Difficulties Getting Major Problem Sorted

KJ · 9th October 2005, 13:39

Just come across this site and I need a bit of advice as I'm not sure about the next step to take to try and get these defects sorted in my house.

I bought my new house from Ward Homes, they're a local builder who build a lot of houses in Kent and are owned by Wilson Bowden. I moved in in June, before we moved in my Dad, who's a chippy came with me to do a snag list. We noticed that the doorframes and doors had been butchered, basically overcut around hinges, keeps, perkos etc, aswell as screws going in at angles, basically totally unacceptable. I'm waiting for it to all start cracking now that we've started using the central heating.

When we were there it was a Sunday and they were in the process of trying to cover it up wih splicings, mastic and any other way they could bodge it. So I asked for the frames and doors to be replaced, it never happened. The site manager seemed surprised that I wasn't happy with the work done, altough it can clearly be seen that the work was bodged, some they hadn't actually tried to cover. When I told him that it would all crack and fall out eventually he told me it was all "if's and but's" and they'll deal with that as and when it happens. Very professional.

Never got anywhere with him so I had the Customer Services Manager round, he agreed that the work was very bad but assured me his customer services guys would make it unoticable without replacing the frames and doors. They gave us one man for 2 days to sort al this out and the other snags, leaving him 1 day to sort the doors out, unsurprisingly he never had time to make a good job of it, although he did try.

This is where I am now, what should I do, I want the frames and doors changed regardless of the work necessary, I want my new house to be done right. I work on building sites as an electrician, mainly for Laing Homes, a site agent there told me the frames should be replaced. Can I involve the NHBC in this as this is clearly a case of bad workmanship, or should I go to my solicitor or should I get back onto Wards and ask again for them to replace the frames?

I do have other defects remaining, but nothing a lick of paint wont fix so I should be OK on getting those ones sorted.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you may have.

Tony · 9th October 2005, 18:26

The NHBC finishing guidelines "A consistent approach to finishes" are very lenient in my opinion. If the person dealing with your snags in your doors and frames can make them invisible from 2m without shining artifical light along the surface, you are unlikely to get your doors replaced. There is no harm in trying though, but don't count on the support of the NHBC.

Tony

KJ · 9th October 2005, 19:23

I picked up a copy of the Consistent Approach To Finishes, all I can say is that I wish you couldn't see it from 2m, maybe I should give them a call and see what they think. In the booklet the NHBC give you with your house it states that work should be carried out in a Proper, Neat and Workmanlike manner.

Tony · 9th October 2005, 20:08

The "A consistent approach to finishes" is a depressing read. A house built just within all the tolerences in the booklet would be an extemely crooked house and hardly neat, proper or workmanlike in most people's eyes.

Regardless of what the NHBC says there is common sense, standard building practice and the building regulations that should be taken into account, as well as the service you should reasonably expect from any respectable company regardless of the fact they are exempt from the Sales of Goods Act.

You, your father and your colleague at Laing all believe the doors should be replaced which I would say reflects standard practice as this is your industry amd I would agree.

Good luck

Tony

tonyw · 25th March 2006, 12:58

What was the outcome ? were the architraves and doors etc etc changed ? would be nice to know eh ?

PS i do hope you make sure all your electrical sockets etc are 100% straight when you fix them and any drilling you do in the joists are done to all building regs and if applicable, the NHBC standards ? but i am sure your answer to that is.......'Yes of course'