Dispute with builders over swollen worktops!

gdalla11

OK, need some advice!!

We moved into a house as the 2nd owners, 6 months ago. The house will be 2 years old in October.

The kitchen worktops were swollen above the dishwasher when we moved in. we took this issue to our builders immediately and they agreed to replace the worktops as they said it was a “manufacturing fault”. I made it clear from the outset that there was no steam strip fittied and hinted that this may be why they have become damaged.

Anyway, they replaced the worktops and everything was great, until about 3 weeks later, when the started to swell again at the same point! They sent someone out yesterday to “repair” them, by chiselling away the crap underneath and now sealing by placing a “steam strip” that I had been asking about since day 1!

The worktop is also swollen on the topside, which obviously can’t be chizz led away, and after having a long conversation with them today about it, they are refusing to replace them again.

Now, my argument is…surely if they had fitted the steam strip as per Whirlpools guidance, then the worktops wouldn’t have swelled?

The dishwasher was also sitting proud, as that was how they had left it after fixing it not long after we moved in. it was electrically unsafe (wired in reverse I suspect) as the chassis was live. Anyway, when they pushed the dishwasher back in they it wasn’t pushed far enough back and was sitting lope sided.

Summary of events:

• Phone call to builders Re swollen worktops and notified no steam strip fitted
• Swollen worktops agreed to be replaced as builders say it’s a manufacturing fault.
• New worktops fitted (minus steam strip) but begin swelling several weeks later.
• Builders “repair” worktops. Top side unable to be repaired so still damaged. steam strip fitted at this point!! on underside now
• Builders refuse to replace worktops again, saying they shouldn’t have done it in the first place. Our rights as a 2nd owners of the house are massively reduced, and as such they only agreed to replace them the first time as a gesture of good will

Does anyone happen to know where I stand! Im really fed up with all this now. If I’m being unreasonable I would appreciate being told, otherwise what should my next steps be.

thebaldwindowfitter

you are not being unreasonable .the original work was not fit for purpose nhbc warranty if you have one is for 10 years try contacting them

gdalla11

Ye, will their argument is that one

- Apparently i don't have as much rights now that im the 2nd owner


I will contact NHBC and see what they say

maninthestreet

I Doubt whether the NHBC guarantee will cover a kitchen worktop.