PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Last year we had new fascia boards fitted to the gable end and front of our house, along with one down pipe and guttering to the front. During the gale the fascia at the gable end got blown off and was in pieces in our neighbours gardens. I contacted the builder and he came round to see the damage, but said it would cost a further £176 to replace the broken parts, as it was down to the gale, he insisted I pay in advance by bank transfer, so I did.
However I had a different builder have a look at the damage and he says that first of all the fascia was the wrong size, the pins were too short, and the fascia should have been double pinned. There were only 4 pins holding up the full length to the roof. There are no joiners in the guttering and daylight can be seen by the bracket, the down pipe is also loose, the nails having fallen out. He is only refunding the £176 extra I paid, and requests I get his materials removed without damage for his collection, any damage will be billed to me. I would like to know what the fitting regs are and if anyone can advise me how I stand legally.
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Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

I'm not sure if there will be any regulations regarding the fitting, but I'm sure the manufacturer will have a recommended fitting guide which they will require the installer to follow to ensure the validity of the warranty coving manufacturing defects.

I'd be tempted to have a chat with your local trading standards and would tell the builder if he wants to collect the stuff he's welcome to come and remove it at his own expense and that you'll hold him liable for any damage he causes to your property while he's doing so. Oh, and don't forget to name and shame the builder to all your friends, family and neighbours.

I really do feel for you and hope you get things sorted as I know from my own experience how stressful issues with your house can be.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

2 homes here fell foul of a cowboy who "ceased trading" shortly afterwards. He had a string of complaints against him, and Trading Standards stepped-in and demanded full refunds for all the home-owners. But it took a "court claim" to get the actual money.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Grimupnorth and Taf thank you for your replies, as expected I did not get any refund today. I have told him I will settle for £200 and call it a day, or next step of many, Trading standards, I won't hold my breath. He is now uncontactable on messenger. Doesn't surprise me, coward can't face me, bring it on! Watch this space.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Then name and shame him to all your neighbours and acquaintances.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

If you have a local forum group it may be interesting to see if any others have have had dealings with this man. If they have they may even have started taking action.

Definitely agree about going to trading standards, they may already be looking into his shoddy workmanship.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Well as you may have guessed I have not received a penny refund. Also Trading standards apparently doesn't deal direct with people, I have to go through Citizens Advice Bureau. I don't know his address only the district he lives in, so what is the chances of getting anything back, I only have his mobile number. He has stopped conversing with me on Facebook. Total out of pocket £516 and I still have to pay someone to put it all right.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

If he/they are a registered company, there should be a contact address at Companies House.

https://find-and-update.company-info...ervice.gov.uk/

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Thanks for that Hugh, I've recalled his trading name, but suspiciously there is not an address on his Website, and I can't see the firm listed on the site you gave. That's weird.:confused:

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

I doubt if he is listed at Companies House as he would have to provide too much information proving who he is. I'm sure he would never wish to appear anywhere that would attract the attention of the tax inspectors who could track him down whether he had bothered to register a Limited Company or as a small Company.

Just being nosey ...how did you find him in the first place?

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

If he’s a self employed sole trader he won’t have an entry at companies house. That in itself isn’t dodgy - lots of very small businesses are actually not formally incorporated. Our B&B never was. Actually that means if you are pursuing him for financial redress he can’t close the business and leave you with nothing to claim against. If he’s a sole trader then the liability is his personally.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

I found him on Facebook, I know what you are thinking, but he had a trading name and a van with the company name on it. Because of that I felt confident he would be reliable and trustworthy.


And Chris he is trading as a firm it's not a limited company. If I got judgment for my claim in the County Court, and he didn't pay and I had to send in the Bailiffs to his home, he could claim all the removable good in the house belong to his wife. There is no guarantee you get you money back even if you get judgment, having worked in the County Court for 12 years, I know from experience. My only hope is if Trading Standards gets involved, today I found this site and posted my complaint, https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/the-coun...ing-standards/ I will just have to keep fingers cross.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

He could try, but bailiffs are not stupid, he would need to prove they all belong to his wife, which is unlikely in a shared house.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Our Bailiffs apparently took their word for it, and the return was 'no goods'. Difficult to prove, how many people have receipts for all their property? But I am jumping the gun, why do I get the feeling I am just going to have to put it down to experience?

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

To my surprise and annoyance, traced back and the work was only carried out on 18th October last year
, so 4 months later it blows off. :mad:

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

I looked back at the photos and realised that instead of fitting a joint, he has supported the guttering with a bracket. That would have leaked like buggery defeating the object of guttering!

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

There's 2 like that at the front TAf, I have spoken to several builders and they all said the fascia should have been double pinned. He completely denies that he didn't fit incorrectly as his work complied with FENSA regulations, he claims it was all down to the gale, an act of God. The pins he used were only 40mm (usually used for soffits) and only one row about an inch from the top. Therefore it didn't take much for the wind get under it and blow it off. I await reply from Citizens Advice Bureau.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

FENSA have nothing to do with it, they only concentrate on double glazing and doors.

https://www.fensa.org.uk/find-installers

The bottom line is you relied on facebook without independantly checking and ended up with a cowboy. TBH I don't feel sorry for you at all.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

It would appear I have given some people the wrong impression that I just found this person on Facebook and without knowing him from Adam; employed him to do the job. Not so, he gave me a link to his firm's website, showing photos of some of the commendable jobs he had completed. The site was awash with glowing testimonials from people he had done work for. He arrived at our house in a van, emblazoned with his firm's name on the side. What reason would I have to suspect his work was not cosha?

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Unfortunately websites are fairly easy to build and pictures are easily poached from other sites. As for reviews on these dodgy sites there is no guarantee that they weren't written by the owner.

We are lucky as we still have lots of contacts and friends in the building trade.

If I really wanted to find someone and they couldn't help I would always contact a local building suppliers as they are usually happy to help and recommend someone trustworthy.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Thanks for that Jo, if that is the case then he is a rogue trader, and hopefully Citizens Advice bureau will refer my complaint to Trading Standards for further investigation.

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Can't believe this, knock on the door this morning, it was the original builder clutching the extra money I had paid him. He is going to come back Tuesday and supply and fit for free, the whole job! I wrote to Citizens Advice a few days ago, haven't heard back, so I am wondering if they contacted Trading Standards who have had a word in his ear. :):):):cleader::cleader::cleader:

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Great news Tinky. Glad it's getting sorted. :D

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

Great news Tinky. If it's possible take photos just in case ........

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

It only takes the attention of one Trading Standards officer to make some rogue-traders quake in their boots.

I hope it all gets sorted correctly!

Re: PVC Fascia and gutter fitting regulations?
 

He arrived yesterday and fixed the whole lot, including fitting a soffit which was not included in original quote, and double pinned new correct sized fascia, secured the down pipe, fitted joiners to guttering, no charge, well pleased. :cleader::cleader::cleader: