Lussac Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Get in touch with the "Crow" ASAP and get them to look at the others that are looking dodgy too. A bit of bad publicity can do wonders (also the Comet if you get that in Royston). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Straight forward fixing and design error. I would have expected toggle bolts or stud fixing via epoxy or stud fixing and plate inside the wall. The worse thing is that the fixings may well have held, if concrete tiles hadn't been used as the porch roofing material. I forget how heavy they are, but I'd imagine that they would add at least a hundred weight to the porch mass. It would be interesting to ask if the porch contractor was responsible for the roof, or was it a job of two halves? Expect full reinstatement of porch, roofing and lead work. Expect a new front door and replacement of any damage to frame and fabric. Expect the garden and pathway to be repaired. Expect £500 as a gift I would suggest that due to previous poor workmanship that you insist on a written guarantee for a fresh 10 year period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulboy Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Just thinking about the publicity angle. You could end up shooting yourself in the foot. If they became known as the houses wher the porches fall off, I would imagine the value may drop quite a bit and surveyors would be super stringent doing surveys. Not good for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 I would let them get it sorted for you before going to the press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 UBM - if you have a local daily (or weekly paid-for) newspaper, ring them now and give them those photos too. Trust me - your case with the builders will be over very quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkPrincess Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 <font color="purple"> Bloody hell.. Im scared to put my baby under ours now.... I always leave my baby under the porch on sundays while i am in kitchen as she loves it..wont be doing that any more.. make sure you sue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpongpo Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Me thinketh that screwing a porch with a few hundred kilos of tiles on it to the wall with rawlplugs is not a good idea. Rawlbolts is a different matter depending on the size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Its unfortunately fairly typical of modern housebuilders and thier standards. In reality that would probably have stood up for 10 years, and then you'd have had no arguements, just the builder trying to be cheap and cut corners As MRm3 said - speak to the local, they'll be happy to help speedy resolution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted March 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 The local councillor and chairman of the local residents group have been round this evening. Things are getting quite exciting. We'll see how negotiations go tomorrow.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 A few pictures of the workmen coming round to fix things up would be interesting. I bet they make sure the job's done properly if you're photographing them doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 That is terrible! Real crap build. My shelves in the my garage are held up with more rawlplugs than that! I certainly hope you get it sorted PROPERLY! Where I am, there are a few PS homes, and the porch's look disctinctly askew. However, they seem to be a bit 'meatier'. Glad my place has a simple plastic lip thingy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted March 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Just received a letter from the local residents action group - that was quick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Only just seen this. Glad everyone is OK I bet Mrs UBM's nerves aren't so good. You have a letter already ... your postman must does funny hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 Why even involve the press ? Ok, the accident is being resolved (these things take time and it WILL take time)a porch is a porch and in most cases is only decorative, as no structural damage is involved and no breach of security and thankfully no one was hurt only shaken. It seems that as soon as anything happens nowadays the first thing anyone does is call the press, surely to progress the correct channels is the right way to go and let the process begin. Your household insurers will progress this and will act on any suggestions you have, but to start off by belly-aching to the press about WHAT MAY have happened and too p1ss off all those involved in resolving the problem is very counter-productive. Good luck.... and remember it's only a porch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattburrow Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 Seems like everyone is turning into Ambulance Chasers. This though doesn't make up for the poor Workmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 What the NHBC will pay for. A The full Cost, if it is more than £1000 Indexed, of putting right any actual physical Damage caused by a Defect in any of the following parts of the house, bungalow, maisonette or flat and its garage or other permanent outbuilding, or its Common Parts: ; Foundations ; Load-bearing walls ; Non load-bearing partition walls ; Wet-applied wall plaster ; External render and external vertical tile hanging ; Load-bearing parts of the roof ; Tile and slate coverings to pitched roofs ; Ceilings ; Load-bearing parts of the floors ; Staircases and internal floor decking and screeds where these fail to support normal loads ; Retaining walls necessary for the structural stability of the house, bungalow, flat or maisonette, its garage or other permanent outbuilding ; Double or triple glazing panes to external windows and doors ; Below-ground drainage for which you are responsible B The Cost of putting right any Defect in a flue or chimney which causes a present or imminent danger to the physical health and safety of anyone normally living in the Home. C Any reasonable costs you incur by prior agreement with us for removal, storage and appropriate