Underplanned - Underquoted
Zak was suggested by out loft builder.
He came to site with the builder to go through what was required. Our whole chimney on load bearing wall had to be removed from the middle of the loft, so we needed a flue running from downstairs stove, into the remnants of the chimney stack at the roof.
It was agreed this could be done and a quote was duly sent and accepted. The quote (other than verbally agreed) listed materials required, and then:
Customers own builder to lower chimney stack and
prepare loft space; Removal of Current Stove; Installation of Liner System; Installation of TW System;
Customers Own Stove Fitted, Tested & Commisioned.
Whilst the building work was on going, one of the builders mentioned leaving a hole in the pitched roof for the flue. This was a surprise to me, as we agreed it was going to exit through the existing chimney stack.
Project manager and Zak came onsite to look and what had been quoted for, was a stainless steel flue to come out of the roof itself, in front of the existing chimney stack. Where this came from, I have no idea.
There was lots of chat between everyone saying that it can't be done. It took an idea from me for them to see that actually it could, it just required planning, and different materials.
We do now have a chimney flue in place, and coming out of the existing chimney, however the following has happened:
On top of the original quote minus a few materials, we had to pay £3500 to a separate company that Zak also owns, for some builders to fit some gallows brackets and around 120 bricks. They also need to knock some of the existing chimney breast out.
When these bricks were fitted, the chimney breast in the loft was then boarded, skimmed and painted.
Hilariously, they hadn't even checked if a flue could go down the existing chimney, or the additional one they created. It was later discovered some bricks were protruding slightly too far in, blocking the flue being placed.
Now a 40x50 hole had to be cut in the boarded, moisture wrapped, skimmed, painted wall in the new bedroom.
This was duly completed and the flue was dropped, connected to a dual wall flue and connected to fireplace. Fireplace was tested etc and all came out ok.
The staff then fire boarded the dual wall flue in upstairs bedroom, but rather than boxing in the flue, they just created a false wall, rendering the existing cupboards useless. They also created this false wall over carpet and carpet protectors.
Leftover building materials including around 14 bags of sand, couple of bags of cement and about 30 engineering bricks (paid for by me, additional to the job) were also taken by the builders from Zak's second company. This was argued and a poor excuse was given that the builders supplied their own ready mixed mortar, and additional bricks. All of which are not true, and I have CCTV evidence of this.
All in all, a poor experience which extended the job run time by 8 weeks, which also impacted the loft builders future jobs, as staff had to return piecemeal to fix bits.
I get that jobs can be misunderstood, but being accused that I have misunderstood what I have asked for, is pretty poor, and then claiming that theft had not occurred is even worse.
The work to install the flue and commission is was good, quick and the staff were nice and attentive.
I guess if you need a stove and flue fitting then the work is fine, but out job was too big.
