Good morning everyone,
We have anthracite-colored vinyl-clad uPVC windows on the outside.
Since our contractors behaved like bull in a china shop (their exact words: “This is a construction site, it’s normal to have damage on the uPVC windows and glass! Uh, yeah. We could really lose it”), we ended up with quite a few damages to our uPVC windows.
Inside, there are many scratches on the frames, cuts in the plastic, and three windows are scratched. On the outside, our windows are anthracite vinyl-clad. In many places, the vinyl cladding is so damaged that the white uPVC underneath is visible.
Does anyone have any experience with this, especially regarding damaged vinyl cladding?
I have already searched online and found that there are companies that can reapply vinyl cladding on site.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much
Best regards
Katja
We have anthracite-colored vinyl-clad uPVC windows on the outside.
Since our contractors behaved like bull in a china shop (their exact words: “This is a construction site, it’s normal to have damage on the uPVC windows and glass! Uh, yeah. We could really lose it”), we ended up with quite a few damages to our uPVC windows.
Inside, there are many scratches on the frames, cuts in the plastic, and three windows are scratched. On the outside, our windows are anthracite vinyl-clad. In many places, the vinyl cladding is so damaged that the white uPVC underneath is visible.
Does anyone have any experience with this, especially regarding damaged vinyl cladding?
I have already searched online and found that there are companies that can reapply vinyl cladding on site.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much
Best regards
Katja
Why should he be the one providing proof? The warranty law is quite clear in this case.
He needs to contact the party he has a contract with; this all sounds very much like a general contractor (GC) situation. He does not need to reach out to any window installer or plasterer. This should be clarified first.
He needs to contact the party he has a contract with; this all sounds very much like a general contractor (GC) situation. He does not need to reach out to any window installer or plasterer. This should be clarified first.
Brüllheidi13 May 2020 08:39We purchased the windows through a private company that had them manufactured in Poland.
Some of the windows were already damaged during installation, and some of these damages still need to be corrected by re-laminating. The window company is aware of this.
We took photos of all other damages promptly—we always documented and recorded the damages.
For example, the plumber’s worker ran cables through the open windows on the first floor (1st floor) and climbed over the scaffolding through the open windows wearing shoes, stepping on the frames and causing significant damage. This has already been addressed in a timely manner, and the damages are being covered.
At the time we took the photos of the other damages, only the shell construction company was on site. Based on this, it is actually fairly easy to track who was responsible.
The 4-meter (13 feet) aluminum rail of the lift-and-slide door element is also completely damaged, and the shell builder is taking responsibility for that. The other damages, of course, he denies responsibility for.
The roofer treated the house with bitumen on the lower insulation back then—this caused the lamination of the lift-and-slide door to be completely stained with bitumen in the lower area, which can no longer be removed.
You can’t even imagine how many damages we have due to careless work on the window frames/lamination—both inside and outside. Cuts and deep scratches/abrasions in the plastic caused by box cutters or other sharp objects...
It’s just awful.
We know that these kinds of issues are hard to prove against anyone. But we have to try somehow. Otherwise, we’ll just end up paying more out of pocket…
We had already considered having an expert inspect these issues. But it probably won’t help much…
Some of the windows were already damaged during installation, and some of these damages still need to be corrected by re-laminating. The window company is aware of this.
We took photos of all other damages promptly—we always documented and recorded the damages.
For example, the plumber’s worker ran cables through the open windows on the first floor (1st floor) and climbed over the scaffolding through the open windows wearing shoes, stepping on the frames and causing significant damage. This has already been addressed in a timely manner, and the damages are being covered.
At the time we took the photos of the other damages, only the shell construction company was on site. Based on this, it is actually fairly easy to track who was responsible.
The 4-meter (13 feet) aluminum rail of the lift-and-slide door element is also completely damaged, and the shell builder is taking responsibility for that. The other damages, of course, he denies responsibility for.
The roofer treated the house with bitumen on the lower insulation back then—this caused the lamination of the lift-and-slide door to be completely stained with bitumen in the lower area, which can no longer be removed.
You can’t even imagine how many damages we have due to careless work on the window frames/lamination—both inside and outside. Cuts and deep scratches/abrasions in the plastic caused by box cutters or other sharp objects...
It’s just awful.
We know that these kinds of issues are hard to prove against anyone. But we have to try somehow. Otherwise, we’ll just end up paying more out of pocket…
We had already considered having an expert inspect these issues. But it probably won’t help much…
Now it’s definitely going to be difficult. Sounds like the work was subcontracted individually and always awarded to the cheapest option...
An expert report probably won't help much, since the damages are clearly documented. You just have to identify who caused the damage in each specific case. This will be very challenging, as multiple trades have damaged the windows.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you still manage to resolve the problem.
An expert report probably won't help much, since the damages are clearly documented. You just have to identify who caused the damage in each specific case. This will be very challenging, as multiple trades have damaged the windows.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you still manage to resolve the problem.
