Problem with builder. Where to go from here?

yumyums

Hello all. I'm after some advice and want to get this off my chest as it's causing me unnecessary stress.

We've been having work done on our kitchen for the past 2 months and are in the final stages. The builders fitted our single oven in a tower unit and for some reason put it higher than shown in the plans. We questioned this when it was done weeks ago as we weren't sure they could get doors to fit this configuration and they said it was fine.

They finally fit the doors yesterday and there are big gaps above and under the doors and they've used a piece of cornice in an attempt to get things to fit the strange configuration. We've told him we're not happy as it's not been done correctly and he said we'd have to agree to disagree. It looks shockingly bad (will post pictures later).

He said they're leaving it as is and will finish off the other few bits today and that's it as he's already losing money on the job. I said I'm not happy the job is finished until the oven has been corrected and that's where we left it. He hasn't said he will fix it. Where do I stand in this situation? We've been a bit naive and only held back £500 as the job was done apart from a few doors.

Sorry if I've rambled on a bit.

pimento

No advice but two months to fit a kitchen? Blimey!

yumyums

Heh. It was a bit.more than that. We had a wall knocked through and new windows and double doors.

Would it be worth getting something from him in writing saying he's not going to fix the problem and why?

keystone

yumyums wrote: »

The builders fitted our single oven in a tower unit and for some reason put it higher than shown in the plans.

They either fitted the wrong support brcakets for the shelf that the oven sits on or they were out by one row of predrilled holes or (yes I have seen it) they installed the tower unit upside down initially.

We questioned this when it was done weeks ago as we weren't sure they could get doors to fit this configuration and they said it was fine.

So although you pointed it out to them they ignored you and ploughed on regardless. Their mistake 100% then.

They finally fit the doors yesterday and there are big gaps above and under the doors and they've used a piece of cornice in an attempt to get things to fit the strange configuration.

Lunacy. They should have fixed the problem rather than bodge it.

We've told him we're not happy as it's not been done correctly and he said we'd have to agree to disagree.

You are right. He is wrong.

It looks shockingly bad (will post pictures later).

Look forward to it.

He said they're leaving it as is and will finish off the other few bits today and that's it as he's already losing money on the job.

He's an idiot. First has he no concern for client satisfaction? Has he no concern for his reputation? If he's losing money that his problem not yours when this is clearly his mistake.

I said I'm not happy the job is finished until the oven has been corrected and that's where we left it. He hasn't said he will fix it. Where do I stand in this situation? We've been a bit naive and only held back £500 as the job was done apart from a few doors.

You need to confirm your lack of satisfaction in writing - not verbally and not by email. Give him 2 weeks to fix it or you will take appropriate action. Holding back £ 500 doesn't seem an unreasonable amount actually. If he's losing money already then he will need that £500.

What does your contract say about acceptance, payments and retentions? You need to make sure you are on rock steady ground.

Moral of the story - don't get a builder to fit a kitchen. Thats my bout of "unnecessarily rubbing your nose in it" over with. Sorry - but it had to be said and I promise not to mention it again. A good fitter can make a cheap kitchen look a million dollars. A bad one can make an expensive kitchen look pants.

Cheers

keystone

yumyums wrote: »

Would it be worth getting something from him in writing saying he's not going to fix the problem and why?

Absolutely not. You are the customer. Why put him in a strong position by asking him to do that and weaken your own. If he chooses to do that as a result of your "I'm not accepting this" letter mentioned above then thats up to him. Its evidence and I'm sure that such evidence would interest Trading Standards immensely - eventually - if it gets that far.

Cheers

yumyums

keystone wrote: »

Moral of the story - don't get a builder to fit a kitchen. Thats my bout of "unnecessarily rubbing your nose in it" over with. Sorry - but it had to be said and I promise not to mention it again. A good fitter can make a cheap kitchen look a million dollars. A bad one can make an expensive kitchen look pants.

Cheers

Thanks

Will see where he's left it today and send him a letter.

We'd already realised we made a bad decision getting them to fit the kitchen. We were very happy with their work before they started the fitting.
We mistakenly thought it would be easier to have one company do it all but this is far from easy! Lesson learned for next time!

Pictures to follow when I get home tonight

southcoastrgi

as KS has said, I know it doesn't help you but it might help someone else.

Builders build walls & extensions, kitchen fitters fit kitchens

yumyums

Here's the promised picture.



He's since removed the bit of cornice and replaced with a bit of another panel or something that's been cut to size (not in a completely straight line I hasten to add, and you can see the raw edge of the cut from below)

Please someone reassure me that I'm not being fussy / unreasonable!

He needs to come back today to finish something else so will send the letter tonight.

keystone

yumyums wrote: »

Here's the promised picture.

He's since removed the bit of cornice and replaced with a bit of another panel or something that's been cut to size (not in a completely straight line I hasten to add, and you can see the raw edge of the cut from below)

Please someone reassure me that I'm not being fussy / unreasonable!

He needs to come back today to finish something else so will send the letter tonight.

Pic is far too small really to be meaningful. I see a big gap over the oven which has had something put in but little else. Can you link to the original image rather than just showing a thumbnail.

Frankly it looks nowhere near as bad as your word picture yesterday suggested but that doesn't make it right of course. A much higher definition image is needed. In any event a piece of cornice was unprofessional and an offcut is too but check your items list carefully. Often you will find that a finished filler panel might be needed below the oven. If so in your case it will be on the list although might have been missed on the picking list so he's bodged it first with a piece of cornice and now with an unfinished scrap piece.

No you are not being fussy or unreasonable. You don't spend n 000 on a new kitchen to have it spoiled by small details. There will be a solution that makes you both happy. Its just a question of finding it.

Cheers

yumyums

Sorry, is this better?
https://picasaweb.google.com/m/viewer#photo/103795975731531547940/5875868419469518513/5875868425549712546

Howdens have said they supplied all standard doors etc and he exchanged themfor the doors that have been fitted.

The gap under the oven is big enough to fit my finger in

DaftyDuck

yumyums wrote: »

Sorry, is this better?
https://picasaweb.google.com/m/viewer#photo/103795975731531547940/5875868419469518513/5875868425549712546

Howdens have said they supplied all standard doors etc and he exchanged themfor the doors that have been fitted.

The gap under the oven is big enough to fit my finger in

That's not giving me your photo...