Walker Group Homes Scotland

[Missusb]

I am interested to hear if anyone who has bought a Walker Group Home has any issue specifically related with window fitting.

I moved into a new build home in the Carronbank Development in Falkirk built by the Walker Group in 2010. The houses have wooden double glazed windows.

I now have the issue that several of the window frames are rotten as a direct result of incorrect fitting.
The contractors employed by the Walker Group fitted wooden sills which direct the water back to the window frames rather than away from it. As a result the frames are rotting.
The windows are covered by a 10 manufacturer guarantee but given the issue is the fitting and the Walker Group are not taking responsibility for that I am left with rotten windows and no one seems prepared to act to resolve the issue.

I have contacted the NHBC but am interested to know if there are any other householders suffering the same issues.

[New Home Expert]

Surprisingly yes! We have a member that has bought a Walker Group house.
http://forum.brand-newhomes.co.uk/general-discussion/walker-group-(scotland)/

Regarding you windows, the home is now six years old.
It has wooden windows and these are not maintenance free.
Under the warranty, Walker's responsibility is two years so they are not required to do anything.
Under the remaining 3 to 10 years, the NHBC do not cover window frames, only the double glazing glass panes.

As you have a ten-year warranty with the window manufacturer "guarantee"  I would take the issue up with them. They in turn should liaise with walker directly.  Your best bet would be a contribution for perhaps both parties towards new replacement uPVC windows that should have been fitted in the first place given the exposure.

If you recently bought the home second-hand, you should have had a survey done. If you did and the surveyor missed the rotten windows, you should make a claim against him for negligence.

In any event, you will probably now need a solicitor to act on your behalf.

[anthyboy]

Hi, I'm the other Walker Gp Home owner on here!

You are in a difficult situation, as your problem falls within the responsibility of various people and is a grey area and can be argued by all responsible parties to try and get out of doing anything.

Think what I would do is write to all parties involved and gauge their response, so this would include Walker Group, NHBC, Contractors that fitted the windows and Company that guarantee the windows.

Personally I think responsibility is on the contractors that fitted them, I assumed these incorrect fitted items cannot not be seen without removing windows and checking? Saying that Walker Group hired these contractors and if they still work for Walker Group they may be able to apply some pressure to sort it!

It might be worth a shout with Company that guarantees the windows, write and say you want to claims as windows have not lasted, they will send someone to check that they are indeed rotten (don't say why they are, play ignorant) but may not notice why this has happened!

Failing all the above gets you a free resolution to your rotten windows, I know a good, reliable & competitive in price terms glazier. Message me if it gets to this stage and don't know a good one yourself. I am just a stones throw away in the new Meadowcroft estate.

Finally just thought, is there no way of claiming for this on your house insurance?

Good luck

Ant

[New Home Expert]

A claim for lack of maintenance or wear and tear under any insurance policy will be specifically excluded.
If the home burnt down, the windows would be covered, rotten or not.

[anthyboy]

Thought you may have been able to claim for poor workmanship - but this is excluded as well.

[Signum-GB]

I am interested to hear if anyone who has bought a Walker Group Home has any issue specifically related with window fitting.

I moved into a new build home in the Carronbank Development in Falkirk built by the Walker Group in 2010. The houses have wooden double glazed windows.

I now have the issue that several of the window frames are rotten as a direct result of incorrect fitting.
The contractors employed by the Walker Group fitted wooden sills which direct the water back to the window frames rather than away from it. As a result the frames are rotting.
The windows are covered by a 10 manufacturer guarantee but given the issue is the fitting and the Walker Group are not taking responsibility for that I am left with rotten windows and no one seems prepared to act to resolve the issue.

I have contacted the NHBC but am interested to know if there are any other householders suffering the same issues.

Dear MissUSB, how did you get on with this?
I know it's been almost a year but I am interested in the outcome.
It's a funny old world this house building. Housing estates would fall under CDM and therefore Walker are the Principal Contractor. Of course they sub contract items, but ultimate responsibility should be with them. I know house builders always try to shirk responsibility off though....

[New Home Expert]

Yes the post is several months old and like so many, people post get the answers they need and never bother to come back with any outcome that would benefit the many others in similar situations. 
The sad fact is most don't even bother to thank those that help them either!
On this occasion, the log shows the original poster didn't even come back to see the help and advice given!

Housebuilders are both principal contractor and client as far as CDM regulations are concerned.
They cannot shrink their responsibility under these regulations.