Poor quality window installation: opinions wanted!

[tomewer]

Hello,

We've just had four uPVC windows installed in each of the bedrooms in our house. While I don't have much experience as to how 'perfect' the quality of new installations should be, I'm pretty positive that the level of workmanship on this job is shoddy at best.

I've attached some photos that give examples of the type of issues I'm talking about (my camera's not the best but I think you get the picture).

I raised the issue with the fitter onsite, but he didn't speak English particularly well, which made it difficult to get anywhere.

I have two questions that I'd appreciate anyone's opinion on:

1. Do you think it's reasonable for me to be unhappy with the quality of the works?
2. If so, what would you advise? Presumably, ask that they fix the issues they can, but what if that's not reasonably possible? Negotiate an amount off the fitting cost?

In case you're wondering, I didn't put a deposit down and have made no payments as of yet.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[chris1982]

I wouldn't be happy with this either! Was the installer FENSA registered?

 

[crank39]

To be fair I'm struggling to see any FITTING issues, I can see some manufacturing issues but for the avoidance of doubt can you list your concerns and we'll or I will go through them.

@chris1982, this has sod all to do with fensa, people mistakenly think they're some sort of quality assurance scheme

 

[ronniecabers]

Other than a bit of cleaning ...i don't think the actual fitters workmanship is that poor ... however the quality of the manufactured product could be a different matter . The little nicks in the profile could well have happened at factory , but more worrying to me is the welded joints...are those actual cracks are just black lines

 

[ronniecabers]

Was the installer FENSA registered?

Fensa is a competent persons scheme in relation to building regs ....nothing more

 

[Doggit]

As Fensa is a competent persons scheme, one would assume that the person fitting the units is in fact competent - I suspect the firm is Fensa registered, but that may not apply to this fitter.

Picture 1 looks as though the glass unit is too large for the frame, whilst picture 4 looks as though the outside of the frame is smaller than the inside of the frame.
Picture 2 show the handle is set too close to the frame, whilst the other pictures show poor construction, or marks from spaldash installation.

These are more than niggles, but as others have said, most of the problems relate to poor manufacturing, so does the company assembly the units themselves, or purchase them in; either way, there are issues to be resolved, and you need to contact the company to make your views known.

 

[ronniecabers]

As Fensa is a competent persons scheme, one would assume that the person fitting the units is in fact competent - I suspect the firm is Fensa registered, but that may not apply to this fitter.

Picture 1 looks as though the glass unit is too large for the frame, whilst picture 4 looks as though the outside of the frame is smaller than the inside of the frame.

If fensa registered , in theory , fitter should have an MTC card, or LABC need to sign it off.

As goes pictures 1 and 4 ...I don't see any issues with what you have highlighted , I think both are the camera angles

 

[Millwright]

They've fitted second hand windows, without a doubt. Tell them to clear off.

 

[Millwright]

I wouldn't be happy with this either! Was the installer FENSA registered?

Not worth the paper it's written on.

 

[Gazman16]

As above all looks like manufacturing issues. Most of which would have been sorted if they had given the frames a good cleaning.
The nicks and gaps in the welds can be fixed with a PVC repair kit. Get them back to sort it out.

I spend ages giving the frames a good cleaning once they are fitted but I know alot of company's just give them a basic wipe over.

 

[crank39]

They've fitted second hand windows, without a doubt. Tell them to clear off.

And how have you worked that out?

 

[Gazman16]

And how have you worked that out?

I wondered about that too.

I just noticed you have aluminum spacer bars. I'm guessing you didn't go for A rated windows then?

 

[Millwright]

And how have you worked that out?

That's the state windows get into when they are removed. That isn't the condition of a new window.

 

[Gazman16]

That's the state windows get into when they are removed. That isn't the condition of a new window.

They just haven't been cleaned properly (possibly at all lol)
They get filthy while you are fitting them from hand prints and hammer drilling, Also when you take off the protective tape it makes them super static so they are quite literally a magnet for all that dirt.

The odds of ever finding a second hand window to perfectly fit another house are about almost 0, To find a whole house of perfectly fitting windows 0%. I'm not saying these are perfectly fitted though.

 

[crank39]

The odds of ever finding a second hand window to perfectly fit another house are about almost 0, To find a whole house of perfectly fitting windows 0%. I'm not saying these are perfectly fitted though.

Maybe they took them out of next door after they complained, probably moving along from one house to the next