Bad Job on New Fence

Optimist

BigMarv wrote: »

I'll need to sift through the emails.

The point I'd like to make is; Even if the wall was strong, the fence still would have fallen off (just the brickwork would have been more likely to take it). I saw the fence rippling in the wind before it fell.

While I could agree I should pay for the brickwork, my concern would be if the fence were to be reinstalled, it would still collapse in a strong wind, potentially damaging even a "strong" wall.

Whilst in no way a expert on fencing but I would have thought a fence on a wall would have some sort of break in it, intermittent planking or some such, to let wind through otherwise it is going to act like a big sail.

So if the installer pointed this out and you ignored the advice but insisted on something he didn't recommend then you are going to have a problem. Your previous post did say he said "I told you so"

If however the fence was suggested, supplied and fitted by this person then you certainly have a case under the Supply of Goods and Services Act.

BigMarv

Hi Hintza,

Thanks for your reply. After looking through emails (not the best, his email correspondence involves long paragraphs with no full stops and spelling mistakes) he mentions the need for repointing BUT it was for a seperate job (he was due to do our back garden wall as well).

It was not until he finished the job (late on Friday) he wrote down on the receipt that the wall needs repointing. Unless we phoned either batman, or got some emergency repairs done (if even possible at such short notice), we would not have had time until the strong winds hit on Monday. He did not even offer to fix the wall once the fence was complete.

I'm not especially confident that if we fixed the wall, redid the fence, added extra posts, etc. if the fence would be strong enough to withstand strong winds. As you say, single brick is just not strong enough.

I think I might get a couple of builders round for a second opinion, its likely they will facepalm.

BigMarv

Optimist wrote: »

Whilst in no way a expert on fencing but I would have thought a fence on a wall would have some sort of break in it, intermittent planking or some such, to let wind through otherwise it is going to act like a big sail.

So if the installer pointed this out and you ignored the advice but insisted on something he didn't recommend then you are going to have a problem. Your previous post did say he said "I told you so"

If however the fence was suggested, supplied and fitted by this person then you certainly have a case under the Supply of Goods and Services Act.

Thanks - it was not until after he finished the fence (which he suggested, supplied, and fitted, did he mention that the wall needed repointing.

arcon5

Just to add, if it does turn out to be fault, it's unlikely he will offer a refund and just repair it

BigMarv

Thanks Arcon.

Like I said, just repairing it will probably just end up damaging the wall, etc again, even if repaired.

texranger

BigMarv wrote: »

Thanks Arcon.

Like I said, just repairing it will probably just end up damaging the wall, etc again, even if repaired.

is their not a way you could claim on your insurance and then get the wall repaired/replaced double bricked and a fence errected correctly.

Blackpool_Saver

If I had been that installer I would have refused to do the job OR had you sign a disclaimer

mttylad

IMO it was stupid to try and install a fence fitted on top of a brick wall in the first place.

Who's stupid idea was that?

If you wanted a fence on top of the wall then you should have gone for posts in the ground (about 12-18 inches at least) with postcrete close upto the wall, allowing the fence to be fitted on top of the wall.
Or better still, remove the wall entirely and fit a taller fence - it would be much better.

IMO - DO NOT just get this fence put back on top of the wall, keep the panels but redesign the whole thing.

An example

xxJudexx

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

If I had been that installer I would have refused to do the job OR had you sign a disclaimer

I agree. If the builder knew the fence would not hold then they should have expressly said so. You are trusting the professional to have the knowledge to do a job properly.

texranger

xxJudexx wrote: »

I agree. If the builder knew the fence would not hold then they should have expressly said so. You are trusting the professional to have the knowledge to do a job properly.

but if the builder mentioned this and you still asked him to carry on then its not the builders fault.