Dear forum,
This April, during a complete renovation of our semi-detached house, we had the windows replaced. A window company came to take all the measurements and then installed the new windows. Since we are adding an 18cm (7 inch) external thermal insulation system to the facade, the windows were positioned at the outer edge of the wall.
The problem is that the window installer only measured the outer reveal without removing the exterior plaster beforehand. As a result, the new windows, balcony doors, and front door are between 5 and 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) too narrow because there was a considerable layer of plaster.
My questions are as follows:
1. Who is responsible in a case like this? Who would potentially cover any resulting costs?
2. Is it even allowed to install windows only on the exterior plaster? Normally, they should be mounted directly onto the brickwork, right?
3. How could these windows be removed in the future? On the outside there will be the insulation system, and inside, according to the window installer, we should fix drywall panels with profiles onto the window to rebuild the reveal, since applying another 4cm (1.5 inches) of plaster per side on the existing interior plaster is not possible. (Besides, this would probably be very expensive because every corner etc. would have to be rebuilt.) If the windows ever need to be replaced again, would the entire drywall reveal have to be demolished?
4. Will there be no thermal bridge in the gap between the brick and the drywall panel? Behind it is only the thin layer of exterior plaster.
I have attached a photo—I hope you can see that the windows were installed only on the plaster.
I would really appreciate any answers 🙂
This April, during a complete renovation of our semi-detached house, we had the windows replaced. A window company came to take all the measurements and then installed the new windows. Since we are adding an 18cm (7 inch) external thermal insulation system to the facade, the windows were positioned at the outer edge of the wall.
The problem is that the window installer only measured the outer reveal without removing the exterior plaster beforehand. As a result, the new windows, balcony doors, and front door are between 5 and 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) too narrow because there was a considerable layer of plaster.
My questions are as follows:
1. Who is responsible in a case like this? Who would potentially cover any resulting costs?
2. Is it even allowed to install windows only on the exterior plaster? Normally, they should be mounted directly onto the brickwork, right?
3. How could these windows be removed in the future? On the outside there will be the insulation system, and inside, according to the window installer, we should fix drywall panels with profiles onto the window to rebuild the reveal, since applying another 4cm (1.5 inches) of plaster per side on the existing interior plaster is not possible. (Besides, this would probably be very expensive because every corner etc. would have to be rebuilt.) If the windows ever need to be replaced again, would the entire drywall reveal have to be demolished?
4. Will there be no thermal bridge in the gap between the brick and the drywall panel? Behind it is only the thin layer of exterior plaster.
I have attached a photo—I hope you can see that the windows were installed only on the plaster.
I would really appreciate any answers 🙂
apokolok schrieb:
Honestly, I would just remove the windows as they are.
How can such poor workmanship happen?
It really shouldn’t be allowed or possible.I would also prefer that, but the question is: who will cover the damage, and would I be within my rights to have everything redone?
This would only work if the window company covers all the costs.
H
hampshire6 Aug 2021 09:42firas21 schrieb:
I would prefer that too, but the question is who will cover the damage, and would I be entitled to have everything redone?What needs to be clarified is the contract with the window installer. With just a verbal statement that the dimensions will change due to planned insulation, you will have little chance of requiring the window installer to contribute. The window installer cannot be held liable if the conditions at the time of measurement differ from those at the time of installation or subsequent work on the house, unless this is explicitly stated in the contract.But doesn't a company have an obligation to inform the customer about this? What if there were not 5cm (2 inches) of plaster on the sides, but 15cm (6 inches)? Then nothing would work at all anymore. The layperson can’t be blamed for that, right? What is the point of having trained professionals then?
H
hampshire6 Aug 2021 10:40firas21 schrieb:
But isn’t a company obligated to inform the customer about this? What if there were 15cm (6 inches) of plaster on the sides instead of 5cm (2 inches)? In that case, it would have been enough to find a suitable fixing method with the same dimensions. The window manufacturer is not obliged to inform you that the window sizes might no longer fit if you make structural changes to the house.
Simply put: If I buy a tailored suit and don’t tell the tailor that I plan to gain or lose a significant amount of weight and want the suit to fit the changed measurements, the tailor is not obliged to warn me that the suit might no longer fit if my body shape changes.
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