My husband contacted Guardian Roof to enquire re this kind of roof on a conservatory (as having a conservatory at our old property we knew standard conservatories are not livable) guardian reassured us that it creates a space which is livable all year round and gave us a list of installers. We contacted Amazon Windows and Conservatories ie Amex Holdings Ltd as per the list and spoke to Aiden Brophy, a authorised agent of the company. We told Aiden what we wanted, guardian roof, 3.5x5meter conservatory, we also stated we wanted the existing external door and window removed aswell as brickwork to make an arch to create a open plan living space between the kitchen and conservatory-soon to be living room. Aiden stated this would not be a problem, 'when you come to sell just put the doors back on at the new owners request'. He told me and my husband that as it's a conservatory building regulations isn't required. He then confirmed all of this in writing via email. (I have sent all correspondence to Building Control, CheckATrade, Guardian Roof and Trading Standards). My husband told Aiden of our situation, that I have blood cancer and am currently undergoing treatment at the Marsden, that we wanted a new space to spend Christmas together as last year I was hospitalised. We proceeded with the build August 1st 2022, 3 weeks into the build on the day of the roof being installed we were not happy with the marks left on the windows and doors by the installers, all protective film had been removed from the upvc without the windows being put in and all frames had black scuff marks on them. Xtratherm (roof insulation) was delivered that day and placed in the garden by the roof installers, when I went outside I found the xtratherm placed ontop of my lavender plant crushing it (we have a large wrap around garden, 3 weeks in no other builders or workman on site had done this so I was rightfully annoyed that they had damaged my plant). We sent emails regarding the marks to the window, door frames and lavender with pictures as evidence. I recieved a horrendous email back from the director , Andy Shoulder. He stated my plant was wooded and in need of watering anyway. I have cancer and there's a drought, he said his workman never put it there. I replied who did, me? He said the marks on the windows and door frame would have been cleaned eventually so my husband cleaning them with upvc cleaner was premature. My answer back was the window frames needed to be cleaned to see if there were permanent scratches/ marks underneath and if there was then replacements would need to be ordered, he completely disagreed. I have the audio recording of our conversation which he consented to which I will post to socials. After that appaling conversation my husband and I both agreed that Amazon Windows would not help rectify any problems we may encounter in the future or make it exceedingly difficult in the least so my husband called FENSA regarding the windows and doors. They stated they would not be able to help with warranties etc unless the windows were installed under building control supervision. So my husband contacted building control and spoke to Mark Simpson, Head of Building Control. He asked for photographs of the build, he immediately contacted my husband to tell him that our conservatory is actually a extension (conservatory has to be adleast 50% glass) and so building control was meant to be on site 1st day of the build. An extension ALWAYS requires building control. We went back to Andy shoulder with this information and the building control report, he ignored the report, he told us that because WE didn't want building regs that the build isn't to building regs standard, he said the fact that it's an extension is neither here nor there and he told us to just leave the existing external doors on as PLANNED even though the contract stated remove external doors. He then said he was confused as to why we have got building control involved! 1) it states on the contract, hand written 'remove external door/window and brickwork, make good 1m2'. In doing so and agreeing Amazon completely contradict themselves regarding building regs because UNLESS the external door remains in place then any and ALL conservatories require building regulations 2) Andy Shoulder admits it isn't to building regulations standard and doesn't care, he states to me in a email if i wanted the soakaway done correctly and moved 5 metres from the property instead of it's current position of only 1.8 metres! (Flooding risk!) Then it would have been an extra £1600. 3) it is an extension so a client cannot say yes or no to buildong regulations, YOU should have advised us that YES it requires building regulations. They have stated to my husband in black and white that they do not comply with building regulations. 4) they keep lying and stating me and my husband refused building regs due to cost we were never even given a quote! It was mentioned in passing by Aiden Brophy, it's a conservatory so doesn't need building regulations.
I now have Building Control, Structural Engineers and other trades companies quoting me to rectify the works needing completion, even though under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 Amazon Windows MUST rectify work under URP (Unlimited Repeat Performance) for FREE. Amazon Windows have refused and said it will cost extra, happy to give me quotes though! They are refusing to provide me with an itemised breakdown of labour, materials, cost etc when asked to do in writing they state that is not what they do. The contract has not been fulfilled and been entered into under false pretences, full disclosure was not given. I have sent all correspondence to Check A Trade, Trading Standards, FENSA, Building Control etc. I have contacted Guardian Roof as it states on there website that building control should be present when installing the roof to provide the building regulations certification whereas Amazon Windows told me and emailed me that the roof comes with building reg certification anyway, how is that possible?!
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. The Building Control report is long and the list of things not up to standard is unbelievable. When we asked Amazon Windows to talk to Building Control the response was, 'we will not engage in dialogue' so PLEASE do not engage with this company.
