Are the builders liable for any of this?

[Builderannoyance]

We’ve had a load bearing wall removed downstairs. As a result (I’m assuming, it would be an odd coincidence):

• A hairline crack has appeared in the corner of one of the walls on the first floor.
• Two of the doors on the first floor no longer shut properly.
• The door to the cupboard under the stairs no longer shuts properly.

They’ve also scratched the new engineered wood flooring, as they didn’t put anything down over it, and gouged a chunk out of it.

How much of this, if any, are they required to fix? We still owe them about £6K.

Sounds like they have done a poor job.
Do they have insurance?
Did they install a RSJ?
Did they support the wall above with accro props when they removed the wall.
Have Building Control approved the calculations for the RSJ and the work done.
I would get a RICS accredited surveyor to investigate.
Damage to floor etc. clearly down to the builder, although if they are so thoughtless not to protect it, they will probably deny it.
I wouldn't pay anymore until it is all resolved.

• Yes, they have insurance.
• Yes, they installed an RSJ.
• Yes, they supported the wall with accro props.
• Building Control have signed off, and the initial calculations were done by a structural engineer.
• The floor was only put in last week (after they closed up the structural work, but before they started plastering - this was their preferred sequence of events), and I have video evidence of the before and after, so they can’t deny it.

I’m fairly certain the work itself is solid. Just wondering if they have to fix the stuff they’ve damaged.

They have also chipped the kitchen counters, but that’s harder to prove.

The crack and the doors is pretty standard to need fixing after the work you’ve had done, nothing a bit of filler and a sanding plane won’t fix.

the damage to floor is another matter and I would be discussing it further

I think I'd still get a structural engineer to inspect the situation. It sounds like there is some movement which may be attributed the work they did.

Would you expect them to do it? Or is it something I’d be expected to sort out?

ETA: the wall and doors, I mean. Are those things that they would generally be expected to fix?

The cracks and the doors are pretty normal after that type of work as everything settles back into place with the new steel. I would expect a reputable builder to make it right. We had the same where the bedroom above where our back wall was removed the plaster cracked and fell off. Our contractor put it right.

The floor I would be expecting them to rectify if you can prove they caused the damage.

Thank you.

Thank you to everyone. You’ve been really helpful.