New house build - Luxembourg
Discussion
Update for anyone still reading... 
Roof was repaired 2 weeks aho. Invoice paid.
Of course, the roofing comapny found another "issue", which I will refer to the constructor, the house being only 4 and a bit years old, else that's another €1,500 odd.
Heating repair
Nothing heard back from the supplying/repairing company yet, to my letter a couple of weeks ago.
Today, however, since I sent a copy of that letter to the contstruction company's "after sales service" contact, he emailed my letter to the supplying/repairing company's contact, cc'd to me, effectively saying,
"The machine's 4 years old. We expect the manufacturer to cover this repair cost in full.", so response to that's awaited!
Roof was repaired 2 weeks aho. Invoice paid.
Of course, the roofing comapny found another "issue", which I will refer to the constructor, the house being only 4 and a bit years old, else that's another €1,500 odd.
Heating repair
Nothing heard back from the supplying/repairing company yet, to my letter a couple of weeks ago.
Today, however, since I sent a copy of that letter to the contstruction company's "after sales service" contact, he emailed my letter to the supplying/repairing company's contact, cc'd to me, effectively saying,
"The machine's 4 years old. We expect the manufacturer to cover this repair cost in full.", so response to that's awaited!
Edited by RC1807 on Tuesday 20th March 15:45
Thanks Loudlash.... Sorry for the delay in replying.... I was "busy" at Le Mans this weekend
Funnily enough, one of my mates I was at LM with is a land director for a major house builder, and he said similarly of our development when he first saw it.
There are a row of 4 houses going up in front of ours now, one is almost water tight, and the largest houses on the development are also being marketed - one's almost completed with a base cost of (stupidly!) €1.35m. Ours wasn't anything like that amount!
I have to say, the guys at Felix Giorgetti were excellent at project managing and I'd use them again if I had to. Maybe when we downsize when the kids bugger off.
We've still not heard back from the heating company about the disputed compressor failure, so there's a €3k odd bill pending so far, which is a bit of a bummer, but that's life, huh.
Funnily enough, one of my mates I was at LM with is a land director for a major house builder, and he said similarly of our development when he first saw it.
There are a row of 4 houses going up in front of ours now, one is almost water tight, and the largest houses on the development are also being marketed - one's almost completed with a base cost of (stupidly!) €1.35m. Ours wasn't anything like that amount!
I have to say, the guys at Felix Giorgetti were excellent at project managing and I'd use them again if I had to. Maybe when we downsize when the kids bugger off.
We've still not heard back from the heating company about the disputed compressor failure, so there's a €3k odd bill pending so far, which is a bit of a bummer, but that's life, huh.
Heating latest: supplier didn't come back on the large invoice I dispted and refused to pay, so I trust they recovered the cost from the manufacturer....
BUT... switched the heating on again this week and the f
king thing's not working properly AGAIN! 
My wife called them, engineer came yesterday, and apparently one part of the system wasn't communciating with the other, so no UFH. It's all sorted now, but that'll probably cost me another €250-300 as their call out time / distance is €160 (s!), and then the service cost next month will be around €500.
I won't be using that company again ... so, LLA, IF you build in Lux, stay away from Genista for plumbing and heating, if you have a choice.
New service contract to be investifated with the local specialist, Gabbana. (Not "Dolce &")
BUT... switched the heating on again this week and the f
king thing's not working properly AGAIN! My wife called them, engineer came yesterday, and apparently one part of the system wasn't communciating with the other, so no UFH. It's all sorted now, but that'll probably cost me another €250-300 as their call out time / distance is €160 (
s!), and then the service cost next month will be around €500.I won't be using that company again ... so, LLA, IF you build in Lux, stay away from Genista for plumbing and heating, if you have a choice.
New service contract to be investifated with the local specialist, Gabbana. (Not "Dolce &")
Pvapour said:
Still watching russel
Beleive it or not ours is just about to finish! Looking forward to re-opening thread and bringing to conclusion
Hey Nick! Beleive it or not ours is just about to finish! Looking forward to re-opening thread and bringing to conclusion
Would love to see more pics of your places, please.
Now our girls are older, and can be left home alone, I'd like to blat across France to stay in one of your places for a few days, probably next year.
Been in the house for more than 5 years now, so the walls can do with repaintinng. Colour cards picked up last weekened so we can have a look.
We know our girls (now 16 & 18) want some "colour" in their rooms, the entire house being painted in the lightest shade of grey (almost white). I'll get some pros in to do it, as it'll only take them 10 days, top to bottom.
