryzen]

Is the water coming from the top or bottom?

[may1day]

its completely along the wall in different parts

[Ryzen]

You need to get advise from a trusted builder and then question your builder.Single brick/block walls will always suffer from damp..however they should keep water out.Did you have a specification from the builder before you set him on?

[may1day]

I don't know what you mean by specification

[Ryzen]

Generally when you have any building works done,the building construction methods/materials etc are specified by any reputable builder so that the customer knows what they are paying for and the builder knows what to price for.

[The Builder]

I guess he's laid 100mm blocks in the conventional way. Rainwater will penetrate easily.
Laying the blocks flat will give a wall 215mm thick. That's better, but I've seen many cases of water getting through that too. Since it's a garage, there is not much chance that he's put up a cavity wall, so the problem persists.

My guess is that he hasn't rendered the outside from what you said about it "not showing". He obviously thought it wasn't important.

I would suggest he render the outside with sand & cement render incorporating a waterproofing additive. This isn't perfect. Excessive rain can still get through, but waterproof render slows it down considerably.

[Ryzen]

TB....he may need to be a very thin builder if its backing onto another garage.

[The Builder]

I was wondering the same thing, Ryzen. He doesn't actually say how close it is.
I was living in hope. ;o)

[TonyV]

Dont think Ryzen literally meant you had a leak. If water is penetrating all the way through the blocks I am would be concerned, especially with possibility that water in blocks could freeze in the winter. Lucky you have some money leverage, I wouldn't make any more payments for the time being. As I said earlier blocks are cheaper and quicker to lay. First course of action needs to ask your builder what he thinks. I would still tandem this with getting your own independent survey done ( without builder present) Shouldn't cost to much for survey in the whole scheme of things.

[Ryzen]

Generally single leaf construction methods should only be used for Lego projects.

[TonyV]

Builder I was thinking about render but dismissed it due to proximity of neighbours garage. (a bit of topic) Its a bit like my partners shed that was put so close to house you cannot open bathroom window anymore, lucky we get on with neighbours so I can put preservative on from their garden.

[may1day]

there no chance of rendering it or anything else - he built the block wall from inside .