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  Graeme Brown April 21, 2018 at 12:26am

  I studied architecture. Many years ago so have no over view of this but am not an expert .a DPC is there to stop moisture travelling into a building and so keep it dry.  A single skin brick wall would not need a DPC the major effect suffered would be spalling of the facing brick, blowing of the face of the brick due to frost. 

  I would call his bluff and contact trading standards to mediate. Your offer seems resonablre to me.
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  Colin Hunt April 21, 2018 at 7:07am

  Does he mean a virtical damp membrane? If so, and the wall is retaining soil, then he is right. If he means a standard horizontal DPC, then all this would do, would be to weaken the structure, unless a course of engineering bricks are used. 

  However, the jointing should not crumble after 3 years DPC or not and is a construction fault. The mortar could have been an incorrect sand/cement ratio, maybe it dried out too quickly in full sun or even attacked by frost. 
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    Neil Brown > Colin Hunt April 21, 2018 at 10:14am

    Hi Colin

    it is the outer wall of a raised square pond and he is talking about horizontal dpc

    There was a frost the night after it was built and my suggestion is that is whats caused the problem 

    Its the threat of legal action i am more concerned with has i have never had any issues with complaints in the past 

    Regards

    Neil 
• PRO

  Andrew Betteridge April 21, 2018 at 2:48pm

  Being an older guy I would tell you not to put a plastic damp course in a garden wall, as a strong wind or impact will allow the wall to topple over.

  Engineering or semi-engineering bricks too two courses above finished ground level and the right mortar mix, then straight on up with the facing work.

  However retaining walls can remain damp, do semi-engineering bricks may be needed all the way up and/ or a vertical damp membrane at the back.

  But as this is a pond wall it must be waterproofed at the back.

  Presumably there isn’t a issue with the bricks, merely the pointing, so repointing seems fair.

  Andy
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  Andrew Betteridge April 21, 2018 at 4:37pm

  Is there any possibility that the customer or someone under their instruction has cleaned the wall with acid and/ or a pressure washer?

  Andy
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    Neil Brown > Andrew Betteridge April 21, 2018 at 5:23pm

    good point andrew thank you although i dont suppose he will admit to that if he had 

    Many Thanks 

    Neil
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  David Benson April 21, 2018 at 11:40pm

  i would not have put a dpc in it as it will have a sidways load rather than a vertical load and would cause a week spot, i persume it has been built in english or flemish bond or simular to give it strength with a pond liner witch in turn will have moisture behind it 

  try offering him a independant inspection by letter (recorded delivery) and keep a coppy of all corespondence 

  i have a concreate path that I did 2 years ago it has spalled this winter with the extreem cold and wet 
  • PRO

    Andrew Betteridge > David Benson April 22, 2018 at 9:41am

    I agree, a plastic DPC would allow a retaining wall to slip off its foundation.

    In this instance I am picturing a very low wall without much thrust behind it, but still wouldn’t expect a DPC through it.

    Andy
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  Neil Brown April 22, 2018 at 11:11pm

  Hi All thanks for answers to date 

  i have attached a photo of the wall in question 

  The grass around the base is artificial which i installed at a later date 

   
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    Neil Brown > Neil Brown April 22, 2018 at 11:15pm

    The internal wall is solid concrete blocks