Snagging List Disagreement

pinkshoes

Our builder is currently working through are snagging list, but we have a disagreement over something.

We have 4 spotbulbs in our bathroom ceiling (i think they're special airtight ones because of bathroom humidity), but somehow they keep filling with (big) flies who are getting in through the roof somehow. (It's a top floor flat).

I'm talking 20+ flies in each spotbulb, and sometimes you can see them crawling around in there! Really minging!

Anyway, this is a fire hazard, as if we left the lights switched on, it is possible that the lights will cause the dead flies to catch fire.

The builder says we can either leave it how it is, or we can pay for some different lights.

Personally, I think that THEY should pay for the different lights, as the ones they've put in blatently aren't suitable for purpose given the potential fire risk.

Before I go demanding that they pay for them, I need to know where I stand, and whether I'm right on this issue or not!

Many thanks in advance for advice!!

Pinkshoes x

scope

We have spotlights in the bathroom aswell (speciel bathroom ones), and they too have flies in them.. I suspect the builder is right, he has done as requested. Sorry.

Libra1975

Erm how do you change the bulbs? Can't you just empty them once in a while?

Debt_Free_Chick

pinkshoes wrote: »

Personally, I think that THEY should pay for the different lights, as the ones they've put in blatently aren't suitable for purpose given the potential fire risk.

Before I go demanding that they pay for them, I need to know where I stand, and whether I'm right on this issue or not!

I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say that they're not fit for purpose

Can you not remove them from time to time? How would you change the bulb, when the time comes - there must be some way to get in.

Anyway .... I don't think this is a clear-cut snagging issue. The lights have been installed, installed correctly and they're working. The flies are attracted to the heat ..... but so many does suggest a problem somewhere. Perhaps a dead rodent in the loft space? :eek: If that is the case, then new light fittings are unlikely to solve the problem as I would guess the flies will simply find a way in to the new fitting.

Solve the fly problem first - it's difficult to find many arguments to back up the suggestion that it's the builder's fault.

What do others think?

pinkshoes

If it was the odd fly, then it would be easy to just unscrew the light fitting and remove them (hopefully they won't drop on my head!!), but there are so many of them in such a short space of time, it's a bit ridiculous to have to unscrew all the light fittings on a weekly basis!

Our flat technically is the loft, so they're not coming from a loft space, but they must be getting in somehow...

The builder himself said it was a potential fire risk, and given that I'm a bit dozy in the morning and occasionally leave lights on (yes, i know, not very money saving!!), I don't wanna get home from work and find my flat burnt down! :-o I'm sure the insurance wouldn't cough up either if they found out I knew about the fire risk...

I'm just not satisified with the builders response of leave it or pay for new ones ourselves, because he's telling us he's done something that's a fire risk, but he's not prepared to pay to fix it.

Libra1975

Part of me wonders if you are making a mountain out of a mole-hill here, I don't mean to sound harsh it's just I don't think I have ever lived in a place where flies etc don't get in the lights and need to be emptied every now and then (however that might just be an indication of the type of places I have lived!). You have to pick your battles and if you have a list of priorities how far up it is this?

Also I have never heard of dead flies catching fire in a light fitting!!

pinkshoes

Libra1975 wrote: »

Part of me wonders if you are making a mountain out of a mole-hill here, I don't mean to sound harsh it's just I don't think I have ever lived in a place where flies etc don't get in the lights and need to be emptied every now and then (however that might just be an indication of the type of places I have lived!). You have to pick your battles and if you have a list of priorities how far up it is this?

Also I have never heard of dead flies catching fire in a light fitting!!

So if your builder told you that you had dodgy wiring in your new build, that was a potential fire risk, would you be happy to leave it?

It may SEEM like I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but I know how hot those lights get (burnt hand opening one after it had been turned on for 15 mins! - dumb blonde moment), so I just don't wanna take a risk.

I just find it ironic that we have the builder telling us he's created a potential fire hazard but isn't willing to rectify it!

Libra1975

pinkshoes wrote: »

So if your builder told you that you had dodgy wiring in your new build, that was a potential fire risk, would you be happy to leave it?

It may SEEM like I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but I know how hot those lights get (burnt hand opening one after it had been turned on for 15 mins! - dumb blonde moment), so I just don't wanna take a risk.

I just find it ironic that we have the builder telling us he's created a potential fire hazard but isn't willing to rectify it!

I think we need to go back to Debt_Free_Chick post, it's the flys that are the problem not the fact there is dodgy wiring (isn't dodgy wiring a different problem from having dead flies and too much heat?).

Guy_Montag

I'm with DFC on this one, it's the flies that I find worrying. Though I would be somewhat concerned how they are getting into a supposedly sealed unit.

Keep on at them though. Pester power works for adults too, with a bit of luck eventually they'll give in to your demands just to keep you quiet.

Good luck

pinkshoes

Guy_Montag wrote: »

I'm with DFC on this one, it's the flies that I find worrying. Though I would be somewhat concerned how they are getting into a supposedly sealed unit.

Keep on at them though. Pester power works for adults too, with a bit of luck eventually they'll give in to your demands just to keep you quiet.

Good luck

Yes, I agree. I'm an engineer, and don't accept the builder's stance of "There's nothing I can do about the flies"! If they're getting in, there MUST be a way to stop them! The heat seems to kill them rather quickly, as they don't seem to be making much effort to get out!

It's a 2nd floor flat though, so he can get up some ladders and find where they're getting in, not me! (wouldn't wanna get my pink shoes scuffed!).

dmg24

Do you have a Zurich or NHBC guarantee? If so, not sure about NHBC, but Zurich will intervene in matters like this. Perhaps worth giving them a call.

I am currently in dispute with David Wilson Homes. My draining board dips in the middle, and hence does not drain. DWH say this is quite normal?!!