Badly fitted Windows
Discussion
Fensa was set up to make sure fitters abide by building regs, that is; safety and thermal insulation. It had nothing to do with quality, but they might be interested in the sash which doesn't close properly and why they weren't registered.
Edited by 227bhp on Thursday 15th March 22:16
k me that's shoddy. I'm not a window fitter and I've done far better than that. Shocking 
chand2018 said:
Couple of issues, in case others are about to purchase windows ...
We paid by bank transfer, and should have used credit card and so are not covered, even a small deposit on the credit card would have had us covered.
We are in talks with Trading Standards, I just completed all documentation, dates, timelines, pics, email and text correspondence to be looked at by them.
If they say we have a good case then we will go to court for the full amount..
We've had 1 complete quote (£13.5K to replace all 3 bays), £5500 to replace the bottom bay, the quote also included an assessment of the work - which highlighted the non plumb fitting and poor trimmings, to fix the window closure would require a refit of the complete window.
This was sent to the original fitter - who said because they are competitors he doesn't have to take notice of them, and hes willing to come to fix the windows closure but not replace, we said no as thats not going to fix the problem unless you replace plus we wouldn't want you round again, he also said he should have charged us for the 2nd install !!
We had a 2nd fitter come to give us a quote yesterday - he was gobsmacked at the work - his advice was that they wont take assessment from any window fitter and we would have to get a independent survey done which could cost from £500-750. Plus little chance of wining the case.
Our best bet is
Under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, any double glazing installation should:
1 .Be done using ‘reasonable care and skill’
2. The window"s should be made with materials that are ‘of satisfactory quality’ and ‘fit for their purpose’
3. Be ‘as described’ - eg, what you ordered.
emphasis on point 1.
We have till Friday to reply to him with out intentions....im just gathering as much information and guidance as i can, and for this I thank you all
regards
Those prices are crazyWe paid by bank transfer, and should have used credit card and so are not covered, even a small deposit on the credit card would have had us covered.
We are in talks with Trading Standards, I just completed all documentation, dates, timelines, pics, email and text correspondence to be looked at by them.
If they say we have a good case then we will go to court for the full amount..
We've had 1 complete quote (£13.5K to replace all 3 bays), £5500 to replace the bottom bay, the quote also included an assessment of the work - which highlighted the non plumb fitting and poor trimmings, to fix the window closure would require a refit of the complete window.
This was sent to the original fitter - who said because they are competitors he doesn't have to take notice of them, and hes willing to come to fix the windows closure but not replace, we said no as thats not going to fix the problem unless you replace plus we wouldn't want you round again, he also said he should have charged us for the 2nd install !!
We had a 2nd fitter come to give us a quote yesterday - he was gobsmacked at the work - his advice was that they wont take assessment from any window fitter and we would have to get a independent survey done which could cost from £500-750. Plus little chance of wining the case.
Our best bet is
Under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, any double glazing installation should:
1 .Be done using ‘reasonable care and skill’
2. The window"s should be made with materials that are ‘of satisfactory quality’ and ‘fit for their purpose’
3. Be ‘as described’ - eg, what you ordered.
emphasis on point 1.
We have till Friday to reply to him with out intentions....im just gathering as much information and guidance as i can, and for this I thank you all
regards
anonymous said:
[redacted]
This.If you lock yourself into a legal battle it will take months, you may not win and it could cost you a lot of money.
You will be far better off exhausting all other options first. I know you want to put your foot down but the most important thing is fixing the problem.
Get the manager back round and come to some mutually agreeable solution. Threatening and posturing will not achieve much considering that you have already paid.
I have to say though, I have not seen workmanship that bad for many years. Every single aspect of that job is a big Fail.
i think you may be right ! we may just have to take the hit,
We have 2 windows companies coming round tonight who also are willing to look at a repair, to see if they can at least fix it so the at the 2 windows close correctly.
I have a theory now what I think is wrong.
The metal support bar between the frames is possibly twisted.. if they can twist it back slightly I think the window will close.
if the frame was equally not plumb, the windows should still close correctly ?
With new sills and trim, may be for a reasonable cost ?? will have to see.
The rest of the mess I will just have to fix myself....
We have 2 windows companies coming round tonight who also are willing to look at a repair, to see if they can at least fix it so the at the 2 windows close correctly.
I have a theory now what I think is wrong.
The metal support bar between the frames is possibly twisted.. if they can twist it back slightly I think the window will close.
if the frame was equally not plumb, the windows should still close correctly ?
With new sills and trim, may be for a reasonable cost ?? will have to see.
The rest of the mess I will just have to fix myself....
chand2018 said:
i think you may be right ! we may just have to take the hit,
We have 2 windows companies coming round tonight who also are willing to look at a repair, to see if they can at least fix it so the at the 2 windows close correctly.
I'm involved with a double glazing firm and have nothing much to add that hasn't been said. (£13.5k is ridiculous no matter where you are in the country).We have 2 windows companies coming round tonight who also are willing to look at a repair, to see if they can at least fix it so the at the 2 windows close correctly.
I'd like to warn others about using shoddy fitters, would it be OK to use some of your pics?
One last thing, I wouldn't let our guys go near that as far as remedial work goes. The lines are too blurred as to who is responsible if something goes wrong in future, the guys who installed it or the guys who fixed it? If you get someone to fix it (anything) you need to get something in writing. The first lot will try to absolve themselves if someone else has a go, and the second lot won't want to take responsibility for the whole job. At that level of cost I'd be taking advice from someone knowledgeable before doing anything.