The bain of our lives, the heating system, finally received its annual service a few weeks ago. The 1st time the techy came out, he hadn't been given any of the service parts, so left again. Why didn't he check his parts / appts list before setting off for the day? 2nd appt they cried off as it was snowing and he was stuck in traffic. 3rd time lucky, then.... All OK!
Electricity consumption seems to have evened out, so the bi-monthly DD can be set more correctly. I received a whopping €30 DD rebate for 2018 today.
Other than that, we'll be working a bit more in the garden this year. A tree we'd planted died this winter, so we're lookinjg for another more esatblished one to replace it.
Some more houses have gone up around us, and a group of 4 at the front to the left had a fire in one under construction a few months ago, so part of it's been demolished to be rebuilt! I'll see if I can post the iPhone pics later... it's a bit of a mess there!
We know our girls (now 16 & 18) want some "colour" in their rooms, the entire house being painted in the lightest shade of grey (almost white). I'll get some pros in to do it, as it'll only take them 10 days, top to bottom.
The bain of our lives, the heating system, finally received its annual service a few weeks ago. The 1st time the techy came out, he hadn't been given any of the service parts, so left again. Why didn't he check his parts / appts list before setting off for the day? 2nd appt they cried off as it was snowing and he was stuck in traffic. 3rd time lucky, then.... All OK!
Electricity consumption seems to have evened out, so the bi-monthly DD can be set more correctly. I received a whopping €30 DD rebate for 2018 today.
Other than that, we'll be working a bit more in the garden this year. A tree we'd planted died this winter, so we're lookinjg for another more esatblished one to replace it.
Some more houses have gone up around us, and a group of 4 at the front to the left had a fire in one under construction a few months ago, so part of it's been demolished to be rebuilt! I'll see if I can post the iPhone pics later... it's a bit of a mess there!
Wow!
Let’s see if this posts correctly
You can see where the blocks have been peeled apart to remove the melted part of the polystyrene blocks and the concrete floor above the garage, and they spent DAYS demolishing the reinforced concrete!
It caught fire above the garage, in what is the hobby room and heating/laundry rooms
Let’s see if this posts correctly
You can see where the blocks have been peeled apart to remove the melted part of the polystyrene blocks and the concrete floor above the garage, and they spent DAYS demolishing the reinforced concrete!
It caught fire above the garage, in what is the hobby room and heating/laundry rooms
Edited by RC1807 on Tuesday 12th March 10:31
Edited by RC1807 on Tuesday 12th March 10:32
Hi
That’s an interesting stage to be buying a property, but you will get to choose everything that goes in.
Yes, it was the compressor that failed. I can’t remember the make of our machine - currently at Le Mans.
(Genista / Sanichauffer sent me a reminder to pay their €3.5k bill. FFS! I sent it to the after sales guy at Giorgetti with a “WTF?!” message. He’s taken it up with them; I had sent Genista a registered letter a year ago to reject their bill, telling them to go to the manufacturer.)
That’s an interesting stage to be buying a property, but you will get to choose everything that goes in.
Yes, it was the compressor that failed. I can’t remember the make of our machine - currently at Le Mans.
(Genista / Sanichauffer sent me a reminder to pay their €3.5k bill. FFS! I sent it to the after sales guy at Giorgetti with a “WTF?!” message. He’s taken it up with them; I had sent Genista a registered letter a year ago to reject their bill, telling them to go to the manufacturer.)
Yes, it is different, I agree - but in a very positive way.
It means people don't waste time hanging around in chains that risk being broken. There are no stupid penalties like +10% for bridging loans.... e.g., I borrowed almost EUR1m against my prior house to buy and finish our place, a large chunk of which was offset when the notary acte was completed, and then paid to my mortgage a/c to cover the scary looking DR balance!
Banks don't waste time with mortgage offers. I think perhaps the slowest might be BCEE, but that's because it's state owned and everything is done by committees, but even then, it's only a few weeks from request to letter confirming credit is available. You'll be in front of the notary before you know it!
(I can't recall how long it took me to get the VAT rebate, buying an already part built place .... maybe 3-4 months?)
For the heating system, you asked which make we have: WEISHAUPT
(I'm not entirely convinced the engineer didn't break something when he was servicing it, as he broke something else while he was in there.
Still waiting to hear back about their pending EUR3,500 invoice!)
I look forward to your build thread, LLJ.... don't forget to add it to the Build WIKI on the section homepage.
