. . . or is this a terrible finish?

[GlazingNightmare]

We've just had our double glazing replaced. The photos below are one example of how badly the windows have been finished. They look worse than the old ones

AIBU in asking him to come back and improve the finish? He's already not happy with me because he didn't take a rollerblind down and installed the window and beading around it, which meant there would be a chunk of beading missing when we replaced the visibly-old and crappy blind. He's also massively damaged the paintwork around the windows - much more than I expected.

It's also really awkward because he's a friend of DH's . . . ugh. That was probably our first mistake . . .

Is this normal? I honestly expected them to look nice and clean and new

He said the windows are new

Then he's lying. New windows don't come with drilled holes and ingrained dirt; in fact they often come with a coloured protective film which is peeled off. If you ask him he'll almost certainly say he "took it off earlier to save time" and he'd be lying about that too

I very much doubt you'll get your 25% back, but for pity's sake don't pay him any more - and next time you might want to look for a registered, recommended professional rather than a bodger

OP they're not new, he's lying.

On your pic with the holes you can see a hard line above the holes where the old sealant is still there and was pressed up against whatever bracket / fitting the holes were for.

My builder husband has just said "they didn't fit so he has pumped the hole full of mastic"

Where did he say he got the windows from?

Ring them to confirm the size that was collected on whatever date it was & has this 'friend' shown you the original receipt for the windows?

OP won't get a straight answer about "where they were from"; if she pushes, he'll probably claim it was a cancelled order and somebody else has the paperwork

I understand there's a market in secondhand windows with landlords and scummy builders doing places up on the cheap, but secondhand these certainly are.
Unfortunately OP's been thoroughly ripped off (or would have been if more than 25% had been paid). Even 10% off retail prices is ridiculous since nobody pays the full price after discounts, and anyway that comparison would have been for new windows

Some friend

Has he been round yet OP? It is a really hard situation to deal with, awkward and frustrating! I hope it goes okay.

Do not pay a penny more. Ask for ALL receipts. If he cannot produce them, no matter what the excuse, threaten him with small claims court to get your 25% back. You will need to pay for the whole job to be done again. Do not let him rip you off any further. Bastard.

Any update?

Also checking in for the Monday post-visit update

They are NOT new windows. No way. We've just had ours replaced and you can tell they are brand, spanking new and no damage/repainting needed anywhere internally.

Hope you get somewhere with this OP as that's shocking workmanship

They are NOT new windows. No way. We've just had ours replaced and you can tell they are brand, spanking new and no damage/repainting needed anywhere internally.

Hope you get somewhere with this OP as that's shocking workmanship

I'm so sorry OP but that is truly awful 🤦‍♀️ Our windows look good as new still and are 16 years old! Stand your ground, don't let him bully you and absolutely don't pay anything else until he resolves it. Good luck.

Hi everyone, he ended up coming round today (did I mention he's been really unreliable too?) and I spoke to him about the issues. He's getting certificates for us, but wasn't sure of timescales; he hasn't invoiced us for the 75% balance yet so I won't settle up until I have all the relevant paperwork.

He is adamant the windows are new, he says they've got a bit grubby but the holes were drilled because he mistakenly thought that's where we wanted the blind to go.

He improved the finish on a couple of the worst windows, and while it's not great, I can see that if I sand it a bit and paint, it will look okay.

I think this is honestly as good as it's going to get. Massive lessons learned

He still needs to replace the holey one

That does not look like a new window, and would explain the drill holes. Appalling job.

Come on OP, don't cave so easily. He fixed a tiny bit, you might be able to make it look 'ok' ... this is what we'll fitting 16 year old double glazing looks like, go compare it to yours. I want to make you cross again so you fight this 👍

I'm sorry OP but it's a real botch job . We had all our windows replaced 6 years ago and they still look brand new. You're going to have to get tough. Good luck.

Oh and if he can't even fit a fucking blind and drills holes in the wrong place he def shouldn't be fitting windows. I'm sorry OP.

He is adamant the windows are new, he says they've got a bit grubby but the holes were drilled because he mistakenly thought that's where we wanted the blind to go

He's not very good at this is he? If he was going to try lying his way out of it he might at least have come up with a better story - not that there's anything that could adequately excuse what he's done

Oh, and you're not getting that Fensa paperwork with crap 2nd hand windows that haven't even been fitted properly - and if the rest are as badly installed, you're looking at the cost of a complete new set of windows knocked off the price if you come to sell

Op, come on. Seriously?

Definitely old Windows he's put in and pulling wool over your eyes

Regarding FENSA - we had a friend put Windows in old house and just took out an indemnity policy - probably not the correct way but I seem to have indemnity policies for most things now when we buy a house so seems normal.

They're not new windows!
The holes are a giveaway... It looks like someone's put hooks in and out up net curtain wires or rods.

I’d have asked where the manufacturing stamps are. They’ll tell you all you need to know.