Any double glazing experts/legal advice? 6 day old composite door leaking

[trexamanic]

we have just had our soffits and fascias and our entire houses windows replaced along with a new composite back door.

There is a catalogue of things wrong and i will list them but most importantly is the back door

I went to go out through it this morning and noticed water on the floor. i followed its trail and it would appear to be leaking from the window in the door.
i then opened the door and to my horror the frame was full to the brim of water.
the door is meant to close to a seal outside and a further seal inside.
i have taken a couple of short vids to show you what i found.
i have paid 6,000 so far of a bill for nearly 11,000
i have a window frames that is out of square by 6mm over 600mm and they just adjusted the opening part of the window to make it less obvious but the welded sides have simply been wrong in size, welded then left as acceptable.


[video=youtube;B1i7sMQhMWg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1i7sMQhMWg[/video]
[video=youtube;eY_cZ9lvvYQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY_cZ9lvvYQ[/video]

[trexamanic]

on this frame it has been welded with a measurement of 6mm less between a-b compared to c-d



[IMG]http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii248/marder_bling/BAJA/DSC_0001_zpsy28qgv5j.jpg[/IMG]

[Ross Northcott]

let me guess, safe style uk?

[trexamanic]

[QUOTE=Ross Northcott;1096347]let me guess, safe style uk?[/QUOTE]
local firm with an established history i do not want to name for possible legal reasons

[Ross Northcott]

[QUOTE=trexamanic;1096348]local firm with an established history i do not want to name for possible legal reasons[/QUOTE]
Have you contacted them, well obviously you have before asking for advice on a heli forum, what did they say, what was there response?

[iceuk]

Well dont pay anymore money until they fix the problem dont take any crap. A door should not leak
After 6 days. Does ur door open flush against ur wall as those hinges look really tight against wall.

[trexamanic]

opens fine. not paying any more.
they are very rude and unhelpful. saying they wont do anything till paid in full but we will not pay them a penny more and will seek legal advice.
they have also cracked tiles in ensuite and there are badly scratched panes(2) in an upper room.
very dissapointing

[milly0812]

Any double glazing experts/legal advice? 6 day old composite door leaking

The composite door hasn't had the unit sealed properly when the slab was put together,they sometimes have a secondary silicone seal around the perimeter of the glass. The unit is normally put in as a cassette and will need refitting which is a real shit in situ. The frame welding is not acceptable and you should demand a replacement.they can normally get away with 3mm due to the welding process but 6mm is excessive and must noticeable to the eye.

If the door slab delaminates it is not repairable ( I had to change a slab last week where water had got thru the letterbox and split the composte layer

Edit: I just watched the vid again and you can see the secondary silicone clear sealant on your close up.

[trexamanic]

[QUOTE=milly0812;1096356]The composite door hasn't had the unit sealed properly when the slab was put together,they sometimes have a secondary silicone seal around the perimeter of the glass. The unit is normally put in as a cassette and will need refitting which is a real shit in situ. The frame welding is not acceptable and you should demand a replacement.they can normally get away with 3mm due to the welding process but 6mm is excessive and must noticeable to the eye.

If the door slab delaminates it is not repairable ( I had to change a slab last week where water had got thru the letterbox and split the composte layer[/QUOTE]
thanks for the info.
We do not see why we should accept any repairs to what is a brand new item..
looks like a legal route.
i used to work for cr smith in cowdenbeath and if the welder had produced that frame he would have been told to bin it.
the chipping out is terrible if done at all. The welds are spitty like the temp was wrong.
they used bits of wedge to pack up the lock catches in some window frames and i did manage to get them to sort that albeit meaning again it is out of square.
When challenged all i get is "what do you expect, they are plastic"

I have been and still am very ill and it is hard to deal with this.

[milly0812]

Firstly it is very important that you remain calm and professional. You need to 'snag' everything you are not happy with and put it in writing if you are getting no joy from the management. Packers under keeps is not acceptable either and points to more manufacturing issues. Find out if they manufacture themselves or buy the windows in. Either way you are holding a sizeable chunk of the contract back so are in quite an advantageous position. Make it extremely clear that you will pay the balance when the contract is completed as promised. If it was small problems I think you are only legally allowed to withold 10% but somehow I don't think they will argue that your complaints are valid

[trexamanic]

[QUOTE=milly0812;1096363]Firstly it is very important that you remain calm and professional. You need to 'snag' everything you are not happy with and put it in writing if you are getting no joy from the management. Packers under keeps is not acceptable either and points to more manufacturing issues. Find out if they manufacture themselves or buy the windows in. Either way you are holding a sizeable chunk of the contract back so are in quite an advantageous position. Make it extremely clear that you will pay the balance when the contract is completed as promised. If it was small problems I think you are only legally allowed to withold 10% but somehow I don't think they will argue that your complaints are valid[/QUOTE]
They are an absolute nightmare to deal with. Extremely rude. We will be professional, the snag list is 4 pages, 3 pages of which they say is just what you get with plastic. Everything is getting blamed on "plastic"
The squares are terrible, there are rusty marks already on the hinges and the screws. This is going to get messy but it will be legally resolved. They are wanting paid in full then have "remedial works done under the insurance backed policy" which is probably a way to earn more money.

[milly0812]

I've been fitting for 30 years and I've never heard things blame on the windows being plastic lol. The insurance backed warranty under fensa is something that you pay for separately and is not compulsary they just have to legally 'offer it' at point of sale. All items now have to comply to fensa regulations which is basically k glass, toughened glass where required, fire escape hinges to bedrooms etc.

I would contact trading standards and the CAB to confirm you legal obligations and take it from there

[Leigh Beaumont]

[QUOTE=trexamanic;1096354]opens fine. not paying any more.
they are very rude and unhelpful. saying they wont do anything till paid in full but we will not pay them a penny more and will seek legal advice.
they have also cracked tiles in ensuite and there are badly scratched panes(2) in an upper room.
very dissapointing[/QUOTE]

Check your contract as you should have a retainer till all snagging work is complete, its not hard to seal units if A they measured correctly and B they have sealed all frames and fitted all gasket and seals

[Dan22]

I'm in the kitchen business. We take a %25 deposit on ordering and the balance on completion when the customer is completely satisfied. This isn't the work of a professional company. If it was just a fitter problem then they would be appalled and keen to put it right as they wouldn't want one team of fitters to tarnish their reputation.
If this is a reputable business, then they are showing all the signs if a business in financial difficulty. DO NOT under any circumstances give them any more money as you may just loose it!
Log all correspondence and telephone calls, record them if they become threatening.
Seek immediate legal advise and get an independent trade body to inspect their work.
They DO NOT have a leg to stand on, as Don says, make it clear you intend to pay the balance in full when the job is completed to your satisfaction.

Good luck mate, it's all you need right now!

Dan.

[trexamanic]

Some great advice and much appreciated.
Special thanks to Don and Dan.
Thanks fellas..
financial struggles seems likely as we were hassled about payment in full on the final day of installation and the next day saying they need cash flow as they are just a small company.
We will seek legal advice.
Thanks again.
Don..