New Build - Settlement cracks after a year - should be covered under snagging?

GixerKate

I'm hoping for some help on what my rights are and what I can reasonably argue about concerning the settlement cracks in the bathroom in my new build house.  We've been in it for just over a year and originally reported the issue within 2 months of being here, essentially the gap between the wall and the floor is widening to the point that even with the mastic in place I can easily loose coins down the gap, if you include the mastic then its probably three £1 coin wide by now.

I've had about three site managers (they keep quitting) come around and each have stated its due to the fact that the floor tiles were cut too narrow which has now been compounded by settlement movement and should be fixed by having the floor replaced.  Not great but at least a good fix.

The snagging odd-job guy has just turned up and is masticing the cr*p out of the gap claiming no knowledge of tile replacement.

What are my chances of being able to push for the fix of replacement floor tiles or would the mastic solution be accepted under snagging 'rules'?  If the mastic ticks the boxes then fair enough but just want to check with the collective minds to ensure I'm not getting fobbed off.  I remember something about a rule concerning 'if the gap is wide enough to fit a £1 coin then it should be resolved' or something, I just can't seem to remember the details!

74jax

Which builder is it and what does your welcome pack guide / advice give about cracks? 

[Deleted User]

You are being fobbed off. I'd start by writing to the builder and telling them that you expect it to be fixed in the next month, or you are going to get quotes for fixing it and send them the bill.

RelievedSheff

We found that you need to be really forceful with the developers to get them to fix any snagging you find. 

What you describe should be fixed properly by the developers. But getting them to do so may take a lot of hard work on your part.

We gave in with getting them to come and fix our snags. The other half ended up doing them properly and as they should have been done in the first instance. The house feels like a proper home now that it is finally finished but it took us a couple of years to get to that stage of feeling it was finished.

GixerKate

Thats it exactly, I just need to figure out how forceful I need to be, the mastic doesn't actually look that bad but if there is any more movement then I just don't think a bit of mastic is going to be enough.  I do still have some time until the builder's warranty finishes so will see.

ccbrowning

I had so many in my new build and they did nothing about it. In my case, the property had been in the weather a lot before being totally sealed up, so the hairline cracks just happened as it finally totally dried out and cured. Half my neighbours just put moulding in to hide the ones near the ceiling lol