Creaking floors and other woes

[rob.butterworth]

Hi,
As per many of the posts here, we've had tons of problems with the house that we purchased 1 year ago - many small issues, some larger ones. The usual story of promises, let downs, further damage done during visits, wasted time waiting in for them, etc.

I think we're slowly getting there, but we have fallen out big time over the frankly appalling quality of the flooring, which is uneven, moves a lot, and is astonishingly noisy. The lounge is carpeted, and after a year of hassling them and two very formal letters, they have taken that up and seem to have resolved the issues, much to our surprise. Their response to the letters did, in fact, say they would resolve all issues, but they have now turned around and said that the rest of the ground floor, which has laminate flooring, is just too expensive to deal with, and we should be thankful that the lounge has been dealt with and settle for that.

Before we purchased the house, we were assured that the floors would 'settle down' and get better. The builder freely admits that he said it, and has demonstrated that it can be resolved, having done the lounge.

We're now lodging a complaint with the NHBC, and I was wondering if people thought there was any chance that they'll make the builder sort it out ?

Of course, I still have a leaky en-suite, a circuit on the lighting that blows spontaneously when it rains (just started recently) even though no lights are on, a back window that leaks water all over the windowsill and through the plaster during heavy rain and a heating system where the hot water and heating seem to be plumbed in the wrong way round, amongst other things, all of which they promise to have sorted (originally by Dec last year, then by Feb, then March, etc. and most recently, in writing, by Sept 19th) so it's a never ending stress trip. If this was any other product we'd purchased, I would have taken it back for a refund some time ago...

Rob

[Maple Lodge]

Take a look at my website cant say that NHBC will help you

Persimmon Homes my house of horror nightmare - NHBC

[rob.butterworth]

Maple Lodge - tnx, and my sympathy for your problems - mine seem almost petty by comparison !

Interesting developments :

1. The builder says his boss won't let him sort the flooring out, but he gave his word so he will try to persuade him otherwise. Not holding my breath...
2. I've reported it to the NHBC, but it looks like the NHBC certificate wasn't 'completed' - I'm guessing the builder never forwarded the paperwork to our solicitor. Of course, I'll go through my paperwork carefully, but if by any freakish chance the NHBC want to make them complete the flooring repairs, I have to find that certificate and return form, apparently. Anyone know how to get a duplicate issued, if all else fails ?

Fingers crossed that they promised to get the lounge carpet refitted today, so we can at least move back into the lounge - 'caravan style' living in the kitchen is losing it's novelty now...

[Maple Lodge]

Thanks for your reply.

If i remember correctly your solicitor may be negligent if he has not obtained the completion certificate before you moved in.

[Maple Lodge]

Take a look at this website

Inspecting works and Completion Certificates

Who did the Building Control your local authority or the NHBC?

Suspect you can ask for a duplicate but there may be costs to do for doing so


Persimmon Homes my house of horror nightmare - Maple Lodge

[scotty]

i am a plasterer working on persimmons i know how bad they have become in the last few years almost on par with barratts eg poor quality materials to say the least.

[rob.butterworth]

Quick update, in case anyone is curious.

They finished sorting out our bedroom floor last week, which involved replacing a section of the flooring. Now our upstairs (mostly) and the lounge are pretty much silent and solid - it's like being in a different house, and a huge improvement.

Unfortunately the rest of the ground floor seems even worse now that it's the only area not dealt with. I'm waiting on the builder to respond to the NHBC, though I'm not optimistic. On the bright side, our solicitors found the NHBC paperwork that they filed rather than sending off, so at lease we have properly registered NHBC cover (or will have, once the NHBC process it).

Rob

[rob.butterworth]

FYI, the NHBC actually agreed that everything other than one room needed to be sorted, so the builder has a deadline of the end of Feb to sort it out.

'course, most of our downstairs spots are no longer working, despite putting new bulbs in... sigh

[Chuck Sidfrum]

Definately pursue with NHBC, although can be worth getting minor items sorted first direct with builder.

For upstairs floor issues, floor joists, search on noisy, bouncy and unlevel floors. You will find plenty of information, especially with Persimmon Homes (going back 10 years in news paper articles). Lot of issues relate to the use of lowest specification I-beam joists. I-Beam joists are fine if it's the right spec, stored and fitted correctly. But they are rated, and the SI rating (serviceability index) is worse at 1.0, and highest at about 9.0. A 1.0 house at time of design can be dramatically improved for between £150 and £450, those are quotes from the suppliers and surveyors used by major UK developer, for 4/5 bedroom executive homes.

We've been battling nearly 4 years now, still along way to go. But I won't be paying £50k to fix the matter privately, I want the builder to address it.

[SteveF]

Hi Sid.....any update on your sitation?