OT Builders

Some firm came today and put insulation into the cavity wall. In doing
so they drilled into a mains cable supplying a lighting circuit. The
firm refuses to take responsibility and the manager has said that he may
report the house to the council under some building regs.

My house was build prior to 1985 so I believe that this bloke can go and
fornicate with a hedgehog. I think he should reach into his pocket and
pay for the damage done.

A "tame" builder who I trust will be visiting later to give an
independent opinion.

Meanwhile, what's the opinion of the FOAK?

 

What was his horse like?

 

In message

Err pardon?

 

Never mind.

 

One of my mates installs cavity wall insulation. Last week they were
doing a house in Berkhamstead and one particular section was taking an
age to fill. Carl stopped the machine and went inside to see if
something was up, only to find the bathroom absolutely full of
insulating material. The fuckwit house owner had removed an interior
brick to fit a soap dish in the wall alongside the bath about 5 years
previously, and all the insulating material was coming through the hole
into the room. It took them 2 hours to hoover it all up.

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I'm not and I didn't.

 

In message

Right-ho guv.

 

Firstly, I hope you havent paid them.
It is their fault, so they should put it right.
If however the cable was aVERY non-standard fitting, then they may have
a point about not being totally liable for the fualt, i.e., if the cable
was hidden and running at 45 degrees, then you cannot really take
precautions against such a thing, as all cables should run either
horizontally, or vertically, unless they are clearly visible.

How did they drill into a cable anyway?
Was it surface mounted?
Where was it sited?
Alan.

 

**** him and the horse he rode in on?

 

I assume by "some firm" you didn't choose these cowboys[1] personally?

[1] clue.

 

It's in the wall adjacent to the front door. That part of the wall is
load bearing and internally forms the junction with an internal wall.
The wire runs internally (i.e. in the cavity) vertically and eventually
links to the porch. As I wasn't there I am unaware of whether they used
a wire/metal detector.

My local builder chap has been and is confident of a simple repair. He
also thinks the manager at the other place is speaking bollocks. I asked
the manager for a written report, so I look forward to nothing in the
post as I think he is a bullshitter.

 

In message

I am not naming them until they have proven themselves (or not). Mrs C
chose them, not that that makes any difference.

 

I thought it was funny.

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Isn't that what professional indemnity insurance is for?




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That would make sense.

OK, so that's 1 against the insulation company then.

 

Well, yes, but for such a trivial fault, no-one in their right mind
would claim on their Indemnity Insurance for it, they'd just either
repair the wire, or get a sparky in for an hour to repair it.
My Ins. has a £500 excess, and I'd assume most small traders to have
similar excesses, so a claim would never be paid out anyway.
Alan.

 

Swot I thought too.

 

The question that needs to be asked is 'is it okay / permitted for
electrical wires to be in wall cavities'

If the answer is yes, then the contractor should have checked that there
were no wires in the way when he was drilling holes and is therefore liable.

If the answer is no, then he would expect there to be no wires in the cavity
unless you told him otherwise and if you didn't he probably isn't liable.

Ash

 

It raises a very serious point.

The cable is more than likely PVC - what is the cavity wall filling?
If it's expanded polystyrene beads, not a good idea at all for it to be
in contact with PVC cable, as it leaches out the plasticiser.
Crispy cables, not good, especially in a flammable environment.
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