Builder Made Disaster - Help

[Jazz1966]

Hi,

Please, can someone advise?
My mate has had an extension built at his house.
The extension is nearly complete.

He has just noticed that the upstairs and downstairs room corners are not square. One wall is about 6 inches longer than the other.

He has discussed this with the builder, who tells him that it is not always possible to build a room that is not rectangular - something that I think is just B*llocks.
The builder worked to the Building Control diagram, which does show the rooms to be rectangular.

On top of that, some of the other work he has done also seems of poor quality. I have attached pictures of some of his pipework and roof work.

My mate has already paid the bulk of the money over and owes the builder only a small amount.

Just in case you are wondering why my mate didn't notice this earlier, the builder had odds and sods covering the room corners. It was only when these were removed that the mistake was noticed by my mate.

The builder is also now saying that if my mate makes an issue of the non rectangular rooms, then the builder will not sign off the work - something that is required for Building Control final completion.

Please, can someone advise what he can do now?

[Jazz1966]

Floor Picture

[Jazz1966]

Piping

[Jazz1966]

Roof - Sorry but the system won't allow me to upload multiple file

[Pezza54]

Is your friend using the same builder you used in the summer of 2024?
Building Control staff don't prepare construction drawings, only check them either before work starts or on site with work being carried out
Sounds like the builder hasn't just built a room or rooms where the corners aren't square, but possibly also the external walls of the extension. Has your friend checked the external walls
A bricklayer should use a set square to ensure corners are 90 degrees
There has to be a reason why the radiator wasn't fixed further to the right so that the rising heating pipe is vertical without the need for 2 bends

Building Control sign off the work and issue a Building Control Certificate which your friend will need if he wants to sell the property in future
Your friend should contact the building control officer that has been allocated the extension and arrange to meet him or her to inspect the work carried out so far

If any work has to be rebuilt and there is insufficient money left in the contract to cover this work, and the builder refuses to carry out this rectification work free of charge, you friend should consider making a court claim against the builder

[des8]

Is that copper pipe in direct contact with a concrete floor?
Also allowance needs to be made for 15mm copper pipes to expand and contract.

from the detail shown in the photo I would be looking for a qualified plumber to come and inspect the work.
That pipework is amateurish. Even if there was a valid reason for that double bend (which is probably down to an inability to measure!), the pipes should be vertical

[Jazz1966]

Is that copper pipe in direct contact with a concrete floor?
Also allowance needs to be made for 15mm copper pipes to expand and contract.

from the detail shown in the photo I would be looking for a qualified plumber to come and inspect the work.
That pipework is amateurish. Even if there was a valid reason for that double bend (which is probably down to an inability to measure!), the pipes should be vertical

Yes, all the pipes go directly into concrete floors. There appears to be no allowance for expansion / contraction.

[des8]

concrete may cause corrosion, and pipes need insulation (so I understand, but I'm not up to date with current regs)

[Pezza54]

In the worst case scenario the Building Control officer may refuse to issue the certificate
The contractor should notify building control at various stages of the construction so that hidden work such as foundations, underground drainage, floor and wall insulation can be inspected on site and approved
Building Control can enforce compliance with regulations and instruct finished work to be opened up if necessary for inspection. I believe any enforcement action is against the builder in the first instance