Building Work Issues

pixiepeep

So this is probably the wrong forum, but I figured you brilliant folks might know...

Basically, we bought a property, got the keys on the 1st of November. We knew there would be a full electrical rewire required. We've had the rewire, they finished Friday, but the problem is that while the electrics are bang on, the plastering to repair chases etc (part of the price) is attrocious.

Literally in places you can see just the trunking, there's no smooth edges, they've completely forgotten one socket, and the rest of them are really tatty.

The stupid thing is we agreed to pay the plasterer more to skim the kitchen ceiling and that bit is fine!

We want to write to the electrician basically saying we're not happy to pay for the cost of the chases etc because we're going to have to get it redone - we can't get them to fix is as our belongings come out of storage tomorrow, our new kitchen is being fitted on Thursday...

How do I word it?

We'll pay for the electrics and the extra work, but the standard plastering wont be being paid for as it's sub par.

Help!?!?

Saver-upper

Hi pixiepeep.
I don't have any advice,sorry.But wanted to say, if you post on the "In my Home" forum (a bit further down the front page index than House Buting and Renting,)you will get a few more responses from plasterers,builders,DIYers,etc.
Good luck,I hope you get it sorted .

G_M

Ring the sparkie and have a friendly chat. Ask him to come back and re-do the plaster. Meanwhile, don't pay anything till the job is finished to your satisfaction.

If he refuses, or responds angrily, or demands paymet, then the next step is a formal letter. Polite, brief, but clearly identifying the problem and referring to the quote he gave you saying he'd do the plaster.

Note: not all electricians do plaster work - did his quote specifically include re-plastering?

pixiepeep

The plastering is itemised on the breakdown, and a separate firm did the plastering.

Part of our agreement was a 10% reduction provided we pay within 7 days of it being completed.

Mr.Generous

don't worry about it, the electrician will tell the plasterer to sort it or he won't pay him, you don't have to worry about the 7 days because its not yet finished.

Doozergirl

You have to invite them to rectify. You cannot just refuse to pay because it doesn't suit you.

Is the work smooth? Because plastering can often look bad but is actually perfectly fine to touch. I wouldn't expect the plastering from chases to look amazing - that is why we always choose to skim the entire wall at extra cost. we never feather out over a chase but a lot of people do as cost is an issue.

I just wonder why the chasing is 'bad' but the skimming on the ceiling isn't. Clearly the plasterer has some standards.

davidmcn

pixiepeep wrote: »

we can't get them to fix is as our belongings come out of storage tomorrow, our new kitchen is being fitted on Thursday

Unless your contract made clear that the work was time-critical, this is your problem rather than theirs.

pixiepeep

They understood from the off that this was an urgent job - they actually put us back two weeks the day before they were due to start because of a bereavement, which is understandable, but the job has still taken 3 days longer than it should have.

pixiepeep

Doozergirl wrote: »

You have to invite them to rectify. You cannot just refuse to pay because it doesn't suit you.

Is the work smooth? Because plastering can often look bad but is actually perfectly fine to touch. I wouldn't expect the plastering from chases to look amazing - that is why we always choose to skim the entire wall at extra cost. we never feather out over a chase but a lot of people do as cost is an issue.

I just wonder why the chasing is 'bad' but the skimming on the ceiling isn't. Clearly the plasterer has some standards.

It isn't smooth at all, bumpy and bits falling off, some bits aren't even covered at all. It's almost like they've gone over them with a bit of plaster on the trowel for appearances sake.

pixiepeep

I should add, on top of this, the plasters have left our house in a right state - wet plaster dribbles down wallpaper, the kitchen sink is thick with plaster (it is being replaced, but they didn't know that), plaster embedded in the carpet and dollops of it all over the place.

They even swept up some rubbish under the loose bit of laminate underlay in the kitchen. and left 3 bags of rubbish on the driveway.

pixiepeep