Problem with builder. Where to go from here?

sunflower_2

:eek::eek:

no advice unfortunately OP - but just a huge (((((HUG)))))

the work is a disgrace - how dare he think he can take people's money and leave them with that sort of finish

really hope you get this sorted

keystone

yumyums wrote: »

Here are some more pics:

Thick wonky grout line by doors. Asked him to look at this & perhaps cover with one of those flooring strips but he's ignored it.


Close-up


Damage to sink:

It's some sort of glue or sealant, not a stain, as I can feel a difference in texture there. Asked him what it might be so we can work out how to try to remove it but he's said nothing has been poured down the sink and he can't give us any further info.

Finish under sockets:

Perhaps stupidly we haven't complained about this as we thought it would be easier to just fix it ourselves once he was gone. Didn't realise how bad it looked until I took a photo! He must have noticed it too?

I saw this this morning but my reaction was of being utterly speechless at the total incompetance and lack of care. Quite a considerable number of hours later to be honest I still am.

That is an absolute disgrace. The sink may be recoverable, if not it needs replacing. The wall behind the upstand under the socket is fixable but it should have been done before the upstand (or indeed even the worktop) was put in place. Having said that the presence of plaster dust on top of the upstand may indicate that this socket was a late addition? Its the tiling thats truly bad. They've obviously cut the tiles (very badly as it happens - bit like the filler panel over the oven) according to one single measurement (the shortest) rather than on an angle to fit the space corectly. The right solution to that is not a cover piece it's to take those two tiles up and redo them. More worrying though is the complete lack of grout line between the two tiles and at the sides. There should be an appox 5mm gap between floor tiles (are these 600 x 600?) with tiles cut accordingly and that gapo filled wit flexible grout. These tiles are just butted together. That points to tile failure at some stage in the future. If they've laid the rest that way I'm sorry to say that they all really ought to come up and be redone.

You really must complain about these things too whether or not you dislike confrontation and if he doesn't reply positively then you really must go to Trading Standards. I suspect it would be wise to get a proper person in to price all the rectification work required and if what you have shown us thus far is anything to go by there is going to be a lot more too. Then suspect its Small Claim in the County Court.

Please don't show me any more pictures of this bodgery par excellence as it will very likely reduce me to tears.

Cheers

keystone

yumyums wrote: »

I'm quite short too, but have managed not to burn myself (yet!)

As said before it's not according to the plan. Therefore it must be redone.

Just wondering, I believe legally we have to give him the chance to put things right, don't we?

Yes you do hence the 2 week period I mentioned should be included in your letter.

'm not sure how comfortable I feel about this because I can't see him ever finishing it to a good standard.

Frankly neither can I.

If we got someone else in at this stage then charged him for it, I suppose we'd be in the wrong?

Absolutely not - you would be totally in the right. He either has to put it right, give you money back to enable you to fund putting it right or you fund it then chase him via the County Court for your money back. I suspect he won't give it up voluntarily.

Earlier up the thread I asked you about what was in the contract about acceptance, payments and retentions. You didn't answer - perhaps you missed the question?

Cheers

southcoastrgi

as KS is obv upset with the quality of the work you have had done, I'm not going to ask if he sealed the floor tiles, oooops

keystone

southcoastrgi wrote: »

as KS is obv upset with the quality of the work you have had done, I'm not going to ask if he sealed the floor tiles, oooops

Never has my flabber been so ghasted.

BTW now:



Cheers

yumyums

Sorry for making you so upset Keystone!

Finally had an email response to our letter tonight. He has said that he is in no way admitting responsibility but that "as a gesture of goodwill" he will supply us with the correct doors free of charge and we can get the oven moved ourselves. I assume this means he still expects payment of the outstanding money but I think it will cost a fair bit to get someone in to do the work. We had already sent him another letter today before receiving his email, stating that we intended to get someone in to rectify the problems.

Where do we stand with this? It's stressing me out big time and I don't need stress right now being 6 months pregnant

yumyums

keystone wrote: »

Earlier up the thread I asked you about what was in the contract about acceptance, payments and retentions. You didn't answer - perhaps you missed the question?

Cheers

We were given a payment schedule with the contract. It doesn't say much specifically about acceptance / retentions but there were weekly payments to be made assuming "both parties are agreed that progress is of a satisfactory standard". Nothing about acceptance of work at the end.