make good of brickwork for new windows

sunriselondon

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right forum but I really appreciate some advice. The window company charged £7,200 for supplying and fitting 3 bay windows, a kitchen window, a bathroom window and 1 window for small bedroom, UPVC, double glazed. They damaged the brickwork around the window frame area when installing the window. Instead of replacing the damaged brick, they just filled the holes with cement which is rather unsightly. They took down the curtain rails but due to the change of window frame, it's impossible to fit the curtain rail to the new frame. I pay another £200 for fitting wood frame in the interior instead of PVC. But they just use glue to stick the wood frame on the wall. They told me that they are not going to repair the brickwork and they won't do the wood work again. I have withheld 10% as final payment. Do they have the obligation to replace the brickwork and not just filled with cement? What should I do?

Plasterer

sunriselondon wrote: »

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right forum but I really appreciate some advice. The window company charged £7,200 for supplying and fitting 3 bay windows, a kitchen window, a bathroom window and 1 window for small bedroom, UPVC, double glazed. They damaged the brickwork around the window frame area when installing the window. Instead of replacing the damaged brick, they just filled the holes with cement which is rather unsightly. They took down the curtain rails but due to the change of window frame, it's impossible to fit the curtain rail to the new frame. I pay another £200 for fitting wood frame in the interior instead of PVC. But they just use glue to stick the wood frame on the wall. They told me that they are not going to repair the brickwork and they won't do the wood work again. I have withheld 10% as final payment. Do they have the obligation to replace the brickwork and not just filled with cement? What should I do?

Oh dear youve had some right cowboys here

Keep the retainer £720 should get the work done correctly - Do you have any pictures before they started work? If you do - refuse to pay the retainer ( This is one of the reasons you have held the retainer) and DO NOT SIGN IT OFF - then if they threaten to take you to small claims (which 99% they wont) go to court armed with your pictures.
This problem comes up quite often and gets right up my nose a lot of cowboy window fitters think its the nature of the beast that they can't help but damage brickwork/render etc - this simply isnt true. Couple of examples - If a roofer retiled your roof and broke your guttering - they would have to correct it. If a scaffolder put a pole through your double glazing - they would have to correct it. If a plasterer rendered your house and got muck all over your lovely tarmac drive - they would have to correct it etc etc. Don't let them off with it Kepp the money and fight your corner.
Regards
P

sunriselondon

Thanks for the advice.

It's not just the window company, got problem with the builder as well. They damaged the original feature (cornice) in the reception and claimed that anyone who removed the wall paper would have damaged them. They just filled the big patches and left the cornice full of cracks and irregular surface. The whole project has been delayed for at least 8 weeks... not to mention they cut corners and plaster only half of the RSJ (above worktop) and use chipboard as the bath panel (tiled) - is it ok to use chip board for tiled bath panel??