Who built my Conservatory?

MissBehaving

Hi Guys

I wonder if someone could point me in the right direction.

In November last year we bought our house and the main selling point for me was the beautiful Amdega conservatory.
However, we have noticed several things going wrong with it. Such as the poor drainage on it and lack of down pipes, the rubber around the windows is coming lose and finally there is a crack in the wood (where the gutters sit) that is allowing water INTO the conservatory (and its not a drip drip process!!).
The conservatory can not be more than 3 years old, as the previous owner had it put up and they only lived here for 2 years prior to us moving in.
My problem is that i have checked through all the records that came with the house, and there is NOWHERE that mentions who the Conservatory company was. There are approved plans, buts that about it.
I have contacted Amdega but they either have no records of the conservatory, or cant be azzed to help! They did say that there are loads of contractors that install their product.
I have also mailed the old owner (Snail mail) but to date she has not come back to me.

We need to get this sorted out but if we do it ourselves we would probably risk the guarantee (if there is one) and it will cost us a pretty penny!

Anybody been in a similar situation? Any advice is extremely grateful.

Thanks.

dora37

Sorry can't help much, but just to let you know, we had our windows replaced in January and the guarantee states that it is only valid with us, not the property, ie if we sold the house even after 12months of having them fitted, the guarantee would no longer be valid and of no use to the new owners.

smudger1964

A reputable double glazing/conservatory firm like the one I use will let the next owner of a property have the remainder of the guarantee transferred to them.In my case they would charge the new owner £25 for administration.Some companies wont let you do this so as to get out of the obligation to repair poorly fitted products

dora37

smudger1964 wrote:

A reputable double glazing/conservatory firm like the one I use will let the next owner of a property have the remainder of the guarantee transferred to them.In my case they would charge the new owner £25 for administration.Some companies wont let you do this so as to get out of the obligation to repair poorly fitted products

We are really pleased with the windows and doors and the customer service we have received from the reputable company that fitted them.

They are a small local company, who were professional from start to finish and beyond........don't necessarily tar them all with the same brush!

smudger1964

dora37 wrote:

We are really pleased with the windows and doors and the customer service we have received from the reputable company that fitted them.

They are a small local company, who were professional from start to finish and beyond........don't necessarily tar them all with the same brush!

My company is also a "small local company" but they are able to offer this service for their products.Some companies do some dont I suppose its just different companies have differrent priorities.But it is a bonus to have this service for future owners of your property.

ScoobieGirl

Your solicitor should have requested any guarantees. Especially if he/she was aware that the conservatory was so new. Obviously they should have passed everything on to you, but it might be worth asking them.

MissBehaving

ScoobieGirl wrote:

Your solicitor should have requested any guarantees. Especially if he/she was aware that the conservatory was so new. Obviously they should have passed everything on to you, but it might be worth asking them.

Will drop our solicitors a call on Monday. Just hope that somewhere someone has the information.
I just cant believe that a bespoke conservatory is so crap!

oldandhappy

Hi MissBehaving,
We have had mega problems with the Conservatory that we "gained" when purchasing our ideal property. We loved the place so much that when the surveyor said the C was basically a pile of S we where not put off and in fact never thought about it until it rained the 1st time...We could not find paperwork relating to any company at all either, although we are certain Anglian Windows are the make of windows used. It is the type that is joined like a lean to and the roof was not slopped enough so last Winter we had a reconstruction making the roof slope at a decent angle...doing away with the poly type roof and replaced with wood then coated with some good quality felt. We insulated the inside ceiling before covering with plasterboard and added spotlights then had a plasterer skim it. We have always used it as our main living room so no expense was spared really. Can you imagine how we felt yesterday after that heavy rain...and water started dripping through near the sliding door...ARGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH. The Roofing Company went out of business in April and as much as the job looked a good one...we now know otherwise.....It sure is a minefield out there. No help or good advise here I am afraid at this time..... but you are not alone.......

Rex_Mundi

smudger1964 wrote:

A reputable double glazing/conservatory firm like the one I use will let the next owner of a property have the remainder of the guarantee transferred to them.In my case they would charge the new owner £25 for administration.Some companies wont let you do this so as to get out of the obligation to repair poorly fitted products

I've worked for some very reputable and very good window companies over the years (nearly 25 years experience). The majority of them were happy to give a 10 year guarantee on their products, but the warranties were non transferable (only for the buyers of the products).

Although it may be a useful thing to look out for if you are planning to sell a property on. I don't feel it says anything for the reputation or quality of window/glazing companies that don't offer transferable warranties.

Llyllyll

Most of our house was fitted with double glazing throughout before we bought it, but we did have French doors fitted. On both occasions the company who made (if not fitted) the product have stamped them. Check along the inner seal of the windows (between the sheets of glass) to see if you can see a company name.

Conversely the porch we have looks like it's been fitted by a goat :rolleyes: and hardly surprisingly, there is not a manufacturer's stamp to be seen anywhere.

oldandhappy

Llyllyll...thanks for that info ...We now know the Conservatory Windows are by Selecta a family run business in Bournemouth and very good windows too...shame about the rest...you know even the level is wrong...it is built below the outside level and only 1 foot from an up and running Well that goes down about 20 Feet......no wonder we had trouble through damp rising with the laminate flooring.....All other Windows in the property are Anglian as we have paperwork and AW stamp on them. We have paperwork from new fireplace fitted to new gates even and then new garage built but NOTHING on the Conservatory or our name for it IS ***************