Conservatory issues

suzybloo

This is a long one but I will try to condense things as much as possible. We ordered a conservatory from a well known national company. In the original purchase and contract that was formed when we paid the deposit we agreed that the floor of the conservatory should be a wooded suspended floor. What they have done has given us a concrete floor, with no consultation or negotiation as to why they were changing it. The plans which were lodged with the local council (Scottish council) clearly show that it is a suspended wooden floor, with no further amendment to the plans being made (I have checked with them). I did ask the fitter when the wooden floor was being done and he said no its a concrete one, so I did raise the question but due to added pressures just now did not have time to pull out the original plans, I then noticed that one of the windows was hung the wrong way ie when you walk out the door to the left you walk straight into an open window - the hinge had been put on the wrong side, this again was brought to their attention. The Company have acknowledged that the floor is different from what was in the original contract and that they should have been in touch with us to discuss the changes. They are quoting something about air circulation under the floor - however the level is the same as the house which has wooden floors so not sure about that one will post thread on another part of the site. They even left the floor unscreeded - think thats the word - but they have said someone will be back to sort it and replace the window. My question is what legal redress do we have with this issue, if we had wanted a concrete floor (which we didnt) we would have ordered one at the time, we also have no indication as to what insulation/dampproof etc was put in. The saga continues in that yesterday we had heavy rain and when we came home the whole place was flooded with water pouring in where the conservatory meets the house, as it is a spandel roof ? where there is an apex roof from the conservatory going into our original house, this had been left without any tiling, guttering, lead flashing etc on. therefore not wind and watertight. Do I have any further legal redress on this also - I have witnesses and photographs to substantiate this.
I have a meeting with the builder who was subcontracted to this company, the area manager and another higher up from head office on Tuesday and really want my wits about me as I am sure they will try and fleece the issue, Can anyone give me some legal pointers under scots law,

just to add its not finished yet after 5 weeks, and they still have to come back - will be another week - that was before they will have to replace all plasterboard that got soaked yesterday. We were told at the time of placing the order 3-4 weeks was construction time.
Hope someone can help as I am at my wits end and to be quite honest am at the stage of telling them to take it down and give me back my money, as there are other little issues which can be overcome (all the guttering is sitting full of water - when asked about it they say thats normal as there is no run on conservatory guttering as it would look silly if the guttering wasnt straight - eh what happens in the winter!!!!).
Many thanks

Suzybloo

Freddie_Snowbits

Is your issue the concrete floor?

Where I live, the council through building regs require that the floor is concrete, though you can put a wooden floor on top.

paddyrg

Try the In My Home board for technical discussions of suitability. I suggest you itemise your complaints in date order, nice and clear, what remedy you want, the date you want it by, and send it to the company by recorded delivery titled "letter before action". Then prepare to sue.

squeaky

Hi

Yes, I think it might worth sorting out what is and isn't "to standard" before going into what actions you may take, so I'll move the query across for the gurus on the In My Home board.#

Good luck

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Culex

suzybloo wrote: »

My question is what legal redress do we have with this issue, if we had wanted a concrete floor (which we didnt) we would have ordered one at the time, we also have no indication as to what insulation/dampproof etc was put in. The saga continues in that yesterday we had heavy rain and when we came home the whole place was flooded with water pouring in where the conservatory meets the house, as it is a spandel roof ? where there is an apex roof from the conservatory going into our original house, this had been left without any tiling, guttering, lead flashing etc on. therefore not wind and watertight. Do I have any further legal redress on this also - I have witnesses and photographs to substantiate this.
I have a meeting with the builder who was subcontracted to this company, the area manager and another higher up from head office on Tuesday and really want my wits about me as I am sure they will try and fleece the issue, Can anyone give me some legal pointers under scots law,

just to add its not finished yet after 5 weeks, and they still have to come back - will be another week - that was before they will have to replace all plasterboard that got soaked yesterday. We were told at the time of placing the order 3-4 weeks was construction time.
Hope someone can help as I am at my wits end and to be quite honest am at the stage of telling them to take it down and give me back my money, as there are other little issues which can be overcome (all the guttering is sitting full of water - when asked about it they say thats normal as there is no run on conservatory guttering as it would look silly if the guttering wasnt straight - eh what happens in the winter!!!!).

Their comment about the guttering is just daft - that it is full of water suggests to me that the builders have either (somehow!) failed to connect a down-spout or that the fall on the guttering is going the wrong way!

As for the lack of flashing, etc to keep the conservatory and house weatherproof, what has the local building inspector had to say about it?

suzybloo

Many thanks for your responses, I have a meeting today with Fit the best fit ........... and have a letter written with all the points written and extensivley described. I have then made a statement at the bottom with what I expect and a timescale - giving them 24 hours for the roof or I will sue for consequential damage also should it rain, and 14 days for everything else. I have also stated that if this is not done I will seek further legal advice and instruct court action to begin or they will be instructed to remove all materials relating to the building and refund monies already paid. I have also set out a clause for compensation with regard to them breaking the original contract, stress and inconvenience, phonecalls and time to deal with this.
I was told on Saturday that the builders wouldnt be back until Tuesday, so I had intended on being here to speak to them, however the next issue I have is that they appeared yesterday entered the conservatory without my permission when I was at work, and have plastered the plasterboard that I wish to have removed as it was soaked through, I am wondering if this is a quick cover up job before the high up ones from the company appear today. I am also livid they entered my property without my say so.

will let you know how it goes..................