Hello everyone,
we are currently building, and I think most people know that this can be quite a stressful process. You sometimes have to overlook minor defects, but when it comes to the welds on our new railing, I’m not sure if these can still be considered small cosmetic flaws or if they are already major visual or even structural defects.
Here, of course, I deliberately chose one of the worse welds.
There are also paint damages that are so obvious that, in my opinion, any reputable tradesperson should have fixed them before final acceptance.
Friends with welding experience who have seen this say such work is unacceptable. Unfortunately, I’m not an expert myself, but this is the response I received from our construction supervisor via the contractor:
“The welds are flawless!
I don’t know what expertise the owner has to claim that the welds would not hold...
The two ‘paint damages’ probably occurred when lifting the 180 kg (400 lb) railing.
We will retouch these with a paint pen so they are no longer visible.
Corrosion protection is fully ensured anyway, because the entire railing beneath the paint layer is hot-dip galvanized.”
What do the welding experts here think about this? And do you know what options I have? Are there special expert inspectors to whom I should turn?
Thanks in advance!
we are currently building, and I think most people know that this can be quite a stressful process. You sometimes have to overlook minor defects, but when it comes to the welds on our new railing, I’m not sure if these can still be considered small cosmetic flaws or if they are already major visual or even structural defects.
Here, of course, I deliberately chose one of the worse welds.
There are also paint damages that are so obvious that, in my opinion, any reputable tradesperson should have fixed them before final acceptance.
Friends with welding experience who have seen this say such work is unacceptable. Unfortunately, I’m not an expert myself, but this is the response I received from our construction supervisor via the contractor:
“The welds are flawless!
I don’t know what expertise the owner has to claim that the welds would not hold...
The two ‘paint damages’ probably occurred when lifting the 180 kg (400 lb) railing.
We will retouch these with a paint pen so they are no longer visible.
Corrosion protection is fully ensured anyway, because the entire railing beneath the paint layer is hot-dip galvanized.”
What do the welding experts here think about this? And do you know what options I have? Are there special expert inspectors to whom I should turn?
Thanks in advance!
A
Alessandro10 Aug 2020 07:50@11ant you are still misinterpreting the issue.
Nothing was welded in images 2 and 3, so it cannot be "weld spatter adhesion."
Nothing was welded in images 2 and 3, so it cannot be "weld spatter adhesion."
Fortunately, I haven’t paid anything yet. Now he has the chance to work with me on finding a constructive solution, which I have offered him. Instead, he insists that his work is completely within the allowed tolerances and threatens me with his “dunning department.” For a 1800 Euro (about 1900 USD) trade, it doesn’t help me to withhold 20% if the railing will rust away in a few years and until then I have to look at this sloppy repainting.
He also immediately forwarded me emails where he supposedly arranged an appointment with me. None of them were sent to me or my wife, only to our neighbor and the coordinating construction company. Also, there was no acceptance inspection mentioned; it was only an announcement of when his repair work would take place.
By the way, my neighbors were not affected as heavily because the defects are less visible, mostly on the side of the handrail facing away from the house or further down. But they were also not offered an acceptance inspection appointment.
I am now looking into what options I have. So far, I’ve found out that an expert appraiser would probably cost about 400 Euro (around 420 USD) and that you can claim these costs back from the contractor if damage is confirmed. Can anyone confirm this, and where would you recommend finding such a person? I found a list at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) where they are categorized by specialization. There is one listed under welding technology, which I think fits best.
He also immediately forwarded me emails where he supposedly arranged an appointment with me. None of them were sent to me or my wife, only to our neighbor and the coordinating construction company. Also, there was no acceptance inspection mentioned; it was only an announcement of when his repair work would take place.
By the way, my neighbors were not affected as heavily because the defects are less visible, mostly on the side of the handrail facing away from the house or further down. But they were also not offered an acceptance inspection appointment.
I am now looking into what options I have. So far, I’ve found out that an expert appraiser would probably cost about 400 Euro (around 420 USD) and that you can claim these costs back from the contractor if damage is confirmed. Can anyone confirm this, and where would you recommend finding such a person? I found a list at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) where they are categorized by specialization. There is one listed under welding technology, which I think fits best.
Alessandro schrieb:
@11ant you are still misinterpreting the fault patternThis can never be completely ruled out in a remote diagnosis Alessandro schrieb:
nothing was welded in images 2 and 3, so it can’t be “weld spatter adhesion”I also find it hard to understand how it’s possible to spatter that far – maybe from a workpiece standing next to it in the workshop (?)https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
ypg schrieb:
Don’t even think about it. That’s not legal. What exactly is illegal about it?
I would name the person if some unqualified contractor tried to sell me this kind of poor workmanship as skilled trade.
Ant11: The welder did nothing wrong? I took several welding courses with the chamber of crafts during my apprenticeship 20 years ago. Although it was oxy-fuel welding, everyone can see this is shoddy work.
Is there no kind of cancellation or withdrawal right here?
And how exactly did this “inspection” take place? Were you informed about the appointment?
11ant schrieb:
You won’t be able to fix all the damage caused by your stinginess anymore – except through a completely disproportionate and pointless full replacement (at your own expense and no one else’s).???
I see it differently. The manufacturer is responsible for damages and proper seams, regardless of the price charged. He can’t just say, I’ll do it for this or that price but you’ll get a defective railing in return.
The construction company was able to arrange a new inspection appointment on Friday for us and the neighbors. Let’s see if he is more willing to acknowledge his mistakes and can offer something reasonably acceptable when he meets his clients in person. I’m not very optimistic.
The construction company doesn’t give me much hope either and only warns me about the costs I would face if I go to court and lose. "Railings with much more visible defects have already been accepted."
The construction company doesn’t give me much hope either and only warns me about the costs I would face if I go to court and lose. "Railings with much more visible defects have already been accepted."
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