Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

Original poster

Sloping floor in new extension

10 replies

UptobedNOW · 31/05/2015 17:08

Any help/advice would be very gratefully received on this. Our extension has been built however we have a very uneven floor surface. From the top to bottom there is roughly 1.5 inches difference in height. This is now especially noticeable since the installation of the kitchen units which was finished yesterday. We have a run of units, then the 90cm range then another run of units. The kitchen fitter has made the units level to each other but the difference in height is so noticable. The range cooker alone has had to be adjusted by 1cm on one side to keep it level - this is 1cm over only 90cm.

The floor has been tiled and the tiler said it was challenging, having to use alot more adhesive than anticipated.

Pre-tiling DP and I had voiced our concerns over the floor. The issue is really where the old kitchen (which was originally a small extension) meets the new. The new screed wasn't brought up to the level of the old kitchen. To try and remedy this, the bulder chipped down the old kitchen floor then put down latex (twice). They assured me it was ready for tiling and that the tiler would 'find his level'.

Thank you for reading this far! Are there any regulations re: flooring in an extension or standards regarding tolerances that need to be adhered to? I am so disappointed at a time when I should be excitedly filling up my new kitchen with our stuff.

TIA

OP posts:

Millymollymama · 31/05/2015 22:56

As far as I am aware, no. We have had to match up different flooring levels in our house and it is not easy. However any decent builder can do it. The screed just needs to be levelled!

I can't really understand why you did not use a spirit level and make the builder build a level floor. It is his job to do this. A tiler cannot build up a floor by the amounts you are talking about. It seems a massive job to correct this poor workmanship so I think you will have to live with it. I would withhold the final payment from the builder though, because you have been told a load of rubbish! Sorry.

Mopmay · 31/05/2015 23:03

As Milly said.

Original poster

UptobedNOW · 01/06/2015 07:00

Yes, in hindsight we would have double checked the floor however at the time we had no reason to distrust the builders word. We have had 3 1/2 months of work and everything has been great 'til now. We are very inexperienced in overseeing building work which is why we got building contractors in in the first place.
I think I can live with it and get used to it but DP says he can't, especially not when we are paying out so much money to have our 'dream' build. What a mess

OP posts:

Mopmay · 01/06/2015 07:51

If they all work for one contractor I would be withholding payment and asking for it all to be redone. You no doubt have paid a huge amount out. I'd also get another builder to look at it - sounds like a botch job

honeyandfizz · 01/06/2015 08:27

Oh blimey poor you - I would be proper pissed off & asking the builders to rectify their mistake at their cost. No way should you have to live with it, especially when spending so much money on the build. You need to be firm & tell them you will be withholding payment - hopefully you haven't paid them in full yet?

Millymollymama · 01/06/2015 11:01

Just to clarify - I only meant live with it if there was no resolution with the builder or you are not up for the argument. It will be mighty expensive to take out the kitchen and take up the flooring! The builder is at fault. Building contractors are more than capable of saying something will be Ok and someone else (a tiler) will sort it out. The tiler should have refused to tile it. They must have known it was not level. I think you have to decide if it is so bad it must be rectified. If you have a retention, at least you can use that to sort it out. I am afraid builders' can be economical with the truth!

Mopmay · 01/06/2015 11:08

I have experienced this too - builder left dreadful work for the next trade person to rectify. In our case the second person refused to carry on and demanded he came back first.

Original poster

UptobedNOW · 01/06/2015 11:36

Thanks for the replys. DP had a meeting this morning and they are going to sort it. How and when we are not sure about though. Apparantly they took one look and said it wasn't acceptable. So at least we don't have a battle getting them to understand their work was shoddy. An added stress is that we have had granite work tops fitted last week. I have no idea how they will move them.

Am trying to keep calm about it but we were virtually finished, only the skirting to go on. I just don't want to have to deal with them anymore which is a shame as up until now we were really impressed with their professionalism...

OP posts:

TeddyBee · 01/06/2015 17:47

Ours is wonky too, but the choice was either sloping floor or lip between one room and the next as our existing house slopes down to one corner. I have to say that I don't notice it any more, although it did bother me at first. I'm not sure it's as extreme as your floor sounds though.

Original poster

UptobedNOW · 01/06/2015 19:03

The builders came round again this evening with the tiler and have found a solution that is satisfactory to us. It means more disruption and mess but at least it will be level!
The more I have thought about it today, the angrier have become, it's all so avoidable. I am angry at myself for being so naive too. Fortunately, we have not made the final payment yet and is a significant amount so we do have quite a bit of leverage.

OP posts:

Flip