Loft conversion issues

[Teddypoops]

We've got a meeting with our architect and builder arranged, but I am stressing hugely about some issues with our hip to gable loft conversion - currently at the stage where the floor, roof and dormer have been constructed, and they are putting in stud walls etc to prepare for first fix - so wondered whether anyone had a perspective. Either to tell me to get a grip, or to confirm that I am right to be concerned.

The main issue that has sent me into a spiral is that the new stairs (which look to start from the right place downstairs) come further into the dormer than the plans, so we've lost 70cm from the length of what will be the new bathroom. Its still a useable space, but the walk in shower I'd planned will no longer be possible. I think this has happened as the floor level is higher than the plans, which looks to be because the whole floor structure is built over the old loft floor (the deepest steel is about 8cm above the existing joists), instead of the new joists running alongside the old ones as per the structural plans we've got. This means we lose head height too.

I've got ADHD, so have spent loads of time over the weekend studying the architects and structural engineers plans to understand what's gone on, and have consequently found other things. So there is a steel in the wrong place (is supposed to be over the wall of my daughter's room downstairs, but its over the downstairs bathroom wall - an additional 70cmish towards the external wall.), joists being hung differently from steels compared to the plan (so they protrude an inch above the steels, rather than the top of the steel being higher) and a purlin and part of the old hip still being in place when the plan says they should be removed.

I am presuming there is some builder error. The main builder isn't on a site a lot, and following this (and also cos they couldn't work out where the bottom of the stairs should be installed so we had to wait an extra day so he could tell them) I'm not convinced that the people who are on site are actually following the plans - more being set a job and doing it the easiest way (though the quality of the work that is done looks OK). There is certainly a communication issue.

But have the architect / structural engineer messed up too regarding the length of the bathroom and/or have missed something that means the builders had to do if differently? We've got detailed plans and both the architect's surveyor and separate structural engineer spent loads of time measuring etc so I don't understand how they could have got it wrong?

Am I right to be concerned? I think that 70cm off the bathroom is a lot, and even a reduction of 5cm in head height feels like a compromise when it’s going to be barely over 2m in the dormer anyway. Worried that our concerns are going to be minimised as not a big deal and we're just going to have to suck it up cos its done now, or its going to cost us extra money (that we don't have) to have it built according to the plans.

So I'm feeling very sad and deflated that what was on the plans is not what we're going to get.

Maximising headroom in a loft is a key element , and running steel parallel to existing ceiling joists is a way to achieve that. It does look like the plans are not being followed. I think you are great to have found the specific differences from the specification.

The hard bit will now be the confrontation - can you get the architect to do that? Is your architect project managing your build?

Thank you. It helps to get some reassurance I’m not overreacting.

We’ve got a meeting with architect and builder together on Wednesday, and have sent them both pictures of the things that we are concerned about. I am very anxious cos I hate confrontation and my ADHD means I can’t always get the thoughts out of my head in a coherent way. My husband is better, but doesn’t get into the details like me.

The builder and architect have worked together on a number of projects, so if it’s the builders error, it’s in his interest to fix it without fuss otherwise he’ll burn his bridges. The architect is reputable, so I am fairly sure I can trust her to look at this independently rather than blindly side with him. Although obviously niggly thoughts are there.

Husband has spoken to the builder.

He’s given reasons to why the floor is so high (for it to be lower they’d potentially have to have taken the ceilings down), which I don’t totally buy and there are a couple of things where I feel he’s made decisions on our behalf that have altered things which I’m pissed off about, as well as being generally annoyed about what is now obviously rubbish communication (which in hindsight, maybe we could have anticipated).

But I’ve tracked down an error by the architect too. In the very first hand drawing, there is a turn at the top of the stairs which enabled the bathroom to be bigger. That is missing from all of the other plans -despite the bathroom remaining the bigger size - so accounts for half of the length that it is now short (other half is cos of the higher floor). So that’s really bloody annoying too.

We’ll see what they say when we meet.

I’ve calmed down a bit. If what we’ve ended up with was what was on the plans, I’d have been perfectly happy - it’s all still useable. But it’s just a bit less good than what we were expecting so I feel cheated.

I am wondering whether to insist the architect pays for some new stairs with a turn so we get an extra 30cm of bathroom, on a matter of principle!