Target Windows

Conservatory - Rectification Problems This company built my conservatory. Prior to signing the contract they were informed of the soft ground conditions. Their contract stated that ‘Foundation requirements will be subject to ground conditions. Any deviation could result in extra costing being required.’ They also indicated that typical foundation depth would be 450mm deep with a concrete strip foundation 600mm wide by 225mm deep. After suffering various cracks in the structure, which were repaired, the company employed a surveyor who reported problems with ground conditions - the conditions I had informed them about before proceeding! Surveyor did not actually check the footings. I found the footings to be only 270mm deep, some 180mm less than what was stated as their ‘typical footing’ and on soft ground so should have been deeper. I commissioned a structural engineer’s report which advised all footings to be underpinned. After submitting the report to the company they were not prepared to accept the professional advice and only offered to underpin just two corners thereby risking the remaining structure to stress and further cracking. So the company failed, in the first place, to provide the ‘typical’ or even the appropriate footings for the conditions, would not accept the recommendations of a qualified structural engineer and offered a ‘reduced’ solution so posing further risk to the structure.