Bi fold doors in wrong colour
Discussion
We have just has new bi-fold doors fitted.
All up, it was a few grand.
Alas the internal colour is white rather than the grey we ordered. Given it was all about making the most of the view, the white bars really annoy.
The vendor (fitter) accepts its down to him (although he blames his supplier). He's a small business, probably a sole trader with a youngster who helped him. Local man with a good reputation. Not a ltd company.
I suspect replacing the frames will be more than this profit on the job, but that's his responsibility.
He is offering to get someone to re-spray them in situ.
My current feeling is to warning him very clearly in writing that I will not accept anything less than a factory finish. I don't want him claiming later that I accepted this as good enough.
To be honest, I think it unlikely a spray job will good enough, but I can't say I have much experience to have an educated view.
Clearly if it all goes wrong and he walks away, I can do small claims etc but I'd rather not go down that route.
Any thoughts?
All up, it was a few grand.
Alas the internal colour is white rather than the grey we ordered. Given it was all about making the most of the view, the white bars really annoy.
The vendor (fitter) accepts its down to him (although he blames his supplier). He's a small business, probably a sole trader with a youngster who helped him. Local man with a good reputation. Not a ltd company.
I suspect replacing the frames will be more than this profit on the job, but that's his responsibility.
He is offering to get someone to re-spray them in situ.
My current feeling is to warning him very clearly in writing that I will not accept anything less than a factory finish. I don't want him claiming later that I accepted this as good enough.
To be honest, I think it unlikely a spray job will good enough, but I can't say I have much experience to have an educated view.
Clearly if it all goes wrong and he walks away, I can do small claims etc but I'd rather not go down that route.
Any thoughts?
In the grand scheme of things it's not that much of a trauma.
His story doesn't add up if the supplier got them wrong surely he would just send them back and ask for a replacement in the correct colour/finish, admittedly he would need to let you know of the delay etc. Or did he just screw up the order and is trying to blame someone else for his cock up.
Given you have paid good money for something that isn't correct I want them replacing or accept them being painted plus request a discount for the inconvenience.
His story doesn't add up if the supplier got them wrong surely he would just send them back and ask for a replacement in the correct colour/finish, admittedly he would need to let you know of the delay etc. Or did he just screw up the order and is trying to blame someone else for his cock up.
Given you have paid good money for something that isn't correct I want them replacing or accept them being painted plus request a discount for the inconvenience.
I think I 'd need a clearer idea of who made the mistake in the first place. Its obviously not you, or he'd have blamed you 
Did he order the wrong thing, or did the supplier supply the wrong item? If its him, the replacement is on him, and like you say, will almost certainly be more than the job is worth. If its the supplier, the new door ought not to cost him anything, and a supplier who wants to keep his business ought to be kicking him a few quid to refit.
While a quick blowover might match the factory finish today, the thing that would worry me would be what will it look like in a couple of years, once he's spent the profit and moved on, or in six months when someone rams a scooter into the frame, and a lovely white patch appears.
I'd be pushing hard for replacement, maybe being kind if he made the mistake and its not going to cost you more than a couple of hundred, but personally I would rather it was sorted properly now at low cost to me than never sorted once the bodge comes to light at his cost.
Did he order the wrong thing, or did the supplier supply the wrong item? If its him, the replacement is on him, and like you say, will almost certainly be more than the job is worth. If its the supplier, the new door ought not to cost him anything, and a supplier who wants to keep his business ought to be kicking him a few quid to refit.While a quick blowover might match the factory finish today, the thing that would worry me would be what will it look like in a couple of years, once he's spent the profit and moved on, or in six months when someone rams a scooter into the frame, and a lovely white patch appears.
I'd be pushing hard for replacement, maybe being kind if he made the mistake and its not going to cost you more than a couple of hundred, but personally I would rather it was sorted properly now at low cost to me than never sorted once the bodge comes to light at his cost.
Admirable that you are mindful of the effect it would have on the livelyhood of the tradesman, but you didn't get what you ordered and he should have checked the order (if it was his error), checked upon delivery (if it was the suppliers error) and certainly should have spotted they were the incorrect colour prior to installing them.
fflump said:
Why did he fit them if they were the wrong colour?
+1Why were they fitted? OP were you not around when they were being fitted to question it?
I would imagine the fitter's supplier might legitimately complain that the parts are now not in a sellable condition, having been fitted. Perhaps they can be removed perfectly, but quite possibly not. There might be some contribution / restocking fee / loss incurred by the fitter.
I wouldn't accept them being resprayed, it'll never be as good as if they were manufactured in the right colour. If it were me I'd always be looking for blemishes, and fearing any kind of contact taking paint off, etc.
fflump said:
Why did he fit them if they were the wrong colour?
I suspect he'd removed the old ones before anyone noticed.If it is genuinely his supplier's error then the only cost to him is the time to fit the replacements and up to him to argue with the "but you fitted them", doubt they'd be reusable regardless and they'll have been made to his measurements. The surveyor for the company who fitted our new front door commented along the lines of "Blimey, it's actually square!"
