Builder almost brought the house down..literally
Discussion
NoIP said:
Cogcog said:
Update.
They have installed three monster steels all packed but we had a bit more movement/settling which has widened the cracks as that wa done. Engineer came and gave instructions for careful removal of the needles. Boss is back from tomorow and we have a site visit with him Monday morning.
Another insult to injury is that they hacked 1 foot off the ends of all the floorboards to get the steel in and the acrows through, despite the boards being loose from the plumber last week and my daughter's partner on the end of the phone telling them to take the boards up carefully and not cut them. They now have a load of 35mm boards to locate and install and some serious ceilng repairs to do.
Christ. You have more patience than me. I would have lost confidence in them the moment the cracks appeared and binned them off. The damage has been done now and you're always going to have a non-square house with bodged windows and doors that have been stressed and cracked walls. It's alright them saying well it'll be fine once we fill the cracks with glue but why should you put up with that and have a bodged house? There's no way to put it back to how it was without demolition. It wasn't like that before they were let loose on it and if they'd done it by the rule book then there wouldn't have been any cracks or movement. They are 100% to blame for it and with the evidence you have you should take them to the cleaners. What a nightmare. I fear you're only just at the start of a whole bunch of problems you're going to have with this over the coming months and years. They have installed three monster steels all packed but we had a bit more movement/settling which has widened the cracks as that wa done. Engineer came and gave instructions for careful removal of the needles. Boss is back from tomorow and we have a site visit with him Monday morning.
Another insult to injury is that they hacked 1 foot off the ends of all the floorboards to get the steel in and the acrows through, despite the boards being loose from the plumber last week and my daughter's partner on the end of the phone telling them to take the boards up carefully and not cut them. They now have a load of 35mm boards to locate and install and some serious ceilng repairs to do.
Cogcog said:
Update.
They have installed three monster steels all packed but we had a bit more movement/settling which has widened the cracks as that wa done. Engineer came and gave instructions for careful removal of the needles. Boss is back from tomorow and we have a site visit with him Monday morning.
Another insult to injury is that they hacked 1 foot off the ends of all the floorboards to get the steel in and the acrows through, despite the boards being loose from the plumber last week and my daughter's partner on the end of the phone telling them to take the boards up carefully and not cut them. They now have a load of 35mm boards to locate and install and some serious ceilng repairs to do.
I thought as much from yesterdays pics. 5 minutes with a circ saw set to the right depth and you'd have 13" bits of timber that will still span the joists neatly. Instead they just cut 'em off flush with the joist. Honestly, they want shooting.They have installed three monster steels all packed but we had a bit more movement/settling which has widened the cracks as that wa done. Engineer came and gave instructions for careful removal of the needles. Boss is back from tomorow and we have a site visit with him Monday morning.
Another insult to injury is that they hacked 1 foot off the ends of all the floorboards to get the steel in and the acrows through, despite the boards being loose from the plumber last week and my daughter's partner on the end of the phone telling them to take the boards up carefully and not cut them. They now have a load of 35mm boards to locate and install and some serious ceilng repairs to do.
BlackLabel said:
Cogcog said:
They have moved to work on the outside now 
By the looks of it even the lady walking past the house is disgusted by the work carried out by the builders.What a horrible situation, hope it all gets sorted in the end OP.
Just shows the level of work we are now expecting...
Vaud said:
Given it is likely to be small claims court, if anything, then regular notes and photos are fine. A judge sitting around the table won't expect an evidence chain; a clear timeline and copies of communications would be useful..
As it is entirely possible they have f
ked the entire house, why would it be small claims?Another thing OP - when all this has been rectified to your daughters satisfaction she should be looking for an insured guarantee (if the builders Phoenix the company she will have zero back up) I don't know if such guarantees are actually available but investigate and if they are the make them pay for one perhaps via the structural engineer - won't be cheap!
andy43 said:
I thought as much from yesterdays pics. 5 minutes with a circ saw set to the right depth and you'd have 13" bits of timber that will still span the joists neatly. Instead they just cut 'em off flush with the joist. Honestly, they want shooting.
