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Author Topic: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?  (Read 25865 times)

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New Home Expert

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #15 on: June 17, 2016, 09:37:57 am »
You do have a defect, it is the ongoing cracking internally. Bellway cannot ignore this.

However, I would add that, on the proviso it is done proper workmanlike manner, fitting a new soffit over the old one, in one piece would make it look better.
But I doubt they would take the roof off to do it in one piece and I very much doubt Bellway has anyone skilled enough to cut and fit the new fascia in one piece accurately scribed to the window.
It will be done in several pieces with joiner strips and, in all probability, may end up looking even worse.

I suggest you write back and ask how they propose to fit the soffit in one piece (subject to 8' x 4' sheet sizes) and they supply you with a detailed method statement on how exactly the work will be carried out.
If nothing else it will waste their time!
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PSE

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #16 on: June 17, 2016, 10:16:51 am »
Thank you for your reply and advice.  :)


FenMan48

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #17 on: June 17, 2016, 06:41:24 pm »
It is always difficult to comment on a picture but the mastic work is enough to show it is a bodge. May I suggest:-

1. Never and I mean Never talk to these people on telephones. Always use a letter or e mail so they have to reply in writing.
2. Have incredible patience as you are talking to people who will wear you down and do nothing. A cancelled meeting means something more important than you came up.
3. Contact a local repair contractor for UPVC windows and get a quote for bringing the window up to standard. Ask for the quote in writing detailing the work to be done. Then submit this to Bellway Homes stating that if the window is not brought up to best industry standards by 1 month from the date of your letter (sent by recorded delivery) you will instruct the quote to go ahead, pay for it and claim it back through the small claims court. You can claim up to £15,000 this way and include all your own costs. Of course this will be done with maximum publicity. This will never reach court.
4. Try to get technical help through a trade association. I believe there is a Plastic Window trade body. Send your pictures of to them and ask them to comment. Do this in the month you have given Bellway and you will be well armed for the Small claims court.
5. I would guess that this window does not fit this hole and somewhere on your estate somebody else window does not fit their hole.
6. When windows are fitted into a hole they must leave a minimum of 6mm gap to take into account expansion of the frame. The max gap will depend on the size of the window. larger frames requiring a wider gap. The joint can be a fillet for small gaps and a butt joint for larger. The joints conform to a British Standard. Yours don't. They are all over the place. Again trade bodies can help.
If you have drawings then check them. Ask the trade body for the minimum gap required for your size window. I bet it is even wrong on the drawing let alone on your windows.

PSE

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #18 on: June 18, 2016, 08:19:25 pm »
Thank you for your advice and comments.

I have put a claim in with the NHBC but I'm not going to hold my breath.  Is it still possible to go to small claims court even if the NHBC side in favour of the builder but you still have the evidence from the trades body to prove that it's wrong??  It was actually built wrong by 0.5 bricks under size above sill height each side that's caused the soffit on the GRP roof not to cover the gap.

New Home Expert

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #19 on: June 20, 2016, 07:33:34 am »
You can take Bellway to court anytime you want to.
It matters little that the NHBC side with the builder, you can show you have taken every reasonable step to resolve this outside of court and now have no other choice.
Believe me, it wont get that far, no matter what Bellway tell you, they will try and settle before the hearing, even if that is on the court steps.

Any independent surveys or reports, photos of the homes that were built to the drawings will help.
Whilst you are at it, you may as well take a peek to see if your bay roof has any insulation!
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PSE

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #20 on: June 21, 2016, 05:24:49 pm »
Thank you for your advice and help it has been excellent. :)

The NHBC Resolution meeting date is set for the 7th July.  It will probably end with the NHBC saying it does not meet the guidelines but it does meet the standards again or is that me being cynical. ???

Thank you once again. :)


PSE

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #21 on: July 08, 2016, 06:31:30 am »
Had the NHBC meeting yesterday and once again they sided with the builder Bellway Homes.
How they can say "Raising Standards" is beyond me. 

Their advice will be as it meets their standards externally, as it is not letting water in, they want the window reveals removed internally to check how they have been constructed due to the large gap back to the blockwork (approx 75mm), to check if they are insulated, and cavity closers were fitted.

When I suggested that the builder had agreed to fit new bay windows originally so why not get them to add the missing bricks externally as it would only need 9 full and 9 half bricks added per side, added to the work that they will propose internally.  Their answer was that would cause scarring externally and would look awful.


New Home Expert

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #22 on: July 08, 2016, 09:14:09 am »
To be fair to the NHBC, any cutting out and replacing of brickwork will always show.
The mortar is never exactly the same colour, even if it is the same mix, it will dry differently in different conditions.  Add ion the fact that brick specials are required to do it properly (usually on a 12 to 16 week call off) and these may have a colour variation too and it will look like it is a remedial job and that will be forever unless tinting is carried out - yet another patch up job.

The NHBC are not necessarily siding with Bellway although I appreciate it may look like that.
They have committed Bellway to take remedial action to prove the work meets NHBC standards, which I think we both know it is not likely to!

I would suggest you accept the new bay windows offered, the replaced porch upvc soffit and the NHBC internal investigation and any resultant remedial work.
This looks like it is as good as its going to get.
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PSE

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #23 on: July 08, 2016, 09:35:53 am »
Thank you for reply and advice.

The NHBC also visited with regards to the soft mortar joints that some have been repaired and obviously do not match that well.  However there are other large areas where you can see the mortar eroding away that were not rectified at the time.  The NHBC are going to ask the builder to get the mortar tested.  My suggestion was that as this remedial work will need tinting why not do the bays as they would also need matching??

I should also add that the builder was going to replace the bay windows originally and refit them to the front of the brickwork but as they would not overlap the cavity closer (if fitted) I do not think that option is now available.

Thank you once again.

 

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #24 on: July 08, 2016, 09:48:09 am »
Windows cannot be fitted in front of cavity closers as external brickwork could be exposed inside causing damp.

Weak mortar is a minefield as I advised previously in another post.
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PSE

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Re: Bay Windows Poorly Constructed?
« Reply #25 on: July 08, 2016, 10:56:52 am »
Thank you for your reply.