ᐅ Window supplier does not deliver the agreed roller shutter box
Created on: 3 Jan 2021 08:58
S
susanne1234Hello, we are currently in a new build project that was supposed to be delivered as a turnkey house. Unfortunately, we had major difficulties with the construction company and parted ways during the building process.
Now to the main issue. We received a quote from a window company, which we accepted. The company initially took rough measurements and then re-measured after the brickwork was done.
Our dissatisfaction started already at delivery. The windows were dragged directly over the concrete without any protection and simply placed against the masonry. Additionally, as laypersons, we noticed that the installation was improper. The windows were partially foamed only at the edge of the masonry with Styrofoam strips within the insulation layer, and no other fastenings were installed. Furthermore, all the external roller shutter boxes were 5cm (2 inches) too low in height and 10cm (4 inches) too shallow in depth, not matching the measurements from the quote. The internal and external sealing is also inadequate. We commissioned an inspector from the Association of Private Homeowners to review the defects and confirm them to the window installer again. Meanwhile, the windows are already sagging around the mid-rail area because they are not fastened to the lintel as required.
Unfortunately, we have already paid for half of the windows. Additionally, we have already sent the window installer a formal defect notification, but I do not expect the windows to be installed properly. Also, all 37 roller shutter boxes would need to be replaced.
Our lawyer says this will probably end up in court, and we will likely need to proceed with a judicial evidence preservation procedure. Moreover, a private expert report is usually rejected by the court. Of course, we cannot wait months for a court-appointed expert to inspect the matter. What options do we have, and what advice would you give us?
We are already under considerable time pressure due to delays caused by the first contractor.
Hausbau08154 Jan 2021 08:00Schlenk-Bär schrieb:
How do these points fit together then? I could save myself the reading and the vacation days if I can’t intervene anyway. Or what am I not understanding? You see, that’s exactly the problem with building (or having a house built).
For example, I spend about 2 hours on the construction site every day, have done my research, and generally know how things should be. But then there are “tradespeople” who don’t speak German and don’t really care when you try to explain things to them with gestures. The supervisor is either absent or unreachable.
This and other issues have led to us building since October 2018, with 3 revised completion dates, 3 expert appraisals and 1 pseudo-expert appraisal, 2 external construction supervisors, 1 lawsuit, 3 additional legal disputes ongoing, and another one developing. Building a house is great!
But I don’t want to discourage you—it can go better, or so I’ve heard.
S
Schlenk-Bär4 Jan 2021 08:15Hausbau0815 schrieb:
You see, that’s exactly the problem with building a house (or having one built).
For example, I spend about 2 hours on the construction site every day, I’ve done my research, and I generally know how things should be. But then there are “tradespeople” who don’t speak German and don’t care at all when you try to explain what you mean with hands and feet. The supervisor isn’t there or is unreachable.
This and a few other issues have led to us building since October 2018, with 3 completion dates postponed, 3 expert reviewers and 1 so-called expert reviewer involved, 2 external construction supervisors, 1 lawsuit, 3 more legal disputes ongoing or pending. Building is fun!
But I don’t want to discourage you—it can go better, or so I’ve heard. Thank you for still taking the trouble to write here in the building forum and share your experiences. If I understand you correctly, the main goal is just to be able to tell if shoddy work is being done. Maybe also hoping that your personal presence on site can prevent cutting corners?
Hausbau08154 Jan 2021 08:37Schlenk-Bär schrieb:
Thank you for taking the time to write here in the building forum and for sharing your experiences. If I understand you correctly, it’s mainly about being able to recognize poor workmanship. Possibly also hoping that your personal presence on the construction site will discourage any cutting corners? I shared all my previous experiences in a thread here on the forum. Unfortunately, it was deleted without comment about two weeks ago, and I was blocked. For me, it was helpful to get things off my chest, but apparently someone didn’t like it. Of course, you can’t generalize about all construction companies, and you should start with a basic level of trust. There are definitely companies that deliver quality, like my window installer, but unfortunately you can’t fully rely on that. Being on site more often is definitely advisable, and take lots and lots of photos. They might be needed later as evidence, as was the case for us. Don’t let it discourage you!
Hausbau08154 Jan 2021 10:24I would like to refer to a thread on the topic "Window Installation – Swell Tape Mistakes or Waiting?" here in the forum, where I have just posted some nice photos of various sealing attempts.
Hausbau08154 Jan 2021 10:53Schlenk-Bär schrieb:
If I understand you correctly, it’s mainly about spotting whether poor workmanship is happening. Maybe also hoping that being physically present on the construction site will prevent mistakes?Here is an example: When you remove the tape, you can see what’s behind it—actually nothing. Great waterproofing! You just have to be there at the right time before it gets completely covered up.
Schlenk-Bär schrieb:
How do these points fit together then? I can save myself the reading and vacation days if I can’t intervene anyway. Schlenk-Bär schrieb:
Maybe also hoping that being physically present on the construction site will prevent sloppy work? The main effect of the tomcat’s presence is that the mice don’t dance on the table. For that, the tomcat needs to know near which cheese he should keep a particularly close watch. Or as Peter Frankenfeld once sang, “if you look away from the spot, the overseer is gone” :-)
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