Totally agree. I was gobsmacked when I saw that picture.Jesus I have been following this thread with the utmost disbelief.
Is that last Pic of the scaffold for real
From the outset there was nothing difficult or untoward about this job but things seem to have gone wrong on a monumental scale.
I feel for you mate and the best of luck in trying to rectify this.
Is that last Pic of the scaffold for real
From the outset there was nothing difficult or untoward about this job but things seem to have gone wrong on a monumental scale.
I feel for you mate and the best of luck in trying to rectify this.
Hi OP, having been through the mill with a set of cowboy builders I really feel your pain on this. We sacked our original builders, didn't manage to recover anything from the utter scumbags but did find a superb builder in Leeds who helped get everything sorted out. They're back in a few weeks to do some more work, as we've been so pleased with them. PM me if you want their details.
elanfan said:
Another thing OP - when all this has been rectified to your daughters satisfaction she should be looking for an insured guarantee (if the builders Phoenix the company she will have zero back up) I don't know if such guarantees are actually available but investigate and if they are the make them pay for one perhaps via the structural engineer - won't be cheap!
On the list for discussion with the boss on Monday.The plasterer says the workmen were calling the office saying the job was too big for them, asking for more labour, but were refused. The boss will be pleased.
Our engineer will look at the robustnmess of the repair,where upon the potential future issues will be outlined. At the moment they are saying there is no reason it shouldnt be fine but we have a surveyor lined up to revalue the house.
Our engineer will look at the robustnmess of the repair,where upon the potential future issues will be outlined. At the moment they are saying there is no reason it shouldnt be fine but we have a surveyor lined up to revalue the house.
Cogcog said:
The plasterer says the workmen were calling the office saying the job was too big for them, asking for more labour, but were refused. The boss will be pleased.
Our engineer will look at the robustnmess of the repair,where upon the potential future issues will be outlined. At the moment they are saying there is no reason it shouldnt be fine but we have a surveyor lined up to revalue the house.
You seem to have all in hand well done.......is the surveyor RICS?Our engineer will look at the robustnmess of the repair,where upon the potential future issues will be outlined. At the moment they are saying there is no reason it shouldnt be fine but we have a surveyor lined up to revalue the house.
elanfan said:
Lastly do report this matter urgently to the HSE. Work of this standard endangers lives and they will want to know about this 'near miss'. Their investigations might lead to fines/convictions etc and ought to lead to an improvement in their working methods. So that ought to improve things for the future. It will also provide you with further Independant evidence to aid your case.
I haven't read all 9 pages, has anyone mentioned if this project is CDM notifiable?As a Client you have an obligation to ensure the works are managed safely by having competent and qualified persons fulfilling the various roles. Having people working in an unsafe manner and failing to secure a site/stand people down if the site is unsafe is a key responsibility.
Reporting this to the HSE is some serious leverage you may have with the Principal Contractor, a HSE investigation (they appear to be bang to rights) would be a significant issue for the PC given the apparent breaches of H&S at Work Act. Again, not read the whole thread so not sure if the pallet scaffolding photo is a joke but if it isn't, I'd be onto the HSE ASAP.
Cogcog said:
The plasterer says the workmen were calling the office saying the job was too big for them, asking for more labour, but were refused. The boss will be pleased.
Our engineer will look at the robustnmess of the repair,where upon the potential future issues will be outlined. At the moment they are saying there is no reason it shouldnt be fine but we have a surveyor lined up to revalue the house.
How would the remedial work affect the future saleability ?Our engineer will look at the robustnmess of the repair,where upon the potential future issues will be outlined. At the moment they are saying there is no reason it shouldnt be fine but we have a surveyor lined up to revalue the house.
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