Building Inspector for window ?

Section62

mexican_dave said:

Maybe you can side-step this, to some extent Building Regs are "optional", if you want paperwork for everything and be 100% perfect then by all means get all your certification and pay for the luxury. TBA Building Regs inspectors don't tour the streets looking for non-compliant work!

Compliance with Building Regs is not "optional" - please don't mislead other forum members by suggesting otherwise.

Although BCO's don't usually "tour the streets", the need to comply with the regulations is about more than just avoiding enforcement action.  The regulations are there to help ensure people's health and safety, to help protect the environment, and to reduce people's costs on (for example) energy and water.

Not complying with the regulations and/or failing to notify work is generally an offence, but in practical terms can cause problems when people come to sell the property.  FENSA has been around long enough now for property professionals to expect to see FENSA documentation (even where not required) and its absence is unlikely to go unnoticed.

mexican_dave

Section62 said:

mexican_dave said:

Maybe you can side-step this, to some extent Building Regs are "optional", if you want paperwork for everything and be 100% perfect then by all means get all your certification and pay for the luxury. TBA Building Regs inspectors don't tour the streets looking for non-compliant work!

Compliance with Building Regs is not "optional" - please don't mislead other forum members by suggesting otherwise.

Although BCO's don't usually "tour the streets", the need to comply with the regulations is about more than just avoiding enforcement action.  The regulations are there to help ensure people's health and safety, to help protect the environment, and to reduce people's costs on (for example) energy and water.

Not complying with the regulations and/or failing to notify work is generally an offence, but in practical terms can cause problems when people come to sell the property.  FENSA has been around long enough now for property professionals to expect to see FENSA documentation (even where not required) and its absence is unlikely to go unnoticed.

"Optional" is in quotes for good reason, I see so many building works going uninspected, with work clearly not up to standard! 35 years myself in the building trade. Yes, I know why we have Building Regs, Health & Safety, and the "greater good" but sometimes people are looking for Real World choices, I have given them that choice! I have not mislead anyone, I have said it how it is.

ThisIsWeird

Hi GO.
Any chance you could post a photo of your existing window, including the surrounding bit of wall. And, how old is your house?
Folk on here might be able to suggest whether it's a straightforward window swap, or if there could be more complex issues as has been mentioned (lintels, etc).
And they might have suggestions on the best type of window.

rob7475

Realistically, Fensa or building control sign off is only an issue for Windows when you come to sell the house.

Just because you don't have a Fensa certificate, doesn't mean the job is done to a lesser standard. I'd rather have windows fitted by a good local sole trader who isn't registered with Fensa but does a proper job rather than having the likes of Safestyle round who will do a shoddy job using lots of expanding foam and have the ability to self certify their work.

I renovated a house to sell a few years back and my trusted joiner/window fitter installed the windows but he isn't registered with Fensa. When I sold the house, my solicitor just supplied an indemnity policy which cost me £12.

Section62

rob7475 said:

Realistically, Fensa or building control sign off is only an issue for Windows when you come to sell the house.

That misunderstands the purpose of the building regulations.  In the case of windows, the regulations address the rather important issues of structural stability, spread of smoke and fire, means of escape, glazing safety, in addition to the more obvious ones of ventilation and thermal insulation.

If you go to a builder who regards compliance with the building regulations as "optional" and a "luxury" then you've got to ask the question what else they regard as optional and a luxury.  "Lintels?  Bit of a luxury, you don't really need them" (etc etc).

Whilst there are good builders who know what they are doing and will competently fit/replace windows even though they are neglectful of the BR paperwork, the issue for people like the OP is working out which builders are competent and are doing the job correctly.  The building regulations stand as a defence against cowboy building work - if the work is signed off, or carried out by a scheme member, then they should have reasonable confidence the windows have been correctly installed.

If not, then they better hope that the things they have probably never heard of or thought about (like lintels or means of escape) don't become a problem for them personally before they sell the property (and get asked for an indemnity policy), or else pass the problem/danger on to someone else to deal with.

GoldenOldy

Hello Rob 7475, thats good to know if I go down the timber route. On reflection, I guess there are many many people like my dear ex neighbour who replaced original single glazing without knowing all the ins and outs. It makes sense there is a way to still sell such properties I suppose, otherwise I would imagine there would be a lot of unsellable housing stock out there.

GoldenOldy

Hello thisisweird.
Here is a photo.
The residence 7 one …which i do like, albeit a bit thick mullion wise is on the left. The ‘normal’ one is on the right.
The house was built in 1947 and most definitely will require lintels, that much I do know.
And I must say the R7 has performed well.
The only snag is it doesnt quite match the rest and budget will not allow me to replace the rest plus they dont really need it, as are quite solid.
Also the frame is thicker

thanks for helping

Thanks for the interest

Section62

GoldenOldy said:

The residence 7 one …which i do like, albeit a bit thick mullion wise is on the left. The ‘normal’ one is on the right.
The house was built in 1947 and most definitely will require lintels, that much I do know.

So is the number 7 one in the same position and same size as the window you need to replace?

How do you know you will need lintel(s) installed?  Has someone told you this, and if so, how did they know?

stuart45

I think I can remember another recent thread in which she said that she'd had the window on the left replaced, but didn't want the one on the right done with the same type of window.

GoldenOldy

Yes, thats correct, same window same size. I know I need lintels has have had a survey done. Thanks