Looks like external damp on my new build??

OneWiseBlueSheep · 2025-04-30T10:06:05+00:00

We bought our property in 2019, it was built in 2018, I'm just shocked at how bad the render looks in that time frame. Do you think we need a damp survey? Just looking for a bit of guidance I wonder if this would be covered on a new build warranty?

HellsBalls · 30/04/2025 12:42

That doesn’t look good. To my untrained eye they have either not sealed the render before painting or have painted before the render was dry.
The cracks are also a worry. Should be covered by the 10 year warranty, but you need to read what it does cover.
Do you have legal protection with your insurers?

GasPanic · 30/04/2025 12:53

That render looks like something I would have done if I tried to render a place with zero experience.

What is all that lumpy stuff below the window ?

What does eveyone else's render on the estate look like ?

HellsBalls · 30/04/2025 13:02

That lumpy stuff is the paint/top coat bubbling off. Must be moisture behind it. Good point about the rest of the estate.

Original poster

OneWiseBlueSheep · 30/04/2025 13:50

HellsBalls · 30/04/2025 12:42

That doesn’t look good. To my untrained eye they have either not sealed the render before painting or have painted before the render was dry.
The cracks are also a worry. Should be covered by the 10 year warranty, but you need to read what it does cover.
Do you have legal protection with your insurers?

Here's the kicker, we were told it had a new build warranty, my solicitors failed to obtain it from the developer, I asked them to ask for it again and the developer's solicitors said they do not have any record of it. I have no evidence the property was registered with a new build warranty and would need to instruct a lawyer to investigate I'm pretty certain. This property is one of two, we are one plot, originally going to be a 6 bed, it was split into 2 plots during construction with planning perms. I have no clue what to do now. I've ordered a damp survey but I'm really worried it was built by cowboys and we've been had.

OP posts:

Original poster

OneWiseBlueSheep · 30/04/2025 13:51

GasPanic · 30/04/2025 12:53

That render looks like something I would have done if I tried to render a place with zero experience.

What is all that lumpy stuff below the window ?

What does eveyone else's render on the estate look like ?

This property is one of two, we are one plot, originally going to be a 6 bed, it was split into 2 plots during construction with planning perms. There were no other properties built by this developer, the other side of this plot, which is one building looks like this too.

OP posts:

SheridansPortSalut · 30/04/2025 14:00

It doesn't look like damp.

I think the mix in the render might have been wrong - too much sand, not enough cement.
It also looks like they might have watered down the paint. At the very least you need to use a stabilising solution and repaint.

HellsBalls · 30/04/2025 16:24

SheridansPortSalut · 30/04/2025 14:00

It doesn't look like damp.

I think the mix in the render might have been wrong - too much sand, not enough cement.
It also looks like they might have watered down the paint. At the very least you need to use a stabilising solution and repaint.

Quite possibly.

@OneWiseBlueSheep not every house is part of the NHBC guarantee. You need to look into this.