Conservatory Installers Issues

Legacy_user

Afternoon all,

Long storey short..... We had a new conservatory fitted around 16 months ago by an independent fitter, and ever since we have had numerous issues with the roof leaking. They have been back 4 times to refit the roof but it is always leaking between the join of the glass (munting bar...so i'm told)

Our conservatory projection is 3.7m which they said is too long for a single pane of glass so they used two pieces of glass with a munting bar between. This is where the leaks are coming from, they've refitted them numerous times and pumped them full of silicone which looks an absolute mess!

I have come to the end of my tether with these people and have requested they replace the roof with a full length panes of glass. I have had another company on standby who said they can fit full length 6mm glass so no need for munting bars

I have also tried speaking to their supplier (Camden) but they are no help as they need details of what he's installed

My questions to you lovely people.....

1. Would i be able to take them to small claims court?
2. Is there a specialised surveyors i can use to come out and do a report of the conservatory?

:(:(:(:(:(

Frank99

I'm not sure about all the legal stuff but i would make sure any further work done is paid for on a credit card for your section 75 protection (over £100) etc.
I would get a local Solicitor if you haven't already to guide you through what to do next in terms of Court action etc.
My understanding is that the Company or fitter needs to be insurance backed in case the worse happens.
Always check reviews and possibly leave negative feedback if this fitter has a website or social media page.
From where you are now i would contact CAB, Solicitor and Trading Standards, something is wrong if you are left with a leaking roof so pursue all avenues including local media to get your story out.
I hope this helps but good luck!

System

I have contacted a local surveyor to see about getting an independent report and i will be booking to go see CAB next week for some legal advice

I've had the local window company to come round and quote to replace the roof with full length panes so i know what to claim for should it go to court

I have also contacted the fitter and basically said the conservatory needs to be fixed by end of March (5 weeks) or at least have a date booked in for the conservatory to be fixed or i will have to seek legal advice. I believe this will show i have given enough time for them to contact their supplier and sort things out if this should go to court

firefox1956

I would be doing everything in writing NOT verbally.
It sounds very much like the fitters are installing the glass & joining strips wrong.
Why not try & get the manufacturer out to look at the job ???
They must be interested in the problem & its resolution as its their product !!
Sorry I cant be of any more help.

Furts

There is perhaps not a week that passes on this forum when conservatory issues do not arise. The concept of a conservatory is flawed and stored up with a multitude of unsatisfactory issues.

In your case you are opening a massive can of worms. I doubt that a suitable report can be written. I doubt that a suitably qualified expert will be found. I also doubt your tactics.

Only you know what was specified, what design you commissioned, how this was signed off and how all the components have been sourced. Then to this only you know what inspection regime you implemented through the construction. Finally the snagging, signing off and payment regime. Each of these stages could be flawed, and then there is the cost versus quality and specification equation.

It sounds like you have a mono pitch roof, or a lean to roof. If so a 3.7 metre rafter is eye watering when thinking of problems.

This will not be easy to resolve and there is a strong likelihood that the conservatory should be dismantled and work start again with a fresh piece of design.

Do not expect any help from Camden, it is (probably) not their problem. Do not expect your alternative company to be competent - you are likely to be sucked further into problems.

All round you have to stick with your current company and ask yourself a multitude of searching questions over what has happened.

Then to balance out matters I would add that I have experience of problems that replicate yours. I am also aware of people living around me, and friends of my family, who have conservatories that leak. Unfortunately when buying a conservatory this frequently is part of the package.

Looking at your track record, you do not do thanks, But considering this, reading your post, then reading your update, I reflect that it takes two to tango. Step back, think deeply, go through your mindset and ask if you have brought these problems on yourself?

troffasky

Furts wrote: »

There is perhaps not a week that passes on this forum when conservatory issues do not arise. The concept of a conservatory is flawed and stored up with a multitude of unsatisfactory issues.

I'm not a fan of conservatories myself, but for the record, what is so wrong with them?

Furts

troffasky wrote: »

I'm not a fan of conservatories myself, but for the record, what is so wrong with them?

They are unregulated construction which means they do not have to be built to any accepted standards. In turn installers set their own criteria on what they do. This criteria will be based on what is cheap, quick, profitable and expedient and to hell with the consequences of this.


The upshot is there is no requirement for suitable foundations, nor a suitable floor slab, nor dwarf walls, nor insulation, nor heating, nor structural stability, nor anything really.


Conservatories, orangeries and garden rooms are all a cowboys charter allowing anybody, be they the consumer or the installer, to do as they please. With this gungho attitude it is inevitable that problems will occur. Then when these problems do occur sorting out them out can be an expensive, time consuming challenge, to say the least.

Davesnave

Some manufacturers produce downloadable guides which show how their components ought to be installed.

I used one of these + direct contact with the company's engineer to force a conservatory firm to re-attach a roof/gutter properly. It took them 4 man days, or 4x longer than the first time!

There's a lot more to my story, besides this. Luckily I did the foundations, while other structural parts were done by my family, so all the conservatory co had to do was the roof & windows. They still messed-up.....and that's after 40 years of practice!

System

Thank you for the replies. The design options were discussed at the time but i was relying on the fitters experience and knowledge in their profession to advice me for the best options to go for. We chose a conservatory based on our budget and the amount of light we wanted to reach the lounge, which the conservatory backed onto and has no other windows.

I should have done more research into conservatories, their designs and their reoccurring problems and this has all been a learning curve. All I am asking is for is peoples experience and knowledge in helping us to resolve this continual issue

We are discussing the option of the roof suppliers coming to do a site visit with the fitter to see what the issue is and what the possible options are for a resolution

Furts - I am not sure what you mean by 'Looking at your track record, you do not do thanks, But considering this, reading your post, then reading your update, I reflect that it takes two to tango'. I have been nothing but polite to the fitters and have everything written down in contracts and whatsapp messages (ok could have been letters) and i am thankful for the advice people give on the forum.... so not sure what you mean by this

Furts

AlexandLauren wrote: »

Thank you for the replies. The design options were discussed at the time but i was relying on the fitters experience and knowledge in their profession to advice me for the best options to go for. We chose a conservatory based on our budget and the amount of light we wanted to reach the lounge, which the conservatory backed onto and has no other windows.

I should have done more research into conservatories, their designs and their reoccurring problems and this has all been a learning curve. All I am asking is for is peoples experience and knowledge in helping us to resolve this continual issue

We are discussing the option of the roof suppliers coming to do a site visit with the fitter to see what the issue is and what the possible options are for a resolution

Furts - I am not sure what you mean by 'Looking at your track record, you do not do thanks, But considering this, reading your post, then reading your update, I reflect that it takes two to tango'. I have been nothing but polite to the fitters and have everything written down in contracts and whatsapp messages (ok could have been letters) and i am thankful for the advice people give on the forum.... so not sure what you mean by this

This suggests the supplier was not Camden - which partly explains the lack of support here. If you get this meeting then you need to be present, you need to be savvy, you need to watch like a hawk, you need to confirm everything in writing. But your presence will not be welcomed - indeed it is likely to be refused.

I have attended such a meeting with Ultraframe - who are a leading name in conservatory roofs. The upshot was the blatant lies and arrogance made Phillip Green and Dominic Chappell look like Saints. Remember, there are no scruples in the conservatory industry, and any consumer is playing with fire by getting involved here.