'Nor our responsibility' re measurements

MollyMutkin

We've been waiting we've been waiting weeks for the fitting of a glass balustrade by a Balustrade fitting company to the balcony outside our bedroom.

Early August the fitter arrived to do a site survey and measured for the fitting of glass panels to the inside front of the balcony. He suggested the centre panel sit between two folds in the lead work running along the front of the balcony, with the other two panels either side:

1270 glass panel/space for lead fold/1000 glass panel/space for lead fold/1330 glass panel

Each fixed with sealed 'Extruding stand off pins' (bolts) which fit through pre cut holes in the glass to hold the glass to the inside face of the balcony. This was all left open for discussion with my husband if we wanted to make any changes, not a problem. I paid a deposit and he left me a photocopy of his measurements and diagram.

My husband and I later had a look together and decided that it would not look right as the panels would be off centre with the doors onto the balcony (window/doors/window). So we decided we should have the three panels in line, the same width as windows and doors, aligning with the door frames.

We discussed this with fitters and gave them the window/door frame width measurements to re-calculate the panel size and positions and all was ok with them for a 4-6 week delivery.

Finally (after cancelling last week) the fitter came back. All seemed well until called me with the word 'problem' in his sentence.

He explained he could not fit the panel to the right as the lead fold overlapped the 'bolt' by a few mill. so it would not seal properly to the lead and would cause a leak. The only solution is to have the lead work removed and the fold moved so the 'bolt' would fit on a flush area and seal.

This involves getting our roofer's lead fitter back to remove and refit the lead across the facing edge to adjust the fold to the correct position for the 'bolt'

Obviously, the lead refit job will now cost, but the balustrade fitter is stating it is not their responsibility as their job was to just supply and fit the balustrade.

My argument was that he had the original measurements which showed the alignment of the folds, he knew they were there (agreed) so surely he should have taken the position of the folds into account for the new measurements and 'bolt' fitting, when you come out on a site survey you check and measure everything is ok to be able to fit the job? - Yes, but no the position of the lead fold is not his responsibility.

We think they should pay for the lead changes. We have not paid in full yet, so could we withhold the cost of the lead refit we now have to arrange.

...Also, they told us last week we should have had the handrail delivered Friday but that still has not arrived either, so he would not have been able to complete the job anyway!

vaio

If they had measured and it didn't fit or lead needed re doing then it would be down to them.

You doing the measuring and giving them the new dimensions you wanted complicates matters.

I suspect they will say that you should have made sure your new dimensions worked with the lead.

MollyMutkin

Looking back over emails, my husband does confirm following phone conversations, supplied measurements, even questions adjustment for mounting in relation to the changes and states to proceed only if they were happy on the basis of the discussions and measurements.