How to Rectify Poor Building Work

How to Rectify Poor Building Work

Experiencing poor building work?

Building is an exciting process, but if you start to experience problems with your builder than it can also be very stressful.

Most smaller projects can be dealt with by having a chat with your builder and agreeing a way forward. But if things are more serious it is probably time to get some independent, expert help. Don’t fret, professional can help to rectify poor building work.

If you’re in the middle of a major construction project (such as a major renovation or remodel of your home), and having problems with your builder. CLPM can help. One of our experienced building project managers can help you resolve your construction issues and get your project back on track.

Understand Your Rights

Poor workmanship comes in many forms. A few examples include:

• Shoddy work including poor quality, incorrect or even dangerous building work
• Builder has not finished the work or is refusing to fix defects
• Builder wants more money or has not completed the work you have already paid him for

Whatever the reason for the problems with your builder, remember you are protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Even your builder subcontracted some of the work out to other people (such as a self-employed plumber or electrician) they are still responsible for all of it. Always know you are within your rights to challenge their work.

Talk to Your Builder

The first step to take, when experiencing problems with your builder, is to clearly explain your concerns and gather together your evidence. This will include your architectural designs, your specifications, his quotes and your building contract or agreement. Hopefully you will have taken photographs of the building work and in particular of the areas you are unhappy with. Next put together a file of the emails, letters, texts you have exchanged with your builder. Write down the content and date of any conversations you have had with him.

Use this information to hold a meeting with your builder and raise your issues and concerns with him. Ask him to put things right and give him the opportunity to do so. Often for minor problems this can work well.

However if your bad building work is more major then do get an independent expert involved.

When to Involve an Independent Construction Expert

If your building project is large – such as a whole house renovation, a large extension or a new build – then poor building work can be a huge problem.

It’s also more likely that you have probably lost confidence in your builder, or that your relationship is already strained.

If the problems with your builder or bad building work are significant then it makes sense to get an independent construction expert – such as CLPM to help you.

Get Your Project Back on Track

CLPM can identify ways of how to rectify poor building work. Our team can help you resolve the problems you are experiencing with your builder and get your project back on track.

The first thing we will do is talk with you to understand your concerns. You will be assigned your own project manager who will go through all of your designs and documentation. He or she will visit the building site and check the building works against these specifications. They will also value the work completed and compare this to what you have paid. Your project manager will meet with your builder and get a greater understanding of the situation.

We will then talk with you and outline the situation before suggesting how best to resolve your bad building work. We’ll then agree a plan with you. This could involve your project manager closely managing and overseeing the existing builder, or we mught suggest appointing a new contractor or series of tradespeople to complete the building works.

In either case, your project manager will work with our inhouse construction programming specialist to draw up a new Schedule of Works with a new programme. Our Quantity Surveying team will get quotations for these works and draw up a new contract to include all of this detail, with a new completion date. Your project manager will then visit your build to check progress and hold regular minuted meetings. He or she will deal with and resolve any ongoing queries and issues. They can also manage the snagging, defects and final accounts of the project for you.

Why CLPM?

Whilst the majority of building projects are completed without any major issues, there are still some which unfortunately experience serious issues on site. If you are experiencing problems with your builder, then do get in touch. Our project managers are extremely experienced in turning around problem projects mid-build. Having been called in to help rescue many failing projects over the years.

If you’d like to hear more about how we can help then call 01923 896550, email info@cl-pm.com or complete a contact form.