ᐅ The windows are smaller than specified in the building permit/planning permission or construction plans.

This is a classic issue, partly because there are always multiple versions of plans, and one contractor receives version 1.0, another 2.0, and a third 2.0a.

For example, during my construction, the contractors who poured the slab and foundation received a plan that had already been revised several times. Although there were no significant changes for that trade, I now actually have an extra drain in the kitchen under the underfloor heating. Since it did not cause any problems, it was left in place, even though it was no longer mentioned in the final execution plan.

As a builder, you have to keep visiting the site and measuring things yourself. This is especially important when it comes to windows, because once they are installed and approved, no changes can be made. In this case, apparently no one was sure which plan was actually valid.

Drain and water supply are slightly misplaced in the wall. The kitchen no longer fit as planned. However, Ikea changed it without any problem. It works this way too.
2. Outdoor water tap. Oh, you only ordered one? Well, now it’s here. I ask, was it expensive? Grumble grumble... Result: it still hasn't been paid for to this day... That’s how it is.

Every house is a prototype and not a fully standardized industrial product planned from start to finish.

Pinkiponk schrieb:

I find it quite absurd that the homeowner has to measure every single window themselves.

Sunshine12345 schrieb:

According to the building application/working drawings, the windows should be 6cm (2.4 inches) higher (larger) than they currently are. The parapet height is also 6cm (2.4 inches) too high now.

Before measuring, you first need to define exactly what you are measuring; otherwise, you end up measuring incorrectly. If I read a 6cm (2.4 inches) difference between target and actual parapet height, I think: one person might understand "parapet height" during the shell construction as the top edge of the uppermost row of bricks, while another might mean the top edge of the window sill. That alone can be a 4cm (1.6 inches) difference, plus a 2cm (0.8 inches) tolerance between nominal dimension and execution. In the end, 6cm (2.4 inches) - 4cm (1.6 inches) - 2cm (0.8 inches) = 0, meaning it’s probably just a case of talking past each other rather than a significant deviation.

Maria16 schrieb:

An outdated plan version is also not uncommon, especially when the homeowner frequently makes changes after the project has started and the initial plan versions have already been distributed.

On top of that, the crucial second half of document management— not only distributing but also collecting back outdated versions when the release status changes— is often overlooked. Ideally, every plan should state: "If older than 14 days, actively confirm validity before execution."

andimann schrieb:

Just one bad apple among your subcontractors is enough to ruin your enjoyment of the house for a long time and can cost you a lot of money.

And this risk increases quite predictably if you rely on separate contracts for every trade to save the last cent. Many more houses could be free of defects that can’t be ignored if fewer homeowners made the effort to insert a bad apple into an otherwise well-functioning team.

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I visited the construction site at least twice a day. Once in the morning before work and again in the evening when no one was around.

I have not remeasured the windows to this day. They seem fine to me. What is shown in the plans doesn’t matter. If something is important to me, I take care of it during construction. If I don’t notice anything that looks off, it can’t be a serious issue.

People work on construction sites. People make mistakes. Things can always happen. I think our general contractor and the tradespeople did a good job.

Rectifying defects must always be proportional. Replacing a window because of a 6cm (2.4 inches) discrepancy is likely not justified.