Need opinions please (negligent builder)

[BuilderWoes]

Hi,

We've had some renovation / repair work done at home, including a new steel beam under a bay window.

This was done in September and we've just recently been made aware by our neighbour that the outside of where the rsj was installed has not been finished off properly.

We've sent a pic and message to our builder to say we feel it this is negligent work and that the wall concerned has been open to the elements since September.

His reply was that we'll "be pleased to know It can’t allow water in as it’s only exposing the concrete pad that the steel sits on which has a membrane on".

Am I making a mountain out of a molehill here, or am I correct in thinking this can certainly damage the wall by allowing water in?

Thank you

Well it certainly looks a mess, but, tbh, with the photo taken so close up its difficult to get the full picture. Is that wood running down from the rsj?
I would have expected any loose bricks to be removed, then replaced neatly with tidy pointing, so, in effect, you wouldn't know that anything had been done, and there would cerainly not be large gaps where the rain can get in, in fact, no gaps at all.

Just another thought - did you get this checked for building regs as it is load bearing? (I only know from our own building work that the building inspector had to come and check rsj's before they were plastered over etc. I am not a building expert by any means.)

Hi,
Thanks for replying.

The wood bit is just a lose piece standing up against the wall.

We are only able to view this side of our house from our neighbour's property and this is the best of two pics I have.

Yes, it's passed building regs verbally. Builder is yet to submit electrical certificate but surprisingly is asking for final payment of works!

I don’t know whether this is unsafe or negligent in legal terms but it certainly isn’t well finished. I would ask them to come round and finish it off before any further payment is made. Also check carefully for any other signs of unfinished work.

Yes the wall is supposed to defect the water away not collect it on ledges. That's why we point the mortar between the bricks so the water doesn't sit on the edges and soak in. That is on a whole another level.
Apart from that it just looks ugly and unfinished. He is just making excuses to save hassle as he doesn't have to live with it