Thanks for the advice, we will get everything together before we decide what we will do..
Please feel free to use any of the pictures.
As someone said earlier we picked the cheapest, we actually didn't, We had 3 quotes all the £8k mark. This guy added a few extras and we visited his factory, all looked good, so he was actually the most expensive by a few hundred pounds,
By the end of the weekend I should have 4 quotes; and non of these are from the checkatrader sites. 2 from local websites and 2 from down the road.
Once its all over, I will put some pics up of the fix and house, and location (its obviously London with these quotes!), to put everything in context of the costs of these windows, its a big house!
regards
Please feel free to use any of the pictures.
As someone said earlier we picked the cheapest, we actually didn't, We had 3 quotes all the £8k mark. This guy added a few extras and we visited his factory, all looked good, so he was actually the most expensive by a few hundred pounds,
By the end of the weekend I should have 4 quotes; and non of these are from the checkatrader sites. 2 from local websites and 2 from down the road.
Once its all over, I will put some pics up of the fix and house, and location (its obviously London with these quotes!), to put everything in context of the costs of these windows, its a big house!
regards
Jeez mate, that's an appalling job, I'm mortified - as a DIYer I'd have done better. Really hope you get it sorted out, it's scandalous that 'tradespeople' can get away with shoddy work like this.
When we had ours done I went with a local firm that was a personal recommendation - I was able to go round my mate's house and see the standard of their work to back up their website/brochures etc. I'd recommend anyone do the same.
When we had ours done I went with a local firm that was a personal recommendation - I was able to go round my mate's house and see the standard of their work to back up their website/brochures etc. I'd recommend anyone do the same.
chand2018 said:
Thanks for the advice, we will get everything together before we decide what we will do..
Please feel free to use any of the pictures.
As someone said earlier we picked the cheapest, we actually didn't, We had 3 quotes all the £8k mark. This guy added a few extras and we visited his factory, all looked good, so he was actually the most expensive by a few hundred pounds,
By the end of the weekend I should have 4 quotes; and non of these are from the checkatrader sites. 2 from local websites and 2 from down the road.
Once its all over, I will put some pics up of the fix and house, and location (its obviously London with these quotes!), to put everything in context of the costs of these windows, its a big house!
regards
I’ve got to be honest and suggest that being in London or having a big house isn’t the key factor here but rather they are seeing you as an easy touch. I’ve had aluminium windows in Hampstead replaced for far less and have recently had 21 steel, double glazed crittals fitted for seemingly less that you are being quoted for a few UPVC replacements?Please feel free to use any of the pictures.
As someone said earlier we picked the cheapest, we actually didn't, We had 3 quotes all the £8k mark. This guy added a few extras and we visited his factory, all looked good, so he was actually the most expensive by a few hundred pounds,
By the end of the weekend I should have 4 quotes; and non of these are from the checkatrader sites. 2 from local websites and 2 from down the road.
Once its all over, I will put some pics up of the fix and house, and location (its obviously London with these quotes!), to put everything in context of the costs of these windows, its a big house!
regards
technodup said:
One last thing, I wouldn't let our guys go near that as far as remedial work goes. The lines are too blurred as to who is responsible if something goes wrong in future, the guys who installed it or the guys who fixed it? If you get someone to fix it (anything) you need to get something in writing. The first lot will try to absolve themselves if someone else has a go, and the second lot won't want to take responsibility for the whole job. At that level of cost I'd be taking advice from someone knowledgeable before doing anything.
Good points raised here regarding potential future blame.If the installers are going to try and put this right, I'd want assurances that none of the original fitters can go near the house.
Hi guys
We are in the process of getting quotes to replace the windows.
2 issues have been pointed out
1) The upstairs bay windows do not have fire escape hinges and break building regs.
2) The support poles between the window panes on both top and bottom, do not seem to be fixed to any bricks, as can been seen when one of the fitters put a filler knife all the way through it..
see https://imgur.com/a/44xM3
can there be any other reason for this?
many thanls
We are in the process of getting quotes to replace the windows.
2 issues have been pointed out
1) The upstairs bay windows do not have fire escape hinges and break building regs.
2) The support poles between the window panes on both top and bottom, do not seem to be fixed to any bricks, as can been seen when one of the fitters put a filler knife all the way through it..
see https://imgur.com/a/44xM3
can there be any other reason for this?
many thanls
I’m not 100% on regs but I didn’t think you had to have fire escapes on all windows.
The gap issue - is this under all the uprights or just the odd one? I am assuming there are more than one.
If it’s just the odd one then it will be being supported on the neighbouring posts, which although pretty poor is not the end of the world. If it’s all then it’s very bad
The gap issue - is this under all the uprights or just the odd one? I am assuming there are more than one.
If it’s just the odd one then it will be being supported on the neighbouring posts, which although pretty poor is not the end of the world. If it’s all then it’s very bad
Blimey. If it was just poor fitting I'd have suggested employing a good carpenter/ window fitter to refit frames and reglaze, renew the trims and make good.
But the frames themselves look like the junk fitted back in the early 90's. I think you're going to have to start again.
Always go to a good local supplier. Never pay until you're happy.
But the frames themselves look like the junk fitted back in the early 90's. I think you're going to have to start again.
Always go to a good local supplier. Never pay until you're happy.
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