New Flats At ED Station - Be Warned! (it has a "veneer")

[Zak]

In case anyone is thinking of snapping up one of the new flats going up next to ED station, take a look at the attached picture.

From the outside it looks like they are properly built with bricks - as you might expect. But in fact the visible brickwork is simply a "brick skin", somehow attached to the exterior cladding which encases the building.

What you see here is the damage caused by a lorry which brushed the side of the building.

They look quite smart, but don't be fooled!

[JohnL]

This company even has a video of how they build it.

http://www.eurobrick.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIovemk6yA3AIV7RXTCh134gePEAAYAiAAEgLbr_D_BwE

Suppose as long as the buyers know what they are buying.

[ruffers]

Exactly. What's the problem?

[nxjen]

I noticed that when I was passing by the other day. As long as they pass safety standards, I don't see a problem. Makes me wonder how many other new buildings are using the same system.

[Jules-and-Boo]

we were looking at a flat near the harbour around Portsmouth and that was the same - basically made of wood. Was put off by the lack of durability (as well as the excessive price for a wooden structure)

[chazzle]

The flats by the station are built out of concrete, so pretty durable. I wouldn't fancy sitting on that corner balcony (with a glass screen) though.

[dbboy]

brick "tiles"

[eastdulwichproperty]

That's standard construction. A modern building built with concrete and steel will be far sturdier than a period property built with shallow foundations and bricks. The brick cladding is just for aesthetic reasons. The depth of the brick tiles allows for far more insulation. It is a fantastic idea in my view. Modern construction techniques whilst retaining some character. You will find far more problems with Victorian properties built on clay around here

[nxjen]

But when you know it's sheets of tiles made to look like bricks, it's somehow not the same

[sahmatin]

The system is constructed with 20-30mm thick slips of actual clay bricks on a backing board, the gaps are pointed with mortar.

Brick slips are used in modern construction because in most framed buildings traditional construction is not suitable: window openings are too large, balconies and piers make the detailing extensive and often require additional secondary steelwork to support the brickwork. This increases the amount of brick material along with the secondary steelwork which increase the building weight: subsequently foundations also need to be sized accordingly. Using full clay bricks purely as a cladding system therefore comes with a hugely unnecessary carbon footprint.

Steel and concrete framed buildings are much more robust than in traditional construction as they have effective ties in all directions, many Victorian buildings lack these.

The title of the post is a bit like saying "Be Warned, this mobile phone doesn't have a cord and it's not plugged into the wall!"

[Penguin68]

Much of the 'Portland Stone' you will see in Belgravia is a veneer. It is the underlying strength of build and e.g. the insulation etc. used which is most important. Modern true 'brick built' houses have an inner wall of breeze blocks. Brick - as facings - has mainly been decorative since the 1960s or so. You have to go back to pre-war (perhaps just pre 1960) to find fully brick built houses as the most normal type, with brick commons used in the inner wall and facings on the outer.

[Calsug]

Tower Bridge as well... thats a stone facade.

Penguin68 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Much of the 'Portland Stone' you will see in

> Belgravia is a veneer. It is the underlying

> strength of build and e.g. the insulation etc.

> used which is most important. Modern true 'brick

> built' houses have an inner wall of breeze blocks.

> Brick - as facings - has mainly been decorative

> since the 1960s or so. You have to go back to

> pre-war (perhaps just pre 1960) to find fully

> brick built houses as the most normal type, with

> brick commons used in the inner wall and facings

> on the outer.

[Houseoflego]

I thought it was a bit of a bodge when i saw them putting the tiles on. You can try to dress it up as acceptable but its blatantly not going to last as long as real brick. As already shown.

A lot of modern new builds are built with a very short term view of looking good long enough to sell. Peckham Rye is about to get hundreds of new build 2 bed flats. I hope they have planed a bit further ahead.

[Jim1234]

They look like they're being made of some seriously shoddy materials.

[spider69]

Houseoflego Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I thought it was a bit of a bodge when i saw them

> putting the tiles on. You can try to dress it up

> as acceptable but its blatantly not going to last

> as long as real brick. As already shown.

> A lot of modern new builds are built with a very

> short term view of looking good long enough to

> sell. Peckham Rye is about to get hundreds of new

> build 2 bed flats. I hope they have planed a bit

> further ahead.

Solmons Passage was a classic example of this.

How many flats being demolished and peoples lives shattered

[stoo31]

eastdulwichproperty Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That's standard construction. A modern building

> built with concrete and steel will be far sturdier

> than a period property built with shallow

> foundations and bricks. The brick cladding is just

> for aesthetic reasons. The depth of the brick

> tiles allows for far more insulation. It is a

> fantastic idea in my view. Modern construction

> techniques whilst retaining some character. You

> will find far more problems with Victorian

> properties built on clay around here

I?d take a Victorian house that?s been standing for 110+ years than a quickly constructed block of flats that is built to line the pockets of the developers

[JohnL]

LOL in Co-Op house ironically I've got a wall in front of my balcony built of solid red brick :) (It certainly looks like it anyway)

[chazzle]

There is a link with Soloman's passage: http://www.staidansgroup.com/projects.html

[spider69]

Pity the flats were not as good as the computer generated picture.

[Flux capacitor]

I noticed that fa?ade long before the damage that now afflicts the building. I wasn't impressed to be honest if just seems like their cutting Corners to make a quick profit which should no longer be tolerated. We could report the company to

Trading Standards

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/

[sue k]

i just feel it's sad that they haven't appeared to have taken any care or consideration to marry up with the brickwork of the station itself, so it is a nice continuity..i'm wondering how they will finish the side elevation of the station, that appears to be left unfinished from the demolition? Shame

[ruffers]

Flux capacitor Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I noticed that fa?ade long before the damage that

> now afflicts the building. I wasn't impressed to

> be honest if just seems like their cutting Corners

> to make a quick profit which should no longer be

> tolerated. We could report the company to

>

> Trading Standards

>

>

> https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-mor

> e-help/report-to-trading-standards/

On what grounds exactly will you be reporting them?

[monkeylite]

Looks fine. Obviously it is damaged because it was hit by a lorry. Want to see pictures of brick houses when hit by lorries? They can look pretty bad too.

While my 140 year old Victorian house is still standing, it is only doing so thanks to being a mid terrace held by other houses, some of which has been underpinned. Insulation is horrible and I can hear my neighbours sneeze, and smell whenever they smoke weed or whatever. My next house will definitely be a new build.

[betternowthanthen]

Can't believe they tore down the old station building, that was once a pleasant garden center,what a crime and should not have been allowed to happen, councilors have crimes to pay for (again) and replaced with a average quality boring building of over priced stuffy cramped flats looking onto a road full of bus's and ambulance's, East dulwich station looks pathetic now, wedged up between the bridge and the horrible block, gentrification is great hey?

[Passiflora]

Thanks to the OP for posting the photo. What a bodge job and I wouldn't feel safe living there!