Advice on conservatory issues

Cllb

Hi there

I am just hoping someone is more knowledgable on this than me, and could give me some advice? We have had a suite of issues with our conservatory company, whose we will ultimately be paying 16,800. I will note some here. My husband think we should ask for money off but I don't know if we have grounds to do so?


First of all, it's smaller than stated in our purchase agreement. We agreed on a size of 3.5x 4m exterior measurements. It is actually about 3x3.8 metre. This doesn't sound a huge deal but it actually reduces total interior square footage quote considerably.


The people doing the group work caused some damage to the paint and plastering in the utility, splattered concrete all over our white wall at the front of the house which can't be removed, and also left building materials on our front lawn for an extended period of time, which has left a large 2sq metre patch of dead turf.


Some of the pvc is a bit dented from fitting. And the ceramic circle holding the tie bars together is chipped. I noticed the installers standing on the roof glass during installation, which made me a bit uneasy.


We asked for a different roof top finial than that which we received and indeed did not want a tie bar to reinforce the roof at all (we were told that the manufacturers had other methods to reinforce the roof). We also ordered recessed ridge spotlights which we were told yesterday we cannot have.


My husband thinks we should get money off based on the smaller size alone. But I'm not so sure?


Many thanks for any advice!!

System

sounds like you haven't got what you ordered - do you have a copy of the signed order form which details these things?

DRP

As above - it all depends on the details of what you actually ordered (in writing hopefully!)

Cllb

Hi. Yes, we have a purchase agreement. It lists the fittings as well as the specified size.
However it also ties us into the payment schedule, which is approximately as follows (can't remember exact figures):
Deposit ~£4500
First payment upon completion of base works ~£5500
2nd payment upon commencement of frame installation ~£5500
Final payment upon completion ~£1300

The 2nd payment is now due as the frame was erected yesterday. But we are concerned about paying this large amount and leaving ourselves with little bargaining power with the remaining £1300 if the other issues are not rectified (obviously the smaller size cannot be corrected)

DRP

But what about the tie bar and finial? are they specified?

Also damage to the house.

You are right, now is the time to bring this up.

SuzieSue

They sound like a bunch of cowboys. Do not pay them a penny more until you have spoken to Trading Standards.

I wouldn't want them going near my property again. I had a conservatory built a few years ago and everything was perfect.

Stevie_Palimo

SuzieSue wrote: »

They sound like a bunch of cowboys. Do not pay them a penny more until you have spoken to Trading Standards.

I wouldn't want them going near my property again. I had a conservatory built a few years ago and everything was perfect.

Bit early for trading standards and also they would not do a lot for the OP, Best bet is to speak to the Company concerned and have them address the issues prior to the next payment being made.

SuzieSue

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

Bit early for trading standards and also they would not do a lot for the OP, Best bet is to speak to the Company concerned and have them address the issues prior to the next payment being made.

Would you really want a company that caused some damage to the paint and plastering in your utility, splattered concrete all over your white wall at the front of the house which can't be removed, and also left building materials on your front lawn for an extended period of time, which left a large 2sq metre patch of dead turf as well as all the other mistakes the OP has mentioned below working on your house?

Stevie_Palimo

SuzieSue wrote: »

Would you really want a company that caused some damage to the paint and plastering in your utility, splattered concrete all over your white wall at the front of the house which can't be removed, and also left building materials on your front lawn for an extended period of time, which left a large 2sq metre patch of dead turf as well as all the other mistakes the OP has mentioned below working on your house?

Simple cosmetic clean up of the actual issues listed and a small piece of lawn to be tidied up are really not major issues that warrant the OP to refuse the Company the opportunity to both finish and resolve these couple of problems, Yes they should seek recompense for being slightly smaller and also tell the Company concerned that they require the other few things dealt with prior to the next payment.

Your idea of refusing them entry to finish and rectify the rather trivial issues is just daft and at the end of the day you need to give any Company the opportunity to sort things out, You do not say that is it now go away prior to them looking at what is wrong and offering a resolution. The quick attitude problem that you would show will just cause more problems for the OP.

SuzieSue

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

Simple cosmetic clean up of the actual issues listed and a small piece of lawn to be tidied up are really not major issues that warrant the OP to refuse the Company the opportunity to both finish and resolve these couple of problems, Yes they should seek recompense for being slightly smaller and also tell the Company concerned that they require the other few things dealt with prior to the next payment.

Your idea of refusing them entry to finish and rectify the rather trivial issues is just daft and at the end of the day you need to give any Company the opportunity to sort things out, You do not say that is it now go away prior to them looking at what is wrong and offering a resolution. The quick attitude problem that you would show will just cause more problems for the OP.

I don't think the issues are trivial at all and yes, I fear that the OP will have to let them back to rectify their work but I still think that she needs to get advice before speaking to them.

Rain_Shadow

If the OP's measurements are correct then the conservatory is going to be 19% smaller than contracted. That would have me stopping the works, and any payments, until that was resolved.


As for the other stuff, well building is messy work and ground works particularly so. They are a nuisance but getting only 4/5ths of what I'd paid for is the thing to address.