Loft insulation people put brick through ceiling - now fixed but ceiling/walls a mess

cake21

I'm having loft insulation put in this morning (right now) and they've dropped a brick which went through my bedroom ceiling (happily not the bedroom I was in at the time :eek: )

Anyway, they've cleaned up the mess on the floor, apologised, and said that someone from their office will contact me about arranging for it to be fixed this week. Sounds great.

But do I pay them or do I wait for the repair to the ceiling to be done????

Thanks very much for any replies

coolagarry

Definately wait!!

cake21

Thanks coolagarry. I didn't pay but they workmen wanted me to sign a form to say I was happy the work was completed - I put a note saying "subject to ceiling being fixed". Here's hoping

jason_s_2

Or you can pay them but keep a percentage back, say about £175, then if they dont get it fixed then you have then money to pay a plasterer for the repair and your not out of pocket.

phill99

I think jason is right. I'm sure the insulation has been installed correctly so it would be unfair not to pay them. And I'm sure they didn't mean to drop a brick through the ceiling. But hold a retention until they repair and redecorate the ceiling.

cake21

Thanks both. In the event the workmen told me they weren't allowed to take payment from me anyway...hopefully the ceiling will be sorted this week and then I won't need to worry about keeping a retention, but if it isn't I'll certainly follow your advice.

fas3robinj

I'd get a few independant quotes for a repair and redecoration. A plastered up hole in the ceiling won't look pretty if it isn't redecorated. If it's an Artex ceiling it may have to be completely redone.

Then I would negotiate with the insulation company to have the quote price taken off the total you owe them. Get one of the companies who quoted you to do the repair/decoration. That way you are in control of who does the work, and the standard of workmanship.

cake21

Well they came back yesterday to fix the ceiling. As fas3robinj forecast, they've replaced the whole ceiling and it looks a right mess. There's also mess all over the walls which doesn't wipe off.

Can I get them to pay for the cost of redecorating?

To be honest I'd rather be reimbursed for my time off work and the painting materials and do it myself (having already done it once this year :rolleyes: ) but would they go for it?

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Ironically my low quote and grant for loft insulation are working against me, I've already lost more money taking two days off for them to fix my ceiling that I was supposed to pay them

Any advice/opinions gratefully received

andrew-b

Who actually came to fix the ceiling? Loft insulation installers or professional plasterers? Seems to have taken a long time for them to come back. I would have insisted on the latter. The company should have indemnity insurance to cover them for this sort of accident. I wouldn't sign off the work or give further payment until the work is completed to your satisfaction - clearly that's not the case yet.

Think i'll be sticking to installing loft insulation myself...at least if i put a foot through the ceiling i know my accidental damage insurance cover will pay out (which incidentally i've got to change as Prudential have hiked price up from £253 to £405!!).

Andy

cake21

Thanks Andy.

It was a firm of builders, hired by the loft insulation installers. To be fair to them, I've been working away so they couldn't come before this week.

Wish I'd done the installation myself now, ironically I was nervous that I'd put my foot through the ceiling!! :rotfl: