Stewart Milne

[malcolm22]

Sorry, forgot to say an Aberfoyle.

[malcolm22]

I've realised that I've never said what some of my problems are, so here's a foretaste for anyone buying at Linburn Grange. I've been suffering these for the last 16 weeks.
Leaking radiators - it comes and goes, marking your carpets when you least expect. Which ones leak, and the rate at which they leak, is completely random. They can cure themselves for a couple of weeks then start up again. Fortunately, I have no plans to go on holiday.
Front and back doors that don't fit properly, and the back one lets in water when it rains. Super.
A garden that has about 2' of soil in places, and it does not deserve to be called soil. It would have been nice to do some gardening this sppring, but fat chance of that.
Vinyl that doesn't fit in the bathroom and ensuite, for which I had the privelege of payng extra - up front and by credit card, no less.
Fences that aren't properly secured to the posts and move in the wind.
Loads of marks on the brickwork, studiously avoided by the pressure washing guys last week, even though I'd told them where they were.
I could go on, but hey, that's enough for now. Must save a few (!!!) for later!
CallumD has me worried about foundations. They were about to start putting the bricks up round the frame at plot 9, then stopped and dug a deep hole by the foundations beside the road. There was a pile of breeze blocks beside it, but they went when I wasn't around. The hole was then filled in, and bricking started. Please God, don't let them be that amateur that even the rudiments are wrong.:S

[CallumD]

The problem with the foundations is that some of them are on timber - rather than brick. The timber is not even specialist timber, so through time would just rot. Apparently, there is a certain width of wood allowed but what has been found is way over the minimum. As such, the timber would rot causing the house to be unstable & significant structural damage would occur. SM were trying to fob our neighbour off, but as soon as he threatened Building Control they backed down & said they'd investigate. Our neighbour will let us know what happens because we will be demanding the same level of investigation to our foundations if they are found to be faulty. Rather worrying.

Another issue to highlight (and a word of warning if you are going to be putting up fencing)is to be very careful of gas & electric pipes underground. Another neighbour was digging down to lay concrete for a gate post & hit a gas pipe - it was only about a foot and a half from the side of the house. When the Trasco folks came out they told the neighbour how lucky he was not to have blown himself up because the electric pipe/cabling was only a few millimetres from the gas pipe. It was quite a sobering moment I have to say. Not sure what the NHBC requirements are but it doesn't sound right.

We've had the leaking radiators too, but a few weeks ago we had a leaking roof. I was sat on the computer & there was a wind/rain 'storm' that lastest about 5 minutes. I could hear splashing so opened my loft hatch only to get the water splashing on my face! I went into the loft & found there were about 5 places where water was coming in. The site manager was called & I reported it into Head office. Someone came to my garden looked up at the roof & said I should expect some kind of leaks when it was that weather - tremendous!

I think you just get immune to it all - we have had this treatment for the last 10 months, so nothing is surprising anymore. Its just disappointing that everything has to be a fight to get something done.:angry:

[Colin Jack]

CallumD,

Timber foundations on a new build estate in this country????????

Is this what you are talking about:
If you look along the wall, at a low level possibly below finished soil level, the brickwork sitting on a horizontal strip of wood?

Do you have any pictures?

If it is what I think it is then I am not surprised they backed down when you mentioned Building Control.

www.abadbett.com

[CallumD]

This isn't on my house, its on a neighbours. The foundations aren't all timber, but there is a lot more timber than there should be. Its just by a pure stroke of luck that this was detected by the guys doing the conservatory or we would never have found out. Our neighbour is keeping us in the loop so as soon as we find out what the result of the inspection was, will let you know - as depending on what is found, you may want to ask for a similar inspection on your houses.

[malcolm22]

The more I've thought about this, the more worried I've become. They don't seem to be able to use any kind of measuring device on this site. So was the base at your neighbours just too small to get the bricks on it - this was what plot 9 looked like at one stage.
You will also note throughout Linburn Grange that lead flashing for bay windows is either two or three courses down from window sills, and it isn't a good fit when it's only two courses (they seem to fit extra flashing underneath to make it watertight). I watched them take down the bricks across the front of another house because they'd put it in only one brick down from the sill. They would have needed divine intervention to make that one fit!
Colin, your link to abadbett takes us to a site only part constructed. Are there any other photos anywhere (though I'm not sure I want to know!!!!). Thanks
How on nearth did Mr Milne get an honour in the list this year?
:evil:

[CallumD]

Not sure of the full ins & outs of measurements re the timber. The house in question is a whitekirk. My sister also lives on Linburn Grange in a whitekirk so is extremely worried. I am in a Moffat. As soon I get word, will let you know.

Apparently the Newburgh house for sale near the 'pond' has only had one viewing. Hardly surprising given the state of the site & the outlook over the 'pond' - actually I think it has water in it at the moment because of all the rainfall

[malcolm22]

Spoken to someone on site about the timber problem and they think it's minor , just a workman taking a shorcut rather than waiting for another tradesman, and only a smallish piece of wood (not the full length of the wall). Think we could do with reassurance now it's in the public domain. Could seriously impact on house values here?
Bearing in mind all the deals being offered at the moment, not surprising that little interest in the Newburgh on the front - folk prefer brand new unless they can save a lot of cash (the voice of experience, you probably need to take a 'loss' in the first couple of years if you want to move on. Sad but true.) Financial situation doesn't help either!
:dry:

[Colin Jack]

I would always be very wary of site people saying it is 'minor'. Many of these site people have no idea what they are talking about.

I had one site person with 30 years experience (it is always 30 years, isn't it) in drainage during excavation works tell me that I had a burst pipe in my back garden. Utter bollocks the water entering the excavation was sub surface water from the sodden garden itself. It was obvious he had been talking shite for the past 30 years.

Building Regulation Note 1/94 sums it up completely:

'3. The Ombudsman feels it is absolutely essential for individuals to obtain proper independent professional advice, since the temptation to take short cuts and minimise costs can prove extremely expensive in the longer term. The many complaints received were linked by a common thread that each had relied on the fact that the local authority had issued a building warrant and completion certificate and believed that these provided a guarantee of standard of workmanship.'

Straight from the Scottish Executive's mouth. These shortcuts can indeed seriously impact house values. I can't sell my Bett Homes / Gladedale property at all because of such shortcuts.

Don't go to the NHBC for advice. In Scotland they have absolutely no jurisdiction whatsoever to make any comment on Building Standards issues.

The www.abadbett.com website is a holding website because the Bett Homes name is being phased out. The main site www.agladedalenightmare.com and another one which shall remain nameless at the moment is currently under construction.

[Colin Jack]