Advice needed regarding incorrectly installed insulation and building regs
- Thread starter danski
- Start date
danski
"vibey"
PM incoming...
danski
"vibey"
Anyone else?
I'm freaking out as there is a lot to undo and I don't want to be seen as causing trouble but I can't let it lie. The work is wrong but I've already pointed out quite a bit that wasn't right and fear they will just think of me a trouble maker.
I just want this over, with the work done correctly
I'm freaking out as there is a lot to undo and I don't want to be seen as causing trouble but I can't let it lie. The work is wrong but I've already pointed out quite a bit that wasn't right and fear they will just think of me a trouble maker.
I just want this over, with the work done correctly
platinumsage
HaveMyPassword123
You could involve the local planning authority's building inspector. Not sure what your role is though, homeowner, builder, BTL landlord etc...
danski
"vibey"
Homeowner.
I'm watertight on this but hate potential confrontation. My anxiety is getting the better of me.
danski
"vibey"
Hopefully it won't get that far.
I'm stupidly feeling guilty for not pointing out their mistakes sooner.
Had a friend have a similar problem. He had designed heating system for a house but the rooms did not get upto temperature during winter. Client was going mad threatening to sue him. He paid someone to check his calcs, all Ok. Then someone suggested he use a surface temperature thermometer on all walls floors etc. This proved something was wrong. He hired an endoscope (the device with a camera on a flexible tube) to look in the cavitys and discovered no insulation.
He told client and never heard another word. Lot of time money and effort for someone who works for themselves which he had to swallow.
So if its wrong they'll find out when its cold if you dont tell them now.
He told client and never heard another word. Lot of time money and effort for someone who works for themselves which he had to swallow.
So if its wrong they'll find out when its cold if you dont tell them now.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
They might write you a solicitor's letter if you need one. Which Legal Service can help, too, if you join (I presume they take on back-dated cases).
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
Would first step be to email them and outline the further problems? (Not sure about this if as you say they've had to make a lot of corrections already.) If they don't play then get the changes checked by an independent surveyor? Home insurance might fund that, too.
danski
"vibey"
Yeah, have just emailed. See what they say really.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
Please feel free to PM me and I can look at it later or first thing tomorrow, if I can help.
danski
"vibey"
Cheers, will do
farmerbarleymow
I'm Petee's spirit animal
StoneRoad
heckling from the back!
Take extra care danski
Wish I could help, but I have only an informed layman's knowledge, and that is some years out-of-date.
Perhaps later on, you might have a word with the Federation of Master Builders, or any other professional / trade body for which they claim membership. umm "Trading Standards" might be another avenue to explore.
Wish I could help, but I have only an informed layman's knowledge, and that is some years out-of-date.
Perhaps later on, you might have a word with the Federation of Master Builders, or any other professional / trade body for which they claim membership. umm "Trading Standards" might be another avenue to explore.
danski
"vibey"
Yeah, sadly they don’t belong to any kind of body. We went with a neighbour’s recommendation. Oh well.
Trading standards may well on the cards.
But thank you though
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
I see teuchter's already responded. I'm not wimping out, honest, but I have literally zero experience with domestic scale stuff. He's going to have much better advice than I can give!
danski
"vibey"
That’s absolutely fine. I appreciate your reply and teuchter is already helping massively
StoneRoad
heckling from the back!
danski - if or when you end up at the small claims court - or whatever, could I suggest that you claim against the "company" and the directors / owners / partners "jointly and severally" ...
I had a dispute with a builder [not paying for work done] and, on advice, we went for the company and not the directors. Who promptly closed that company, via "bankruptcy" and started up another company, with a similar name & the same directors [to do the same again]. The one we were involved with was the third version .... and the b*****d is still in the same trade more than a decade later. Although, he has to work via a proxy.
I had a dispute with a builder [not paying for work done] and, on advice, we went for the company and not the directors. Who promptly closed that company, via "bankruptcy" and started up another company, with a similar name & the same directors [to do the same again]. The one we were involved with was the third version .... and the b*****d is still in the same trade more than a decade later. Although, he has to work via a proxy.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
Yeah, that practice is rife and it's one reason it can be very hard to take action against small building companies.
And things like the Federation of Master Builders are pretty much worthless.
Usually the main or only leverage you have is money that you've not paid them yet.
It's why it's always a bad idea to pay for anything up front if you can help it. Divide the work into stages, and pay for each stage only when it's complete. Same for materials. Pay for them once they are actually on site. If you get two quotes, and one is cheaper but wants money upfront, while the other is more expensive but will do staged payments on completion, be very very cautious about going for the cheap one.
And things like the Federation of Master Builders are pretty much worthless.
Usually the main or only leverage you have is money that you've not paid them yet.
It's why it's always a bad idea to pay for anything up front if you can help it. Divide the work into stages, and pay for each stage only when it's complete. Same for materials. Pay for them once they are actually on site. If you get two quotes, and one is cheaper but wants money upfront, while the other is more expensive but will do staged payments on completion, be very very cautious about going for the cheap one.
danski
"vibey"
Thank you. Hopefully it won’t come to that but appreciate the advice, nonetheless
teuchter
je suis teuchter
And if builders moan that it's unreasonable not to put down money upfront, and why should they trust you to pay them when you don't trust them to do the work ...
The answer is that if things get into dispute, they know where you live, and if they make a claim against you, you aren't a Ltd company and you don't have the option of claiming bankruptcy.
Plus, if they've not got good enough cashflow to deal with paying on completion, then maybe they aren't the best managed business. They don't generally pay their labour in advance, and don't even pay for most materials upfront because they will normally have a line of credit with suppliers - if they are a half trustworthy operation.
The answer is that if things get into dispute, they know where you live, and if they make a claim against you, you aren't a Ltd company and you don't have the option of claiming bankruptcy.
Plus, if they've not got good enough cashflow to deal with paying on completion, then maybe they aren't the best managed business. They don't generally pay their labour in advance, and don't even pay for most materials upfront because they will normally have a line of credit with suppliers - if they are a half trustworthy operation.
WouldBe
Dislicksick
Would getting building control at the local council help or at least the threat? If the builders aren't doing things to building regs they might get things sorted rather than having building control constantly looking over their shoulder if they were to get involved.
