faulty catio - what are my rights please (cat rescue)

peculiarpetulia

can anyone help me as to how to proceed with my case - i paid someone who came highly recommended to build me a wood catio for me to house temporaliry feral cats/strays until they are treated/while theyre treated by vets.

I have had to have him back 7 times since february when it was made - it  isnt waterproof so he sealed it - the roof leaked so he put extra felt on - it still leaked so he made another roof on top which sloped - it had mould so he mouldproofed it

now its october and its still leaking, still getting mouldy and the indoor roof board is cracking and showing the felt now - theres no way i can put another cat in there with the mould

I cant get his address but have his phone number and facebook business page

what would anyone suggest please? it cost nearly 2 grand

Bradden

It's hard to be sure from the photos but it looks like they've used untreated timber which is not suitable is exposed t the weather.

Not sure you can do mich without knowing thier address... how did you pay?

cx6

Agree - the timber does not look up to the job for external use.

If you paid cash or bank transfer there is probably nothing you can do. If you paid by card you can try them, but you would most likely need to get an independent expert report.

kayleighali

I know this may seem like a silly question, but what were the requirements of the build? Did you specify that it had to be waterproof, weatherproof and built with treated timber?

I only ask as I have heard of cases where a charity has been donated a quantity of wood and decided to build an outdoor structure without treating it in any way, this wouldn't be down to the builder but rather the materials specified to be used for the job - not saying that's what's happened here but something that may need to be taken into consideration.

Ectophile

That looks like ordinary plywood, which isn't meant to be used outdoors unless it's painted or varnished. As you have seen, it can go mouldy, and the wood delaminates when damp gets between the layers.

peculiarpetulia

thanks everyone for your replies

i paid by bank transfer 

I think i may have found his address now but not certain yet - got someone checking it for me.

I asked for it to be waterproof/windproof and rainproof - and specified it must be absolutely watertight as i would be housing cats in there - he said all his wood was pretreated and suitable for outside. 

cx6

must be awful not being able to house the cats properly

if i were you i would ask someone else to look at the structure and give you some advice. Maybe someone locally? 

It's not rocket science to build a weatherproof structure.

I would not trust the original person.

You could also ask for advice by posting on the diy board - lots of experts over there. Do you have a photo of the whole thing?

peculiarpetulia

ive put a request on the builders federation board on facebook for someone to tell me where hes gone wrong but im also looking at the professional builders and asking on their pages....... the more information i have the better? i want to be prepared before i bring a case to him

yes, its frustrating because there are loads of strays round by us but the main rescue is full - we house them and get them neutered and chipped then letting them recover before we release them (tnr) but without the catio we have no chance of helping the main rescue.

thanks xx

cx6

well done !

born_again

So it was supposed to be waterproof. How thick is that wood on the roof?

Trouble is now it has got wet, you will get mould.

Is it insulated in any way?

peculiarpetulia

result - i pmd him again and when he ignored me again (hed unblocked me) i then posted a picture onto a post hed done which allowed comments .......

not even ten minutes later he pmd me and asked how i wanted the issue resolved - i said i want it either pulling down and re-doing or a full refund. He replied that hed do the pulling it down and redoing it next weekend - i asked him to put it in an email with his name and address and what he would do for me, which he has done. I now have his name and address.

The idea was to then take him through the courts now i have his address but, trading standards have said it can take up to 3 years before i saw any money and even then i might not win, plus it costs around £150 to make a claim. They said I could take him up on his offer and this time if he does bodge it (but they think he will do his best ever work to stop me naming and shaming him) I can then take him to court.

I have decided to let him take it all down and redo it using new, better materials at his cost and will see how it goes. Being a cat sanctuary I really dont want to wait 3 years before i can afford another one building. 

watch this space.