sliding doors gap to plastered wall

[James Stone]

Hello, just had our expensive sliding doors fitted by the window installer, who measured up and I organised independently from the builder. There are internal 2.5cm gaps to the sides of the plastered wall. The builder says the window company should supply mouldings to hide the gap. The window company says the walls should have been plastered after installation. Are the builders fobbing me off? They quoted for the windows, but I wanted to ensure we got the right look and finish, so I arranged the windows. The builders are charging % handling fee for the windows install and preparation. Surely, that includes finishing the plaster to a flush finish? Thanks for any advice

 

[opps]

I am only a lowly decorator. I normally see the plastering done after the fitting.

In defence of the fitters, they often allow a gap to accommodate any discrepancies.

 

[chirpychippy]

The reveals should of been left unplastered until the sliding doors were installed.

It is the builders fault.

 

[crank39]

I agree but who was contracted for the making good? Sure the fitters probably have some trims to cover the gaps but why would you fit them if a builder is still on site and can plaster the gap, think the builder just can't be arsed with the patching in if I'm honest

 

[DavoUK]

What value have the builders' added for charging a percentage handling fee for the windows install?
By adding this charge, they should have the responsibility for making good.

 

[James Stone]

10% handling charge for the builders. It was a mixture of new openings in the extension and existing openings. Turns out the old openings had skewed internal openings, so when the windows were installed to fit the external opening, the internal frame is out of line - one side has 35mm of frame showing and the other side has just 5mm showing. Either I live with (you'll never notice it says the builder - now I can't forget it!) or I get the reveal on one side chopped out and replaced. The builder does not want to do it and blames the window supplier for not measuring the internal openings or notifying the difference. Window co. blames the builder and refuse to discuss with him. Builder says we should have used their supplier.

 

[foxhole]

Walls should be plastered after install ideally but as they were already plastered window fitters should have used a trim ( if they were replacing existing they would have used a trim ).
Builders are being petty because you didn’t go through them .
Black trim is a quick and easy fix, you could diy and leave bad feedback for you builder and window fitters .

 

[chirpychippy]

Trims are normally used when old windows are removed and new fitted, they shouldn't be used on new work.

I dont have any patience for tit for tat in the building industry. Your builder is working for you, you dictate what needs to be done.

It wouldn't matter if the glazing company put add ons on the windows to increase the margins internally, the margins would still be uneven and add ons externally look horrible.

Ask your builder for a quote to correct the window reveals.

 

[crank39]

If the external opening is square then the frame should go in square, if the opening is out of square then the installers are fighting a losing battle and can only do their best, if a skewed external opening was noted during surveying then the frame could have been made smaller to account for this so the opening isn't forcing the frame out of square.

Holding the installer responsible for an internal opening that is skewed or uneven plaster thicknesses is ludicrous, they have to fit to the external opening, the internal ends up how it ends up