Top mistakes made by builders

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Firefly

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Given the resident experts in this forum, I wonder would it be beneificial to compile a list of common mistakes/shortcuts that builders make when renovating a house or building a new house/extension that the untrained eye can look out for?. ONQ has posted some examples in various threads - for example post 12 in http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?t=147069

Perhaps, ONQ could lead the way?!!
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Just thought I'd pop over to this parish. :)

One problem I see very often is builders forgetting to put in perimeter insulation around concrete floor slabs.
 
I seen the neighbour's extension being built with hollow cavity blocks. I wouldn't even use them for my garage! I wouldn't even say these guy know what perimeter insulation is.

Would not using a cavity tray be one that could be included during the building of an extension. Obviously, during a new build, they are easily added. Not so sure about retro fitting for an extension.
 
Where does one start?

Simple things like plumbers not being made label each service, or earth the pipework.

Builders completing the outer leaf of a cavity wall for a timber frame house after the supplier has departed after having put up the frame - builder forgetting to put the right vents in the right places, below the DPC and below the eaves.

The primary fault of course is the clients, for not appointing a COMPETENT architect to prepare tender drawings, working drawings and to inspect the works. :)


ONQ.

[broken link removed]

All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.
 
Not good on the fabric of the building but obvious one's that I've seen or heard of are:

Rooms without windows

Drawings showing double bedrooms that you'd just about fit a single bed into

Rooms where you can't open the door or wardrobes fully due to a bed

Showhomes with furniture of below normal size

Stairs you can't get furniture up

En suites where if you sit on the toilet you cannot close the door

Lack of storage

No place outside to put a bike, bag of coal
 
The number one for me is the severe lack of soundproofing between houses. It has to be something that annoys and keeps thousands of people awake each night as they are forced to listen to the antics of their neighbours!

Maybe this is something that builders could fix as a redress to the thousands of people who bought up their shoddy work for vastly over the odds prices. Or maybe the govt. could put into place a process where houses could be soundproofed similar to the way they are being insulated.
 
Bronte said:
Not good on the fabric of the building but obvious one's that I've seen or heard of are:

Rooms without windows

Drawings showing double bedrooms that you'd just about fit a single bed into

Rooms where you can't open the door or wardrobes fully due to a bed

Showhomes with furniture of below normal size

Stairs you can't get furniture up

En suites where if you sit on the toilet you cannot close the door

Lack of storage

No place outside to put a bike, bag of coal
Click to expand...


That's interesting Bronte.

This started out as a building defects thread as in technical defects in construction - of so I have taken it to be.

You have broadened the discussion into a design defects thread.

I think that's a good idea - it may become a useful resource on AAM.

ONQ.

[broken link removed]

All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.
 
In a cavity wall building, not butting the insulation very tightly against the blockwork in the cavity, due to snots of mortar, and making the insulation much less effective than it should be. Also leaving small arbitary gaps in the insulation.

Not doing enough to make the house airtight - not sealing all the services properly, having loft doors which are not airtight, putting no insulation on the loft door
 
Leaks .... Plumbers hand tightening fittings that they mean to come back to but forget.
Paid a premium for a plumber with a good reputation but found that he just priced the job and got some young lad to do all the work ....
The inevitable result was leaks that gave me 6 months of grief ....
 
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