Hello everyone,
I registered here because we have a "small" problem (probably like some others here) and are unsure about our rights or what actions we can take.
To explain the issue from the beginning: We had a four-unit townhouse built as a shell. We hired others or did ourselves the rest (electrical work, etc.). Everything was fine. Now we are at the stage of complete interior finishing, including laying the floors and installing interior doors. We noticed that the door heights are not standard.
The contract with the builder states: "According to plan." The plan shows 2.17 meters (7 ft 1 in) in the basement, and 2.30 meters (7 ft 7 in) on the ground floor and upper floor, measured without the screed (which was added later, 16 cm (6 in) in the basement/ground floor and 13 cm (5 in) on the upper floor).
The basement is not a problem; it meets the standard dimensions.
However, the door openings on the ground and upper floors require custom-made doors. We never requested such an extreme height; the builder said they always build it like that and did not inform us beforehand. During construction, our interior doors supplier also contacted the builder, asking them not to exceed the standard height. Unfortunately, due to stress and workload, no one paid attention afterwards. Also, the plan with these dimensions was accepted at the time — in writing.
We realize that, since the plan was accepted in writing, we don’t have much ground to formally complain about defects. Still, we think it is unfair that, as laypeople, we were not informed and, even though it is not standard, this was presented to us as if it were.
Does anyone have tips or experience with what we might be able to do?
Again: We understand that because the plan was accepted in writing, there is little room to officially raise an issue. However, the doors now cost almost double the usual price, and we have additional expenses even though we are doing some work ourselves to restore standard dimensions. It’s very frustrating, but hope dies last that maybe I can officially make a complaint.
Thank you in advance.
Best regards!
I registered here because we have a "small" problem (probably like some others here) and are unsure about our rights or what actions we can take.
To explain the issue from the beginning: We had a four-unit townhouse built as a shell. We hired others or did ourselves the rest (electrical work, etc.). Everything was fine. Now we are at the stage of complete interior finishing, including laying the floors and installing interior doors. We noticed that the door heights are not standard.
The contract with the builder states: "According to plan." The plan shows 2.17 meters (7 ft 1 in) in the basement, and 2.30 meters (7 ft 7 in) on the ground floor and upper floor, measured without the screed (which was added later, 16 cm (6 in) in the basement/ground floor and 13 cm (5 in) on the upper floor).
The basement is not a problem; it meets the standard dimensions.
However, the door openings on the ground and upper floors require custom-made doors. We never requested such an extreme height; the builder said they always build it like that and did not inform us beforehand. During construction, our interior doors supplier also contacted the builder, asking them not to exceed the standard height. Unfortunately, due to stress and workload, no one paid attention afterwards. Also, the plan with these dimensions was accepted at the time — in writing.
We realize that, since the plan was accepted in writing, we don’t have much ground to formally complain about defects. Still, we think it is unfair that, as laypeople, we were not informed and, even though it is not standard, this was presented to us as if it were.
Does anyone have tips or experience with what we might be able to do?
Again: We understand that because the plan was accepted in writing, there is little room to officially raise an issue. However, the doors now cost almost double the usual price, and we have additional expenses even though we are doing some work ourselves to restore standard dimensions. It’s very frustrating, but hope dies last that maybe I can officially make a complaint.
Thank you in advance.
Best regards!
Thank you all for the answers.
@Voki1: You're right! We accepted it as it was. Our own fault. :-/ But isn’t there at least a duty to inform on the part of the company? From what it looks like, the gentlemen still want to try to file a defect report. You can always try.
@Kisska86: Heraklith boards? I have no idea what that is. But my gentlemen probably do. I’ll bring it up right away. For the slightly taller standard doors (not the 1.98–2.01 m (6.5–6.6 ft) ones), including the frame we are still missing 1–2 cm (about 0.5 inches). Maybe that can help. Thanks!
@nordanney: That’s true. We had a quote prepared for taller standard doors. They are really 10–20% more expensive than the very normal standard doors. However, as I mentioned earlier to Kisska86, we are missing 1–2 cm (about 0.5 inches) to close the gap. The double price refers to the actual size currently needed.
Oh, this is something... the problem becomes really big because time is tight. Four terraced houses means four households. Two of them have already given notice and have to move out by May 1st. :-/
@Voki1: You're right! We accepted it as it was. Our own fault. :-/ But isn’t there at least a duty to inform on the part of the company? From what it looks like, the gentlemen still want to try to file a defect report. You can always try.
@Kisska86: Heraklith boards? I have no idea what that is. But my gentlemen probably do. I’ll bring it up right away. For the slightly taller standard doors (not the 1.98–2.01 m (6.5–6.6 ft) ones), including the frame we are still missing 1–2 cm (about 0.5 inches). Maybe that can help. Thanks!
@nordanney: That’s true. We had a quote prepared for taller standard doors. They are really 10–20% more expensive than the very normal standard doors. However, as I mentioned earlier to Kisska86, we are missing 1–2 cm (about 0.5 inches) to close the gap. The double price refers to the actual size currently needed.
Oh, this is something... the problem becomes really big because time is tight. Four terraced houses means four households. Two of them have already given notice and have to move out by May 1st. :-/
Masipulami20 Feb 2015 08:05Well, it should be easily sorted out by May 1st. There’s still plenty of time.
We are moving in mid-March, and the only things left are the parquet flooring and the interior doors. Both will be completed within the next week.
We are moving in mid-March, and the only things left are the parquet flooring and the interior doors. Both will be completed within the next week.
@lastdrop: This can all be arranged at once. If so, we’ll order all the doors in one go. But we’ve tried contacting the company. So far, no one has reached out to take a look or measure for a quote. Since it’s a direct carpenter, I don’t expect any price reduction anyway. But whatever... they don’t even respond. :-/
@Masipulami: Let’s hope so. At the moment, I’m still optimistic that it will be resolved quickly. My guys tend to be somewhat pessimistic about it.
@Masipulami: Let’s hope so. At the moment, I’m still optimistic that it will be resolved quickly. My guys tend to be somewhat pessimistic about it.
Yes, for us, there was always a gap of 1-2cm (0.4-0.8 inches) depending on the door. Heraklith panels are wood fiber cement boards that you can simply screw on top. They are very easy to smooth out with fine filler and then finished. My husband spent two evenings working on 11 doors. Then he sanded them again because a fiber fleece was applied over them.
N
nordanney20 Feb 2015 09:18There is definitely enough time.
We had the doors along with the frames installed only after moving in, to avoid any damage during the move. If in doubt, simply buy and install the standard doors (2.1m (7 feet) high) and later fill and smooth over any gaps. As Kisska86 mentioned, it should not be a big effort.
We had the doors along with the frames installed only after moving in, to avoid any damage during the move. If in doubt, simply buy and install the standard doors (2.1m (7 feet) high) and later fill and smooth over any gaps. As Kisska86 mentioned, it should not be a big effort.