Render removed and not replaced

[Binkalater]

We're having our render redone and the builders came on Tuesday and hacked all the old render off. They worked solidly for 6 hours, did a very good job and tidied up really well. I asked when they were coming back and they said to check with their boss. The boss is on holiday and hasn't responded to my text about when they're returning. The exposed brickwork is old (1930s semi-detached) and it's raining a lot. We're getting this redone due to damp issues and I'm worried about the impact of this being left exposed for nearly a week. I know literally nothing about building work of any sort so I'm likely being dramatic but the way the bricks look I feel like my house is about to crumble! Will this be okay? I thought they'd do the whole job at once. I had no idea the blokes were even coming that day to take it off, they just turned up and when I rang the boss he apologised for forgetting to let me know the night before.

Did you tell your house insurance you were having work done?

Rendering can cause damp issues by holding water in the bricks. A bit of rain won’t hurt as now the render has been removed the water can naturally evaporate back out again.

What do the bricks look like?

As in the condition.

Oh Christ no I didn't tell the insurance, this is the first big thing we've had done and I didn't realise we had to! Shit. Should I tell them now or is it too late? It's blowing half a gale now! The bricks look pretty knackered.

Sorry, I have no advice, but following as I need repointing and re-rendering done too.

@CiderJolly why this needs to be told to insurance? When we renovated our house last year inc replacing central heating system and rewiring, insurance people didn't care?

You don’t need to tell your insurance.

I've googled and the general advice seems to be to tell your insurance about any building work due to the heightened risk of damage. Never even thought of it.

@LaughingDonkey I didn’t mention insurance it was another poster.

But yes technically you are supposed to tell them, it’ll be in the terms somewhere, but not sure many people bother.

Don’t google, read your policy. Does it say to tell them. If not, then you’re fine, if so then call them. It’s unlikely your policy says to notify them but you never know.

@Bluntness100 it’ll be in the terms, it’s a bog standard condition of house insurance.

Dug out the insurance documents, we're not covered for "accidential damage arising from faulty workmanship" but don't know if this would constitute that. I mean nothing has actually gone wrong yet, I'm just doing worst case scenario planning. We're on holiday next week when they said they'd start (they pushed the date back after we booked the holiday) so I think I'm more nervous as I won't be here if something does go wrong.
Insurance-wise there's probably sod all I can do now the work has already started but will at least know for next time

Just call the insurance to cover the bases and in all likelihood they won't give a monkey if it's just the outside render.

It being exposed for a while won't matter either but don;t let the builders take the piss over it - they should get back on it

Does it say to tell them op?

I had to inform my insurers, as it was in the terms. I only realised on the second day of my garage conversion and called then. They just made a note and reduced my theft cover during the work.

Couldn't find the t&c booklet so rang them and they said they didn't need to know unless it was work on the bathroom or building a new bedroom. Phew. Fingers crossed they turn up on Monday.