N
nordanney13 May 2020 08:57Brüllheidi schrieb:
We purchased the windows through a private company that has them manufactured in Poland.
Some of the windows were already damaged during installation, and some of these damages still need to be fixed by re-laminating. The window company is aware of this.
For all other damages, we took photos promptly – we always documented and recorded the damages.
For example, the plumbing subcontractor’s worker ran cables through the open windows on the first floor and stepped on the frames while walking over the scaffolding with his shoes through the open windows, causing significant damage. This has already been addressed promptly, and the damages will be covered.
At the time we took photos of the other damages, only the shell construction company was on site. Because of this, it’s actually relatively easy to track who was responsible.
The 4-meter (13-foot) aluminum rail on the sliding door element is also heavily damaged, and the shell constructor will cover that. He, of course, denies responsibility for the other damages.
The roofer treated the house with bitumen at the lower insulation area – because of this, the lamination of the sliding door is entirely stained with bitumen at the bottom, which cannot be removed.
You can’t even imagine how many damages we have from careless work on the window frames/lamination – both inside and outside. Cuts and deep scratches or abrasions on the plastic caused by utility knives or other sharp objects…
It’s simply infuriating… Oh my gosh! Good luck dealing with all the contractors; it really is a complicated puzzle. In the end, there will definitely be imperfections left that no one wants to take responsibility for, and I doubt any repairs will fully restore the original appearance.
1. Windows damaged during installation – damages acknowledged by the window installer and will be repaired
2. Damages caused by plumbing subcontractor – to be repaired
3. Damages caused by roofer – how will this be resolved?
4. Damages caused by shell constructor – only partially accepted responsibility
5. Damages caused by plasterer – still to be clarified
6. Damages that no one claims to have caused – a major problem
==> many issues on the construction site where no one can say if or how well the damages can be fixed
My condolences to the original poster.
I’d like to jump in here because I might also face having to contract the window installation separately if my general contractor doesn’t come to terms regarding his shutter prices.
How could something like this have been prevented? I understand that not all tradespeople are extremely careful (sorry to the original poster).
Are there protective window films with padding that can prevent such scratches?
Can these be ordered directly from the window manufacturer, or do they need to be applied on-site?
If you go overboard with “wrapping” or protecting the installed windows, are there any issues this could cause for subsequent trades (e.g., plasterers)?
What else should one watch out for?
I’d like to jump in here because I might also face having to contract the window installation separately if my general contractor doesn’t come to terms regarding his shutter prices.
How could something like this have been prevented? I understand that not all tradespeople are extremely careful (sorry to the original poster).
Are there protective window films with padding that can prevent such scratches?
Can these be ordered directly from the window manufacturer, or do they need to be applied on-site?
If you go overboard with “wrapping” or protecting the installed windows, are there any issues this could cause for subsequent trades (e.g., plasterers)?
What else should one watch out for?
The problem is that if a subcontractor, for example, damages a window and there are no witnesses or admissions, it becomes difficult to prove who is responsible. Especially since it is obvious that the windows already had existing damage. Who is supposed to have caused which scratch (and what is its value)?
We also had a damage case (single trade contract) involving the window film, which was clearly caused by the plasterer. No other trades were present that day, and the spot matched the work performed. Still, everything was denied. Of course, I deducted that from the invoice; he made quite a fuss but ultimately accepted it. I probably can’t expect any warranty from him if something else happens. The defect was concealed by the window manufacturer with a touch-up pen. That’s fine. They can also apply the film on site, but that obviously costs quite a bit more.
In your situation, it will really be difficult because the windows were already in poor condition.
Inspecting the windows immediately after installation, with the general contractor involved. This way, everyone is clear about whether there are any pre-existing damages or not. If something happens afterwards, it is at least harder to deny responsibility. If no one is at fault, it may be covered by the builder’s risk insurance since the windows are already permanently part of the building and fall within the homeowner’s risk.
My window installer insisted on such an appointment himself because, especially nowadays with films, visible damage happens regularly.
We also had a damage case (single trade contract) involving the window film, which was clearly caused by the plasterer. No other trades were present that day, and the spot matched the work performed. Still, everything was denied. Of course, I deducted that from the invoice; he made quite a fuss but ultimately accepted it. I probably can’t expect any warranty from him if something else happens. The defect was concealed by the window manufacturer with a touch-up pen. That’s fine. They can also apply the film on site, but that obviously costs quite a bit more.
In your situation, it will really be difficult because the windows were already in poor condition.
Tolentino schrieb:
How could something like this have been prevented?
Inspecting the windows immediately after installation, with the general contractor involved. This way, everyone is clear about whether there are any pre-existing damages or not. If something happens afterwards, it is at least harder to deny responsibility. If no one is at fault, it may be covered by the builder’s risk insurance since the windows are already permanently part of the building and fall within the homeowner’s risk.
My window installer insisted on such an appointment himself because, especially nowadays with films, visible damage happens regularly.
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