builder saying windows & rooflights we supply wont be covered by their insurance

Dannym72

Hi 
We got a quote for extension which included a new side window and rooflights which we originally accepted.Upon the build progressing  we had expressed to the builder that we wanted to make some changes to the costing for the rooflights (from fixed to electric) and the side window (from pvc to aluminium) and the prices they could provide .I also asked around for other prices as well and found some cheaper from other suppliers . The side window would be fitted by the supplier and expected the builder  to supply a fitting fee for the roof lights . We have been told that this is fine but these items won't be covered by the builders insurance .
Is this correct as I don't see how the rooflights especially can't be included as they will be fitting them.For the window I expect the workmanship to be covered by the window fitters insurance but the surround work covered by the builder 
Can anyone provide some guidance or direct me on where to ask.
Thanks.

Doozergirl

If they don't provide something, they're not guaranteeing it.  It's pretty simple.  They're not making any money from it.  The margin, collectively, on the products for a build pays the builder enough to be able to afford to break stuff occasionally or deal with snagging issues on fixtures.   

If you want to save money in that way,  then the responsibility and risk of that item moves to you.  It actually has very little to do with paid-for insurance policies - you can't rock up to John Lewis with a hoover bought from eBay and expect then to fix or replace it for you.  It doesn't matter who insures John Lewis; you haven't paid for that service.  

"Making" £30 or so on one fitter's fee when the windows are costing £000s and there are several other trades working around them, all equally likely to cause damage, simply isn't worth the stress.  

It's perfectly okay to buy your own products and pay a tradesman to fit it if they are happy doing that from the start, but you won't find many that will subsequently take responsibility.  It's your financial savings and your own time sorting out problems that provides a self-insurance policy. 

It's actually pretty unfair to remove items from the contract like that if you've taken on one main contractor to manage the build. You've removed agreed profit/contingency from the builder and added a problem.   

We learned the hard way, very quickly, not to fit a customer's choice of anything.

TELLIT01

Are they saying they won't cover the items in the event of any faults developing with the windows and rooflight, or are they saying they won't guarantee that they are waterproof once installed?  As they haven't been involved in the purchase it doesn't seem unreasonable that they won't accept any responsibility if the products are substandard.  I would still expect them to ensure they were properly fitted, but possibly provide a much shortened period of cover for their installation.

Jakg

TELLIT01 said:

Are they saying they won't cover the items in the event of any faults developing with the windows and rooflight, or are they saying they won't guarantee that they are waterproof once installed?  As they haven't been involved in the purchase it doesn't seem unreasonable that they won't accept any responsibility if the products are substandard.  I would still expect them to ensure they were properly fitted, but possibly provide a much shortened period of cover for their installation.

The problem will be - what if the supplier says installation fault, but the installer says product defect.

TELLIT01

That's where an independant 3rd party would be required to determine where the fault actually is.  That would depend on all parties agreeing to abide by that 3rd party decision.....  Another reason it's much better to specify what you want, or go with the contractor to select the items and have their approval from the outset.

It's human nature to try to lay the blame elsewhere if possible.

Mutton_Geoff

And at the end of the day, if the builder is half decent, the window fitter capable and the hardware of reasonable quality, nothing is going to fail that would ever need a warranty claim to sort out.