Replaced a door and windows (including enlarging) without Building Regs - how do I remedy?

Thisisuz

I recently paid several £K for bespoke wooden french doors and a sidelight, and overall frame to replace my existing single back door and attached side windows. The area of glazing has doubled on the original set-up. 
They are a carpenter rather than a builder, but obviously quoted for the work and had indicated this was a straightforward job for them and their website has several photos of windows/doors which they had replaced and it's in their list of services they offer.

The width of the existing walls were only opened at the bottom (eg where the side windows were mid-height and up, now they are full length. (the existing lintel remained).

I had several quotes from several carpenters/firms and no-one mentioned building control or FENSA to me, but obviously that was my lack of understanding/research also as I've never had an kind of building work done before.
I did however mention that this room was always very cold, and that I wanted the new doors/windows to be much better at retaining the heat than my older windows and doors did - they were only about 12 years old, and good quality and well fitted.

I didn't get a fully itemised quote from the carpenter,  but we had had these conversations about the quality of the work/windows/doors I wanted and his price was only competitive because he was not VAT registered. Due to the amount paid I had assumed the glazing of the windows and doors would be of an appropriate standard.
 
I have since discovered I needed Building control, and that the work he has done, and the glazing he has installed would clearly not pass this inspection.
Unfortunately I have paid him the full amount for the works before I discovered this, I only went researching because the room felt much colder than usual, I've lived in my house over 13 years. 

I have discussed it with him, he has so far indicated he will try and rectify, but he has no experience with building control or FENSA, despite installing doors/windows for many years.

Because of his lack of understanding in the area, I am not sure whether I should get building control out at this stage to advise him & I what glazing would be required to pass building control, and how the frame/window/doors should be installed to pass building regs.  Then get back the inspector to pass the works when finished. Obviously this will cost more, but I have zero confidence that the carpenter knows what he needs to do to pass building control, and I would like to be able to put this chapter behind me as it's been a horrible experience and very disruptive to my home life as I am not able to use that room because it's still not complete (I can't get a plasterer or paint the room until this is resolved).

Does anyone have any knowledge of this area they could share?

theonlywayisup

You can contact BC for a retrospective approval/regularisation.

https://www.labc.co.uk/homeowners/homeowners-guide-building-regulations/can-i-get-retrospective-building-control-approval

Down here in Cornwall it's relatively easy and a set fee.  My neighbour installed a door (previously a window) and had it and from memory it was about £200-300ish. 

FreeBear

theonlywayisup said:

You can contact BC for a retrospective approval/regularisation.

https://www.labc.co.uk/homeowners/homeowners-guide-building-regulations/can-i-get-retrospective-building-control-approval

Down here in Cornwall it's relatively easy and a set fee.  My neighbour installed a door (previously a window) and had it and from memory it was about £200-300ish. 

But it very much depends on the glazing in the door/window - To hit current u-values, the glass needs to be double or even triple glazed. The frames will also be subject to minimum thermal performance, but if the glass is of a high enough standard, BC may accept the frames without any additional assessments.

theonlywayisup

FreeBear said:

theonlywayisup said:

You can contact BC for a retrospective approval/regularisation.

https://www.labc.co.uk/homeowners/homeowners-guide-building-regulations/can-i-get-retrospective-building-control-approval

Down here in Cornwall it's relatively easy and a set fee.  My neighbour installed a door (previously a window) and had it and from memory it was about £200-300ish. 

But it very much depends on the glazing in the door/window - To hit current u-values, the glass needs to be double or even triple glazed. The frames will also be subject to minimum thermal performance, but if the glass is of a high enough standard, BC may accept the frames without any additional assessments.

Sorry yes, the caveat to my comment should have been that the replacement would be BC approved! 

Thisisuz

Thanks for the replies.
the fee is £225 where I live, my question is, should I get them out now, knowing the door/windows will fail, then at least the carpenter will be told what U-values etc the glazing should be, then he can remedy the works? Then pay another £225 to get the work re-assessed when complete?
Thanks

theonlywayisup

Thisisuz said:

Thanks for the replies.
the fee is £225 where I live, my question is, should I get them out now, knowing the door/windows will fail, then at least the carpenter will be told what U-values etc the glazing should be, then he can remedy the works? Then pay another £225 to get the work re-assessed when complete?
Thanks

I'm not sure why you think you pay twice.  BC will open the case for £225 (as per your costings) and they won't allow it to be signed off until it is approved. 

FreeBear

Minimum u-value is 1.4Wm²K - This is something your carpenter should be well aware of if he is regularly manufacturing windows & doors.

You might be able to get away with a slightly lower value if you can demonstrate other thermal improvements have been made to offset the lack of performance of the door/window (but don't count on it). On the plus side, I don't think you would be charged twice for BC assessments - They usually tell you what needs to be done to achieve compliance, and then issue certificates once any remedial work has been carried out (if any is required).

Doozergirl

They can't be doing that many bespoke timber windows and doors if they're not VAT registered...

mi-key

Doozergirl said:

They can't be doing that many bespoke timber windows and doors if they're not VAT registered...

They probably aren't as there isn't much call for it these days sadly, but could be doing one a month if they are smaller jobs. Sadly is another of those skills dying out as people will just stick a upvc one in instead of a handmade timber unit. 

If he's a one man band then its quite possible to be under the VAT threshold and still be doing a decent amount of carpentery work as the overheads are pretty low. 

GrubbyGirl_2

Thisisuz said:

Thanks for the replies.
the fee is £225 where I live, my question is, should I get them out now, knowing the door/windows will fail, then at least the carpenter will be told what U-values etc the glazing should be, then he can remedy the works? Then pay another £225 to get the work re-assessed when complete?
Thanks

You don't pay per visit you pay for the job to be done - they have to keep coming out to visit until they are happy to sign it off