NHBC - the most expensive but useless warranty in the world?

CKhalvashi

Leif wrote: »

If the house details state that insulation is present, and it isn't, then surely that is fraud, or misrepresentation, rather than a fault, and you can take legal action against the seller. Had the insulation failed, then that would have been a warranty issue. They charged you for something they did not supply. I'd take legal advice, maybe speak to the consumer advice people, they are quite good and free. I would have thought the 5 year gap would not matter, it is hard to check that insulation is present, and few people if any actually do check.

It can go to court from 6 years after the defect was found.

CK

Furts

Andehh wrote: »

The installation certificate was filled out by 'Miller Pattison' on behalf of Taylor Wimpey, so the insulation was meant to go in with the house being built - it wasn't an afterthought. I have contacted Miller Pattison on suggestion from Rockwool and they are sending a guy out to look mid August.

What confuses things further, is checking the wall in the loft - directly above the lounge with missing Rockwool I found that it has Kingspan insulation - as in the big boards.

So I have a mixture of insulation, with a healthy mixture of shoddy insulation! In what situation would Kingspan board be used at the top of a wall and Rockwool at the bottom!?

As an engineer I am sure you will research and establish the facts. The following may sound obvious but there is something odd about this situation.

If the house was to be drilled and pumped the bricklayers would have known this. Installing "Kingspan" incurs expense in materials and time. The builder would not have the Kingspan on site if it was not required - every material is scheduled and allocated to each plot. The bricklayers would not go to the trouble of fitting it, unless necessary, because they are "are on a price for the job".

So is your guarantee applicable to the loft and it is the "Kingspan" cavity batt insulation that is missing?

If you contact your local authority the "completion certificate" will be lodged there. There will be a reference to enable research to what cavity insulation was specified for the cavity. Do not be put off if they say they did not approve this standard design. The house may be "LANTAC" approved - I will not bore you on this - but there should be an audit trail, even if this ends up at NHBC (who are likely to have done the approval.)

Basically, establish the facts before your meeting to avoid potential embarassment.

Andehh

Thanks for the posts guys. The fact that I have a Rockwool cert, have some Rockwool in the walls, but the two walls I have been able to check have both had large gaps where I checked means there it is a shoddy installation job at best. I can only assume the other walls are the same.

Anyway, to update....The guy turned up 45mins early, drilled several holes apparently, told my partner it all looked fine and left 15mins before I got back to meet him. I was pretty miffed at the whole situation tbh, and was annoyed that he didnt let me know he was arriving early, leaving early or that 'looks fine' was an acceptable answer.

I am ringing him at 2.30pm today when he gets back from another site visit to ask him politely if he could come out and discuss it with me in person and show me the areas he checked.


edit: As for buying a new build I wouldnt say never, but I would say is expect human nature & captilism to be involved. They build in volume, as quickly as possible and move on. You need to anticipate this, and check thoroughly whilst you still can to pick up on snags. Althought....new builds are super well insulated (generally...), NEW, and built to the latest & greatest rules & regulations. Downsides are obvious, garden size, overlooked, snags and parking are usually the big issues - but not always if your careful & do your homework.


edit: He has agreed to come out and meet me on site to show me what he saw, and for me to show him what I saw. Hopefully will come to a conclusion then! Will update end of the month.:)

Andehh

Well, an awful lot of back peddling for me!

Long story short he came, out and was very very pleasant! He re-drilled several holes all over the external house and showed me that the house in fact fully insulated!

He couldn't explain why there was the patch of 'empty' I saw but suggested that with drilling the hole the debris & dust that I was pushing through could have just caused the insulation to settle in an isolated area. Seemed fair, as he showed me the insulation and it is fact incredibly light & fluff stuff.

Either way, he said very rarely do corners get cut here. It is a very cheap & easy way to insulate a cavity/house, and that the 'wool' insulation is so cheap there is nothing saved by only half doing it, or skipping walls etc!

All in all a very good outcome, and a big apology from me, to him! He did however agree that the NHBC is worse then useless after 2 years, and unless the house is no longer safe to live in, then the NHBC will not help you!

anotherbaldrick

Thanks for your concluding post , shows that you are a genuine guy !