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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or is someone being petty?!

62 replies

Kroot · 29/07/2022 15:45

We’ve just had some extension work done, and I’ve received a letter saying the planning department have received a complaint saying our new brickwork doesn’t match the existing house. It does! It’s as close as we could get it.

AIBU?
YABU - the bricks are different and the person is right to have complained?
YANBU - the bricks are very similar, the person complaining is being petty (for some unknown reason).

OP posts:
GoAround · 29/07/2022 15:46

Did you mean to upload a photo?

Sunnysideup · 29/07/2022 15:46

Well it does and it’s as close as we could get are contradictory.

but without photos no one can say

Original poster
Kroot · 29/07/2022 15:47

My images are too large, so here they are

https://ibb.co/BKQJQKR Bricks

OP posts:
Onlyhereforthebatshitneighbours · 29/07/2022 15:48

I can see one photo. Very nice bricks.

Original poster
Kroot · 29/07/2022 15:49

Oops, let’s try again!

old brick ibb.co/BKQJQKR
new bricks ibb.co/72xzZp3

OP posts:
HangOnToYourself · 29/07/2022 15:49

Is the pic a mix of both brick types?

Butterlover1 · 29/07/2022 15:52

When we had ours I didn't even realise some bricks are no longer available. As in they've been discontinued and replaced with a new model.

Our extension is close but not a match and nobody, including planning minded.

Original poster
Kroot · 29/07/2022 15:52

HangOnToYourself · 29/07/2022 15:49

Is the pic a mix of both brick types?

No, sorry, was having a massive tech fail moment. Please see links in the post above yours

OP posts:
ivyneat · 29/07/2022 15:54

Yanbu a brick is a a brick it's just a bit more shiny

My neighbour had their porch extension roughcasted after the house and that didn't look the same (both white) but they do now it was just new. I'm sure this will be the same

Brefugee · 29/07/2022 15:55

so they've had a complaint. What are they going to do about it?
Are they just letting you know, or have they demanded you knock it down?

Saz12 · 29/07/2022 15:56

If you’re in a conservation area or national park or anywhere otherwise “sensitive” then I think you’re pretty screwed if you can’t get matching brickwork.

But if it’s a rear extension to a fairly standard house then it does seem very petty.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 29/07/2022 15:57

I can see a difference but not much. And why would someone complain about that. It’s a bit sad really.

gamerchick · 29/07/2022 15:58

Of course there's going to be a slight difference. Why do these types of messages get passed on. Why can't they just say, come back in 10 years and we'll check.

AgentProvocateur · 29/07/2022 16:01

The bricks are quite different, and the grouting is a completely different colour. That’s what is making the big difference, I think, rather than the brick colour.

HangOnToYourself · 29/07/2022 16:04

They are being petty, why would they even care?

ItsJustASimpleLine · 29/07/2022 16:04

Permitted development 9nly allows matching.

It's hard to tell how similar they are in real life without a photo of the actual property.

Imtryingveryhard · 29/07/2022 16:06

AgentProvocateur · 29/07/2022 16:01

The bricks are quite different, and the grouting is a completely different colour. That’s what is making the big difference, I think, rather than the brick colour.

I agree. What are the planning dept wanting you to do?

C152 · 29/07/2022 16:11

Well, they do look very different, but I think that's mainly because one set are old (and discoloured due to pollution/age) and the others are new. If you used the bricks you said you were going to when you submitted your planning application package and your planning app was approved, I wouldn't worry about it.

Original poster
Kroot · 29/07/2022 16:13

Imtryingveryhard · 29/07/2022 16:06

I agree. What are the planning dept wanting you to do?

Show quote history

They’re going to come have a look.
We are not in a conservation area.

It is incredibly annoying - what are my bricks doing to anyone? We’re at the end of a cul de sac as well, so it’s not like it’s an eyesore or
anything!
I am just feeling a bit upset as it has been a long project (builder issues etc), and we’ve never been anything but nice to all our neighbours.

OP posts:
Meraas · 29/07/2022 16:18

You have a twatty neighbour. Do you have a Ring doorbell? Look out for someone staring at your brickwork.

AmyAnonymous · 29/07/2022 16:20

Who on earth would complain about such a thing?

Our neighbour out the back had a very large side extension and the colour of the bricks looked totally different to the original. But five years on and you can’t even tell the difference.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 29/07/2022 16:22

The small photos look quite different to me but it's impossible to say without seeing house itself

The planning department will decide there isn't really anything you can do

closingloop · 29/07/2022 16:28

Spray the new ones with a very weak slurry of cow poop (if I remember correctly) to speed up the discolouration and aging. Possibly spray the neighbours too if they're pissing you off.

bigbluebus · 29/07/2022 16:32

It's very difficult to match bricks. I never even knew that Brick reps were a thing until we were having our extension built and a chap turned up in his car with a load of different bricks in his boot trying to match them to the originals. It was nigh on impossible to match even on our 10 year old house (at the time). We could only get a near match - and our match is a lot better than some of the others on our estate.

Lagertha6 · 29/07/2022 16:37

That person who complained is being petty. The bricks look the same, more or less. Your old bricks have probs been battered by weather etc.