Loft company refusing to install product

Babooshki

Just after some advice please as my husband and I are in a bit of unusual situation, having reached a deadlock with our loft company over a juliet balcony. When we initially signed with this loft co. we were told we could have 'anything we wanted' in terms of the juliet balcony (within permitted development obvs). I sent them pictures over a month ago of steel balconies with onion detailing on the sides and front and they kept sending back pictures of some 'examples' of this type but none of them had the side detailing. They said they could get 'similar' and said they couldn't send a picture as the balconies are 'made to measure'. I finally pressed them over this issue and finally they admitted 2 days ago that the 'balcony guy can't fit one with sides' but wouldn't give the reason why.

Today I have contacted a steel railing company asking after a model with sides and front and was reassured the model can be fitted onto a loft dormer etc. I passed this on to loft co and recommended they call them to order etc. The steel guy was happy to speak to them and get it sorted. But the loft co have said they will not 'install anything that comes from anyone else'. I have given them a solution to the problem but they don't seem to want to budge. Is there any way around this? What would other people do? I feel they are being really stubborn and unreasonable. To be honest, I think they already had a standard model of balcony in mind and were just going to go with that, which is what we've discovered they seem to be doing with a lot of stuff throughout this build.

missile

Have they started work?

If not contract another company.

Babooshki

Yes they've started work, in fact the dormers are plastered, nearly finished - just bathroom to be installed and a lot of internal decoration to be done. I get a feeling they are going to pull the scaffold soon and if we don't get a resolution over the balcony, its not going to be fitted.

Aylesbury_Duck

You can't force them to fit something they refuse to, so you have two options:

1. Negotiate with them. If mark-up is their concern, how much would you need to pay them to make it worth their while?

2. Find another company to fit the balcony.

This assumes that the one you've chosen is completely compatible with your set-up, would comply with regulations in that setting, etc.

Ganga

Is it possible,both physically and financially,to retro fit the balcony you want after they have finished the job?

Babooshki

I have checked both online and with the steel company, their juliet balconies all meet current building regs, so that doesn't seem to be the issue. I just think the loft people can't be bothered and want to install whatever is to hand/easiest for them...yes, Ganga, its financially possible but it will be a hassle. What annoys me is they have been dishonest & uncommunicative about this from the start.

Aylesbury_Duck

Babooshki wrote: »

I have checked both online and with the steel company, their juliet balconies all meet current building regs, so that doesn't seem to be the issue. I just think the loft people can't be bothered and want to install whatever is to hand/easiest for them...yes, Ganga, its financially possible but it will be a hassle. What annoys me is they have been dishonest & uncommunicative about this from the start.

All the more reason to use someone else to fit it. If you're not happy with they way they've acted, you're better off dealing with someone else because if there are any problems during or after installation, it sounds like they may be less than cooperative dealing with it. Why would you want to persuade a contractor you're not happy with to do more work than necessary?

Babooshki

Aylesbury duck, yep we could try a re-negotiation as they prob just included a standard model in the costings of the project. Money talks!

DaftyDuck

Ask them, in writing, why they will not fit it, reminding them of their initial agreement to fit anything.

They may actually have a good reason. If they don't, and won't, you will need to get someone else to fit it.