Beware the dangers that lurk beneath!

**Daveyboy** · 28-09-2008

Just to set the scene…Two neighbours in a terrace got together to have major refurbishment works done to the rear of their properties. This involved supporting the existing first floor to the rear of the properties whilst demolishing the ground floors, installing new steels, extending the properties into the garden for larger kitchens, and replacement bathrooms and cloakrooms. Neighbour A had got the details of a builder from out of town and persuaded Neighbour B to use him as well to reduce costs. Neighbour B knew nothing about the builder but trusted Neighbour A’s judgement and agreed. Some time into the project, disaster happened when the first floor of the back of Neighbour B’s house started to collapse when he started to demolish the ground floor, due to inadequate accro support and uncontrolled demolish. The first floor of Neighbour B’s house has since been condemned and has to be demolished and rebuilt. Consequently, Neighbour B has sacked the builder and is now taking legal action. Neighbour A’s property in the main survived and whilst unhappy with the builder, is allowing him to continue so that the job gets done.

Neighbour B has called me in to take over the bathroom and cloakroom installation and was told that the builder had done the first fix plumbing for the bathroom and cloakroom and was ready for tiling, etc. Having seen the work of the builder at the rear of the property, I decided to double check before tiling.

We lifted the floor boards and found that the plumbing was incomplete and what had been done had to be completely replaced. We also found a real disaster waiting to happen. The ‘lad’ had destroyed a cross support joist that was supporting a suspended chimney breast (the ground floor chimney breast had been removed some years before), a steel beam holding up the attic conversion and two other joists. In addition, he had drilled 2x50mm holes, one above the other, through the joist that the cross support joist was cut into. The bottom part of the chimney breast has already dropped. As a result, the house has been declared unsafe and emergency works are underway to correct the ‘lad’s’ work. The builder maintains he has done a quality job

……. Would you be happy to start tiling???

The moral to this tale is Always check the work of those who have gone before you…

p.s. have got pictures but are too big to upload and can't work out how to make them smaller.

GazTech · 28-09-2008

Blimey charlie,
I'll bet the relationship between neighbours has taken a knock over this....and how can he possibly say it is quality work, he sounds more like a demolition expert than a builder.....I would tile it quick Davey, whilst there is something left standing to tile....lol

**Sir Ramic** · 28-09-2008

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pics added on behalf of daveyboy.

**LM Ceramics** · 28-09-2008

id agree with gaz

**Sir Ramic** · 28-09-2008

Its scarey what some "professionals" can do

**Fekin** · 28-09-2008

Originally Posted by GazTech

I would tile it quick Davey, whilst there is something left standing to tile....lol

Nice one

**grumpygrouter** · 28-09-2008

As this is the public forum, I can not put into words what my thoughts are on seeing/reading this.........

**whitebeam** · 28-09-2008

Staggered

**cornish_crofter** · 28-09-2008

I think the mess they've made of the joists is the least of his worries!

I'm surprised that the owner can find time to get his bathroom fitted in amongst all these problems.

The builder wants an injunction taken out against him to stop him working on any more houses. Hopefully he's got adequate public liability insurance, or he's going to be paying for this one for years to come.

I somehow doubt that neighbour B would accept an offer from him to come and put everything right.

**Daveyboy** · 28-09-2008

Originally Posted by cornish_crofter

I think the mess they've made of the joists is the least of his worries!

I'm surprised that the owner can find time to get his bathroom fitted in amongst all these problems.

The builder wants an injunction taken out against him to stop him working on any more houses. Hopefully he's got adequate public liability insurance, or he's going to be paying for this one for years to come.

I somehow doubt that neighbour B would accept an offer from him to come and put everything right.

Hmmm..the new plumber now working for builder told me the builder said he is reluctant to make a claim on his insurance...I wonder how good his insurance is.

As for Neighbour B, he's in rented accn until beginning of Nov when he has to move back home...if it's still standing