alternative accommodation if it is necessary for you or anyone normally living in the Home to move out so that work can be done. What it will not pay for Any claim under A where the Cost of repair is £1000 or less, Indexed. Damage caused by shrinkage, thermal movement or movement between different types of materials. Damage which is purely cosmetic, such as minor cracking, spalling or mortar erosion to brickwork, which does not impair the structural stability or weather tightness of the Home or which only affects decorations. Any Defect in existing double or triple glazing panes in converted properties unless they were newly installed at the time of conversion. Damage resulting from the entry of water to an underground car park. Anything which was or could have been reported to the Builder under Section 2. For these claims, please see Section 2 of the policy on page 8. Any Defect in a ceiling which is not in an enclosed part of the Home, eg. balcony ceilings. The above is just a sample from the buildmark booklet. If you want a full copy of the NHBC buildmark booklet, let me know and I will e-mail it to you. If you let me know what builder it is I will see what I have warranty wise on them as I deal with a lot of the major house builders. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted March 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 Thanks - I pulled out our NHBC booklet from the cupboard. THe building company are currently bending over backwards to help. And FatCat, I know it is only a porch, but I could quite easily be sat here now wifeless and childless..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 Or they fatherless. On the odds, falling down on someones head was a possibility rather than a probability. A bit like nearly having a car accident and having one. You will get something for anguish, settle on asking for a nice holiday, they might just take that. Otherwise it lose all good will, drag it to court at your cost (no legal fees for the working classes ), wait 3 years and get £XYZ- but not much since they have made full repair. Not a nice thing to happen and I can assure you, in life things do happen that upset due to people not doing things the right way . You were unfortunate (or very fortunate if your a positive thinker). Do make sure that as part of the overall package that stress testing is carried out on every other property, including back one's should you have such. Take care, think holiday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted March 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 Thanks chri5 - they are working their way around the rest of the estate. Problems found with the 2 neighbouring properties already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 UBM......only just spotted this mate and FECK ME!!! This reminds me of when I was living in an area of Poplar in 91 or so. We had bought a house that was intended to be used for EPDs, but it got palmed off for sale instead. So just me and the wife, small place, 1 nipper etc. House brand new......was in for 6 months, then one day came home from work, opened the door and there was a hell of a lot of dust in the air. Like plasterboard type dust. In fact it was so thick I could taste it before I could take me coat off. Walked through living room, beige carpets were almost white in dust.....SH!T......walked a bit further in to dining room, more dust. Went into kitchen and found everything apart from the bathroom excluding the bath in my kitchen. Lots of dust, water and a right feck off mess in a house of about 6 months old. The house was built by LAING. So got onto them, and within an hour a bod came out who inspected the scene, made a few phone calls and had us placed in a hotel until the repairs were made. Two weeks later, we got the keys back, place was immaculate. Only hassle was waiting for their insurance co to cough up for replacement to damaged furniture and carpets. Only had to wait 3 days though for carpets, but unfortunately about 2/3 weeks for furniture. We stayed there for another 8 years before moving and only had to call on NHBC once and that was for a replacement front door canopy that had detached from one of its fixings. It was a pitch design, but nothing as nice as what you have on yours. All replaced, stress tested etc. We never coughed up a penny. Just hope it all gets sorted for you all SOON!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted March 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 Cheers MOSE - they have agreed to put everything right, including the door bell, a new front door etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 Can't fault that mate......RESULT!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulboy Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 As I said before - I really wouldn't call the press or get any publicity if at all possible. .......Unless nobody on the estate ever wants to sell their house in the future - or own a house that had devalued £10k overnight - cause the public perception is that they fall down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_tdi Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 UBM just found this and very happy to hear that everyone is alright, hope Mrs UBM recovers from the shock. Perhaps a courtesy holiday from the builders whilst they do the work! Joking apart, all the best in getting it sorted! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] And FatCat, I know it is only a porch, but I could quite easily be sat here now wifeless and childless..... [/ QUOTE ] UBM - you will have more chance of getting food poisioning and dieing as a result You will have more chance of getting run over and dieing You will have more chance of drving and getting killed You will have more chance of dieing in a plane crash etc etc etc - you get my picture Yes, it's not nice to think what may have happened, but do you think the same thing when you take your loved ones out every time in your car or even every time when you cross the road. At the end of the day, everyone is ok and the thing is being settled and resolved. Why ask for anything else Move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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