If it is his fault then he can suck it up and put it right but supplying what you ordered.
If the supplier was at fault I suspect the OP's fitter would be perfectly fine with removing the doors to send back for a replacement. No skin off his nose except labour, really.
Since he's talking about spraying them, I suspect he ordered the wrong colour doors to begin with and knows he's screwed for restocking fees or whatever sending them back when the supplier has done nothing wrong.
Since he's talking about spraying them, I suspect he ordered the wrong colour doors to begin with and knows he's screwed for restocking fees or whatever sending them back when the supplier has done nothing wrong.
To answer a few questions.
I am aware who my contract is with - I will call him Mr Windows (which isn't the name!).
The comms to him are 100% clear and in writing. Mr Windows agreed my order was clear. Legally I see it as clear - he failed to deliver. I am also aware that unless you are a solicitor, taking the legal path is usually hard work, even if you don't need legal support. I would prefer to sort it out if possible
He got 2 quotes from HIS supplier, and ball-park and then a detailed order. When he confirmed the order, he didn't read what they confirmed back to him. Guess what - they did the ball-park order before colours had been agreed. He failed to check they order they sent him before they made them. His fault - end of.
The are fitted because:
1 - Due to the size they were delivered direct on the day
2 - he had already cut a F****ing big hole in my living room and it's wet and windy half way up a hill in wales. He didn't really have much choice but to complete, or start with temporary ply boards.....
3- all the window frames had dark protective film on. They looked fine until careful looking.....
I am aware who my contract is with - I will call him Mr Windows (which isn't the name!).
The comms to him are 100% clear and in writing. Mr Windows agreed my order was clear. Legally I see it as clear - he failed to deliver. I am also aware that unless you are a solicitor, taking the legal path is usually hard work, even if you don't need legal support. I would prefer to sort it out if possible
He got 2 quotes from HIS supplier, and ball-park and then a detailed order. When he confirmed the order, he didn't read what they confirmed back to him. Guess what - they did the ball-park order before colours had been agreed. He failed to check they order they sent him before they made them. His fault - end of.
The are fitted because:
1 - Due to the size they were delivered direct on the day
2 - he had already cut a F****ing big hole in my living room and it's wet and windy half way up a hill in wales. He didn't really have much choice but to complete, or start with temporary ply boards.....
3- all the window frames had dark protective film on. They looked fine until careful looking.....
Bit of a nightmare situation really.
Too late now but if I'd ordered a non-standard colour (i.e. not white) I'd be peeling a bit of that protective tape off before installing anything... not saying you should've done that, but someone should've.
There's going to be an empty hole if/when the wrong doors are removed to be sent back for new ones to be supplied, so the ply boards would have had to be used anyway.
Too late now but if I'd ordered a non-standard colour (i.e. not white) I'd be peeling a bit of that protective tape off before installing anything... not saying you should've done that, but someone should've.
There's going to be an empty hole if/when the wrong doors are removed to be sent back for new ones to be supplied, so the ply boards would have had to be used anyway.
I wonder what the factory cost of new frames ONLY would be?
The glass is obviously fine, and the hardware could be swapped over. The bare plastics might not be that expensive.
Technically it is down to him - but pragmaticcaly, if the cost isn't huge , maybe offer to split it with him.
You pay more than you should, but it gets you what you want with minimum stress.
Only works if it is a few hundreds not thousands of course.
The glass is obviously fine, and the hardware could be swapped over. The bare plastics might not be that expensive.
Technically it is down to him - but pragmaticcaly, if the cost isn't huge , maybe offer to split it with him.
You pay more than you should, but it gets you what you want with minimum stress.
Only works if it is a few hundreds not thousands of course.
I know a few people who have had windows sprayed and the finish is fantastic.
A colleague had hers done 3-4 years ago and they still look as good as new. These have been painted on the outside so more prone to damage than internal painting.
I would imagine that had they have been correct the colour would be a spray finish on white anyway?
A colleague had hers done 3-4 years ago and they still look as good as new. These have been painted on the outside so more prone to damage than internal painting.
I would imagine that had they have been correct the colour would be a spray finish on white anyway?
Simpo Two said:
Durzel said:
OP were you not around when they were being fitted to question it?
Seems not, and that's ultimately why it went wrong. Never trust anybody to get anything right.Yes, I was there the entire time. I discussed and agreed the scope of work and watched him remove the old window and cut out the brickwork below as I desired.
The window then arrived (I watched the van come in the drive). I didn't notice the colour change straight away due to dark protection film. When it was offered up into the gap I had a look and spotted the issue.
I discussed the issue with the chap and we agreed, that I didn't want a 6 x 10 foot hole in my wall for the 10 week lead time for a replacement. Given the 90mph wind gusts that arrived 2 days later, I'm glad I didn't go for ply board. I can report that they be the wrong colour, but they are draft, leak and gale proof.
If I have any more windows fitted I will ask that they are delivered in advance and I will check them before old ones come out. That's a lesson learnt.
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