Dreamstyle Windows & Conservatories Ltd (Dreamstlye) and Steve Rees (Builder)

BaldacchinoR

Dreamstyle of 18 Pen Hendy, Miskin, Pontyclun, RCT, CF72 8QW, run by Mark Durbidge, agreed to build a conservatory and adjoining bathroom at our home.

On 11/1/11, a letter from Dreamstyle Windows and Conservatories told us it had become a Ltd. Co.. The registered office is 15 Stuart Terrace, Talbot Green, CF72 8AA, Tel nos -office: 08432 892153, mobile: 07582 362936.

Work commenced on 17/1/11 under the contract dated October 2010 and was substantially, but not totally completed by early April 2011; under the contract, it was due to be completed within 8 weeks! The remaining work has not been completed due partly to the way the patio slabs were re-instated, after they had to be removed to lower the patio to at least 6" below damp proof course (DPC) as required by the Building Inspector, who pointed out other problems, including replacing the inadequate drainage under the slabs which resulted in regular flooding of the patio, with more substantial drainage.


1. Dreamstyle demanded £750 to pay for the replacement drainage. I refused to pay because this was remedial work, installed because the original drainage was of unsatisfactory quality, not fit for purpose, and, not as described because it was reasonable to conclude from the contract that adequate drainage would be installed in the first place. Dreamstyle threatened to come to our home and remove the replacement drainage claiming it was their property. They did not come on the appointed day and this drainage belongs to us under the contract. In any case they would have had to re-instal the original drainage and re-instate the patio slabs, which illustrates the stupidity of this idea.



2. As a result of my refusal to pay for the replacement drainage, Dreamstyle refused to carry out any more work. At contract stage, we were told there would be a 10 years guarantee which included any remedial work Apart from the guarantee and the contract, Dreamstyle has obligations under the Sales of Goods and Services legislation.



3. Dreamstyle failed to provide the guarantee. They provided a guarantee at one stage which dated from the commencement of the works but I returned it pointing out that it should have been dated from the completion of the works, as per the contract.



4. The sandstone coloured patio slabs are of unsatisfactory quality and not as described because they have not been replaced in the same was as they were originally installed. Originally, they were wall-to-wall slabs. When re-installed, they were not wall-to-wall but now have a thick, grey concrete border around most of the perimeter and up the walls around 3 sides of the patio in a different colour (grey) from the walls (sandstone). Steve Rees did this work.



5. In January 2012, Steve Rees was brought in again by Dreamstyle to carry out work on the back of the garage roof, because no provision had been made to drain off water blocked by the new adjoining bathroom roof. I heard my neighbour asking if Steve was OK and when I looked, I saw Steve leaning on the ladder, apparently winded, and the 8' X 4' sheet of very heavy particle board leaning against my car! The car had dents on the bonnet where the sheet had hit it. Mark Durbidge, who runs Dreamstyle, said he would refer the matter to his insurers. In an e-mail, Mark said his insurers told him it was a matter for Steve to deal with. As I have effectively sold the car to someone else, who is due to collect it soon, I decided to get the car repaired, as it was apparent that settlement of my claim could be subject to protracted argument. It cost £180 and I sent a copy of the paid invoice by recorded delivery to Dreamstyle and Steve on 12/3/12 for payment. No reply has been received from either of them. As I pointed out to Mark, we have no contract with Steve, only with Dreamstyle. So I cannot see how Steve could be accountable to us for the damage to the car and Citizens Advice agree.

6. Other items of works which need to completed are re-sticking some felt on the garage roof, the leak in the conservatory roof which was supposedly repaired before, and finishing the rendering on the outside of the bathroom wall. Also replacing the bathroom Velux window glass with obscured glass - Mark wanted another £50 for this as he had not budgeted for it. Don't know why as he was told by the Building Inspector that the clear glass in the kitchen window, which looks into the bathroom, had to be replaced with obscure glass, so he should have installed obscure glass in the Velux roof window which is overlooked by our neighbours!



7. Dreamstyle has demanded extra money from us of about £1400 for items of works which had been carried out by agreement and/or under the contract. I think Mark realised this error of this idea, when we also reversed what has been previously agreed and demand that they carry out works under the contract which they have not carried out - such work would cost a lot more than £1400!!

Looks as if I will have to go to court over these problems and indeed Citizens Advice has told me today to write saying so to Dreamstyle.


Ray Baldacchino.



Tel 029 2085 9157 or 07726 844348.

isplumm

Ray .... I would remove your phone no from here ....

As far as I am concerned your contract is with Dreamstyle - not the builder Steve - so any damage should be paid for by them.

Mark