It means people don't waste time hanging around in chains that risk being broken. There are no stupid penalties like +10% for bridging loans.... e.g., I borrowed almost EUR1m against my prior house to buy and finish our place, a large chunk of which was offset when the notary acte was completed, and then paid to my mortgage a/c to cover the scary looking DR balance!
Banks don't waste time with mortgage offers. I think perhaps the slowest might be BCEE, but that's because it's state owned and everything is done by committees, but even then, it's only a few weeks from request to letter confirming credit is available. You'll be in front of the notary before you know it!
(I can't recall how long it took me to get the VAT rebate, buying an already part built place .... maybe 3-4 months?)
For the heating system, you asked which make we have: WEISHAUPT
(I'm not entirely convinced the engineer didn't break something when he was servicing it, as he broke something else while he was in there.
Still waiting to hear back about their pending EUR3,500 invoice!)
I look forward to your build thread, LLJ.... don't forget to add it to the Build WIKI on the section homepage.
caziques said:
Missed the updates last year re issues with UFH.
There is no way you should have to pay for compressor failure within five years.
I am also very dubious about maintenance contracts for underfloor hot water heat pump systems - it's a scam. There is nothing to do that will prevent failure.
Perhaps the anti freeze will need changing every few years - but I would expect suppliers to put long lasting stuff in
Post up some pics of the outdoor unit and other parts and I may be able to assist.
I've put in a few hundred UFH systems with an air sourced hot water heat pump, we don't do maintenance as there is nothing to maintain.
Also suggest you change your own filters for heat recovery system - they only cost a few pounds/euros to run each month as there are only two small fans.
Apologies - I must have missed this along the way. Thanks for your commments.There is no way you should have to pay for compressor failure within five years.
I am also very dubious about maintenance contracts for underfloor hot water heat pump systems - it's a scam. There is nothing to do that will prevent failure.
Perhaps the anti freeze will need changing every few years - but I would expect suppliers to put long lasting stuff in
Post up some pics of the outdoor unit and other parts and I may be able to assist.
I've put in a few hundred UFH systems with an air sourced hot water heat pump, we don't do maintenance as there is nothing to maintain.
Also suggest you change your own filters for heat recovery system - they only cost a few pounds/euros to run each month as there are only two small fans.
I will take some pics and post them up. We need all the help we can get.
The heating system really is the bain of my life here. Each time a techy comes out it’s the best part of €150 or so before he’s even lifted a spanner or screwdriver.
We had problems with the hot water recently. Taps or showers ran for ages before any hot water came out. Called the techy. He did some “reset” bulls
t, and nothing changed. €150 paid to anyway....Came back from holiday and the solar panel screen is flashing red. Called out the from Genista again. Different guy came than last time. My wife said about the hot water issue. The hot water filter was blocked! Last guy didn’t look at that.
w
ker. Filter unblocked, instant hot water when the tap is turned on.
However, we’ve wasted hundreds and hundreds of litres of cold water in the meantime.
As to the solar panel warning, some part needs to be ordered....FFS, another bill in the offing.
Let’s hope it’s the same techy comes again next time as maybe he knows WTF he’s doing?
Meanwhile, Genista continue to chase me for the compressor replacement bill, all €3,500 or so of it. I keep telling them to take it up with Weishaupt; I’m not paying them. They ignored my registered letter over 18 months ago, and my subsequent phone calls and emails. f
k ‘em.The after sales guy at the main construction company told them the same thing: Weishaupt can pay or Genista suck it up. They’ve had more than enough money from me.
I wish we’d been allowed gas heating as we simply don’t understand what we have, and we don’t seem to be alone there from what we see of the techies.
Other than that, I spent most of yesterday trimming the border beech hedge. It was blood hot and I’ve been struggling with a head cold for days, but wanted to be outside doing *something*. I ache all over today.
Sat on the patio enjoying a hot, still quiet day.
There are advantages to having by-laws that prohibit grass cutting on Sundays.
Cheers!
4 weeks on, and the (same as last time) Genista techy arrived again yesterday - with a techy from Weishaupt - to install the part on the solar panel controller. All fixed now, and no time sheet to be filled out, so that means they can’t bill us for this labour visit.
I wonder if that’s because of the dispute on the compressor replacement, the €3,500 bill which is still not formally accepted as closed by a Genista?
Anywhooo, water is now boiling hot and instant when the hot taps are on, and all from the solar panel. That’s as it should be.
In other news, been busy grass cutting, scarifying, seeding and fertilising today. The grass hasn’t recovered from a very dry summer, and with a week of rain expected starting tomorrow, it seems the best time to get on with it.
