Vertical crack in window after extension

[SaraPJ]

Hi, not sure if anyone can help...

We had a two storey extension done (completed earlier this year). After the extension we had problems opening and closing the window - it felt like it was catching at the top and bottom. This was a relatively new (2-3 years) existing window which was repositioned in the new extension and had always been fine before. We felt sure the problem was because the builders left too small a space for the window. We complained at the time (face-to-face, no written record unfortunately), but the builder said it was fine.

Unfortunately today the window has cracked vertically along the edge of a centre pane. Could this be because the space left was too small?

What should we do? I suspect the builder should be liable to fix it, but I think he'll refuse.

Thanks

 

[^woody^]

Yes that type of crack would be typical of a frame in too tight an opening and not able to expand

If the frame was not fitted properly then you would have a claim against the builder.

If he did not agree then you would need a professional report to pursue a claim in the county court

Whether all this would cost more in money and stress, than just sorting the problem out and moving on, is something to think about. But any defect like this within one year of building work should be a builders responsibility

You really should have kept some retention money from when the extension was finished until 12 months afterwards to help deal with things like this

 

[SaraPJ]

Thanks very much for your reply Woody. Very helpful.

The Builder has come to take a look, and seems to be fine about it so far, so fingers crossed.

I'd never heard of retention money before - I will definitely do that in the future.

 

[doitall]

Retention, usually 5% is agreed in the contract before you sign, as with other clauses like stage payment, payment on completion etc. You can't just decide to hang on to X pounds later, on the other hand you are entitled to produce a snagging list at the end of the job, and have the faults rectified before you pay.

Most retention is 90days, but some companies try to stretch it to 6months.