Builder asking for money but we’re not happy

[Footdrama]

Hoping someone can offer some advice. I’m not long out of hospital and feeing really crap at the moment, trouble sleeping and this is making me really anxious.

We’ve had building and renovation work done just before Christmas. We held back £1500 for snagging and for some work not completed, all agreed with our builder. However one of our grievances is that we are not happy with 7 (out of 10) internal doors. They are too short in my opinion, I can basically put my hand completely under some of them.

Our builder came round a couple of weeks ago to complete some snagging and fill a few settlement cracks etc, when I mentioned the doors he said it was for ventilation and a building reg, and as he feels they are ok he won’t adress it.

Well, to cut a long story short he wants the final payment now and is insinuating we are being difficult and not wanting to pay. This isn’t the case at all, we’ve compromised on other issues easily and never deducted money previously. He subcontracted some of the work and some gas and electric issues have only just been rectified last weekend.

I’m anxious as I feel he will get nasty and dh goes away to the US for work in a couple of days.

Any suggestions to diffuse the situation? What usually happens when the builder doesn’t agree there is a problem?

Many thanks in advance.

Agree with other posters check your insurance position. We have been renovating a property for what feels like forever now (actual time 12 months should have been done in 8) but due to various snags - doors not being hung correctly very similar to yours - it's ongoing. We sacked the builder and brought in a QS at our own expense before going down the insurance route this worked well for us as there were many, many, many issues. Upshot builder agreed QS report, paid for it himself and has been correcting the work. Bottom line you are paying for this and need to be happy/have it done correctly I know you are feeling a little delicate now post illness etc but you will regret it if you pay and are left with crap doors. Stick to your guns, check insurance position, all communication in writing and do not let him come back into the property unless it's for rectification work. Re certificates contact Gas Safe - there is also a professional body for Electrical works if you need that certification as well. Good luck OP

I would be worried about the boiler certification and warranty. Manufacturers often make these conditional on the boiler being installed by a quailed Gas engineer. It may be that the warranty is invalid. I would get the serial number and phone the manufacturers help line and see what they say. If installed by an unqualified person (who also appears incompetent) you might be advised to have the installation checked.

OP did you hire him through mybuilder.com etc where you can leave a review? Or does he appear on Goggle review?

Sorry, feeing really rough so not done much. He has replied really aggressively to dh’s message. He won’t hold any guarantee on his work now, and we can chase up certificates ourselves. Although he claimed to have them already previously so not sure what he means. He has implied to dh that I’m mentally unstable!

He previously offered earlier to replace 2 doors but not to pay for rehanging as he says they should be that short. He is now withdrawing this offer as we are so unreasonable.

I found him on Checkatrade, with good reviews.

Have you spoken to Trading Standards? His refusal to acknowledge , let alone try to correct the problems, does not bode well if he tries to pursue you for the balance.

He is just refusing to acknowledge that they are not right. He fully believes they are completely acceptable.

Leave him a bad review on checkatrade, you'll find within the hour he'll be over to sort it.

I've had experience of cowboy builders. Do not pay the remaining money. You'll never get it back. Stick firm and do not retaliate or let the builder's aggression upset you. Contact trading standards and ask for advice.

The building regs recommend a total free area of around 6500mm2 when the door is closed. So that equates to only 10mm gap above the carpet.
For fire doors there's also a gap, but there's a maximum limit. Most door in two storey house are not fire doors.
Regarding the not staying closed and the poor finish, that's not really building regs that's just poor work.

Do not pay him he hasnt done what you have requested. Report to trading standards.

If you found him through Checkatrade, try their complaints procedure. I had to use it once as a last resort, found them very helpful, and the issue was suddenly remedied quickly.

As PP have said, worth a letter/email in writing directly anyway first, with legal guidance if poss via home insurance. Also won't hurt to contact Gas Safe and the boiler manufacturer if he is on their recommended list to see what they have to say.

Thanks for all the advice, I’ll update with how we get on.

Hope it goes well for you, I wouldn't pay him for those either!

OMG that is really bad. The butchered door is chronic.
How do you know the quality of any of his work is of a high enough standard?
What else has he done for you?

That’s what I’m now worried about. We had a new builder round to quote for some new work and he couldn’t believe the state of the doors.

This link should help you.
Try and arrange a meeting and explain that you know the doors were cut short and instead of calling out the lie, just ask him what his solution is and the cost. Then work that out from the retainer and hold the rest until you have the certificates and warranty and in return, you will forget the mistake and rate him on his merits.
Im shocked at some folks advice being to get him arrested or grass him up to some authority right away! Baaaaaa...lol
You're in a position of power and can afford to have the mistake rectified, so give him one chance to make it right and if he chooses not to, then get your doors done and certs obtained elsewhere and send him a bill for the difference if it's over the retainer.
He will have to respond to it or you can take it further then.
I agree if all communication is broken and no one wants to solve the issue, then you have to weigh up further cost implications or just take the hit, then you can be righteous in your damaging of his profile which hurts every business no matter the size.
B.C can approve the doors if you want to have them confirm regs.
I hope you can find a positive outcome.

Sorry to hear it didnt turn out perfect but you could have had it much worse!!! : )

www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/14/doors_and_windows/2

Sorry to hear it didnt turn out perfect but you could have had it much worse!!! : ) - definitely a builder if ever I heard one! There's no need to accept this work.

BTW people pay to go on Checkatrade so you can't leave a bad review unless the builder refuses to acknowledge your complaint. If he simply writes to you saying he doesn't agree you have a problem, then that's the end of it, Checkatrade won't let you post a bad review. They believe that if the builder sends a reply, he has fulfilled all obligations.

Stand your ground. He’s hoping you’ll give up.
Don’t