Mrs RC and I are having a short break soon, so I thought it best to get ahead with those jobs before the Autumn weather and soggy garden soil, before it all freezes solid for winter!
Otherwise, it’s about 25C today and in glorious sunshine.
Bon weekend tout le monde!
I wonder if that’s because of the dispute on the compressor replacement, the €3,500 bill which is still not formally accepted as closed by a Genista?
Anywhooo, water is now boiling hot and instant when the hot taps are on, and all from the solar panel. That’s as it should be.
In other news, been busy grass cutting, scarifying, seeding and fertilising today. The grass hasn’t recovered from a very dry summer, and with a week of rain expected starting tomorrow, it seems the best time to get on with it.
Mrs RC and I are having a short break soon, so I thought it best to get ahead with those jobs before the Autumn weather and soggy garden soil, before it all freezes solid for winter!
Otherwise, it’s about 25C today and in glorious sunshine.
Bon weekend tout le monde!
Heating issues, again. fking hell.
UFH is set to auto, but the pipes to the manifolds are cold on all 3 floors.
Called out our favourite heating company, again, and the guy will have to explain this time what the fk is going on, rather than, “I fixed it!”, leaving us none the wiser than before, which is their M.O.
That’s another EUR150 or so, then.
These systems are probably brilliant, if we ever received the necessary explanations.
As far as we’re concerned, they’re ste.
king hell. UFH is set to auto, but the pipes to the manifolds are cold on all 3 floors.
Called out our favourite heating company, again, and the guy will have to explain this time what the f
k is going on, rather than, “I fixed it!”, leaving us none the wiser than before, which is their M.O.That’s another EUR150 or so, then.
These systems are probably brilliant, if we ever received the necessary explanations.
As far as we’re concerned, they’re s
te. loudlashadjuster said:
Nah, they’re the good guys! I NEVER had a problem with Gabbana!
Genista, however.....
Genista chased payment again today by calling my wife at home, not me. I then called the after sales guy at the construction company to explain my view since Genista continue to ignore my written requests, whether by registered letter or email.
As it stands, they said the compressor only had a 2 year warranty.
They’re offering me about 10% discount on the invoice, so I need to pay them €3,400.
They’ll then complete the insurance form for me and I take it to my home / buildings insurers to see if I get anything back.
That’s only taken 20 months to reach, but I’m really not pleased about it.
I’ve paid all the service invoices and call outs in the meantime. The next being for tomorrow to resolve the UFH.
Gabbana will be my supplier of choice when this service contract is over in December, since Gabbana are based in Junglinster, about 1.5 km from us, and they were really good with our previous house heating system (mazout).
The ongoing heating compressor repair bill debacle was settled; I paid €3,400 instead of almost €3,900.
Claim submitted to my insurance company last week, who've today credited my bank account with almost €1,500, which is nice.
Same techie came to service the system 2 days before Christmas and forgot to bring some filters with him. He's been servicing this same system since it was installed! He'll be back at some point to replace those.
That will be the last time I have Genista techies in my house as that's the end of my 5yr contract with them. Hope to replace them with Gabbana who are only about a mile away, so no stupid distance fee to pay each time they come out.
Claim submitted to my insurance company last week, who've today credited my bank account with almost €1,500, which is nice.
Same techie came to service the system 2 days before Christmas and forgot to bring some filters with him. He's been servicing this same system since it was installed! He'll be back at some point to replace those.
That will be the last time I have Genista techies in my house as that's the end of my 5yr contract with them. Hope to replace them with Gabbana who are only about a mile away, so no stupid distance fee to pay each time they come out.
Thanks
It is frustrating, but I really didn't want to back down and just pay up.
It was almost 2 years to close this chapter.
LoudLash: I will have to pop over for a nosey now I'm not working.
Nicholas: same for yours, too. The new guy at Genista, when I spoke to him, understood my frustration of being ignored for almost 2 years. Anyway,my wife and I should come and have a stay at your places. Our Our teens are old enough to be home alone, and SleazyJet now do Lux-Bordeaux....
It is frustrating, but I really didn't want to back down and just pay up.
It was almost 2 years to close this chapter.
LoudLash: I will have to pop over for a nosey now I'm not working.
Nicholas: same for yours, too. The new guy at Genista, when I spoke to him, understood my frustration of being ignored for almost 2 years. Anyway,my wife and I should come and have a stay at your places. Our Our teens are old enough to be home alone, and SleazyJet now do Lux-Bordeaux....
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