To think that the loft builder should have told us our windows would not match?

[radiatordrama]

We were asked if we want black or white windows. We said all black.

Turns out the Velux are white and don't even come in black. The company we are paying £75k+ didn't think it was worth telling us this.

When I told the builder we want the other (wall) window in the room to be white too them, he said, "Sorry, you ordered black."

AIBU to demand that the order a white window so they match?

Yeah, I think so.

It's infuriating that they didn't point out the other windows were white, but surely that showed on plans?

You ordered black windows; so if you want to swap them for white ones, you'll need to foot the bill for it.

I can't really think why someone wouldn't want all the windows in a room to be the same colour, so I think they should order you a white window

No, there were no plans that indicated that the Velux would be white.

To me I think this would fall under misrepresentation if you wouldn’t have agreed to additional building works if you were in possession of that information. They could and should have explained that to you at the time during the planning process. You requested white windows, a velux is still a window, if they weren’t able to fulfill that in the colour you asked for then that’s on them to rectify it. Very poor on their behalf if not. I would definitely push back. If you ordered any other item from a retailer in a specific colour and unless “colours may vary or sent at random” were stated you are entitled to a refund or exchange if they supply a different colour. I would query this with CAB.

Are you 100% sure velux windows don't come in black at all? If you google "black veluxe" tonnes of them come up. Are they all fictional? Or did your builder just go with white because that was all he budgeted for, or because he made a mistake and is spinning you a line?

Good point. Next door just got their windows redone in black and got the loft converted at the same time. Just had a look and they've also had a couple of black velux put in.

This! We had the same with a small firm who told us they "had to" provide a particular colour/style of items because the colour/style we had asked for had been discontinued. They didn't tell us until we got home and they'd been installed! A very quick Google search found them very easily available from nearly all builders merchants and even some big DIY stores. We made them re-do the work! They weren't happy at all to "waste" their time removing and re-fitting but that's just tough! They should have got it right and shouldn't have lied to hide their incompetence!

My neighbours have black velux windows on the outside - not sure what colour they are inside

I have just looked through the materials they provided us and it just says Velux windows, plus black UPVC windows for the rest.

This project manager is supposed to be meeting with us regularly but he has not bothered.

I am usually quite willing to let things slide (in fact , rather than complaining that the Velux was not black I just tried to confirm that the other window would match) - but this seems unreasonable to me.

Builders have to be supervised 24/7 or they do really stupid things. They don't bother telling you either, they just do it and say they can't undo it. Yes they can and they will, be firm.
I've had them take a woodburner out before and redo it because it was clearly against all building regs and unsafe. Not the only time, they have done all kinds of weird shit previously as they have no common sense at all.

Have they made a mistake and ordered a white velux and are now pretending black velux don’t exist to make it look like your mistake so they don’t have to pay?

Yes, I agree. We always make sure one of us is in the house and watching what workers are doing. You learn from your mistakes of leaving workers unsupervised and having to rectify the mistakes/damage afterwards which they never admit to.

I'm not sure if black Velux exist! It might just be that the exteriors of the ones you see are black, and the interiors are white. It's kind of hard to tell on the Velux website.

sorry I didn't pick up from your post that you were talking about the inside.

Still I would start by figuring out if you can source the windows you want.

Yes, this is all for the interior finish of the window. So the room will have white Veluxes and a black wall window if we proceed as they want.

If the ceiling will be painted white, and the walls a different colour, I don't think it will look odd. I know this isn't quite the point, as it's not what you thought you were getting, but looking for a silver lining to the cloud.
Do they match on the outside? For some reason, that would bother me more.

@TheTripThatWasnt We like a colour washing effect and would not necessarily choose a white ceiling. But I understand your point.

Just looked up at our velux windows and the frames are pale wood! Not helpful 😀

To be honest we don't notice them at all day to day, but I do think black frames would look a bit odd, unless they were set in a very dark ceiling or had very dark reveals.

I don't think it will matter that they don't match the black door frame. (An expert now entering our 10 month of refurbishment!)

Can they get it sprayed? Should not cost too much. My neighbour has had his windows sprayed grey and they look good

The point is, they didn't tell you the colour you wanted wasn't available.

They should have done.

They didn't and now are proceeding ahead with ThEIR plans, not yours.

Stop them. Ring Velux or another Velux agent/seller and get confirmation before letting them install the wrong colour.

Assuming they’ve ordered wooden ones (which are mostly painted white) I think path of least resistance would be to ask them to paint the velux window frames to match the black PVC windows you have.

edited to say that I mishndestood
And thought you mean the external! Mine are white internally and black external by design so not relevant.

Wtf. They have now installed black uPVC with a weird wood grain????

Ah - seeing the room shape etc, I can totally see why you want all the windows to match! I had assumed the velux were high up in the ceiling, but they're actually at the same level as the other windows. I would definitely want them all matching. TBH, in a room that size, I'd probably rather have all white, but that's not what's being debated here.

Good luck with getting a resolution!

@TheTripThatWasnt thanks. It looks not that great, right? I have no idea how to proceed.