FAULTY RENOVATIONS - ASSESSORS / EXPERTS?

St Germain, I would even go further, if this is a condominium, if any modifications or extensive work is contemplated, it should brougt up to the association and dicussed with them, especially if there is even a remote chance of such problems could occur. Besides being common curtessy, it also reduces possible liabilities, as they (the other co-owners) new as much about the possibility of a problem developing as the one who initiated the project. Also as you implied, accurate notes should be kepr, and if possible initialed by all present.

BP Chuck

If this is a condominium, you will probably have to bring in the Association and its syndic. After finally resolving an similar problem, after two years, make sure you act quickly and keep records. If there is no damage yet, as you have found out, people will be slow to do anything.

Now the qiestion may be, was thisdone with the consent and apprival of the owner (Landlord). The other question is was this the fault of the corroded old drain stucture, or the careless work of the plumber. Looking at the job, I could bet you that it could be the fault of either or both, and the best solution in this case is sitting down with the landlord, the tennant below you, the plunber who did the job (and a contractor, if it was not the plumber, and finally you, and try to come up with an equitable friendly agreement (probably a compromise). This way you possibly reach a fast resolution of the problem. If you have to get a lawyer involved, It will end up much more money for all parties involved, and you also loose a lot of time. --- So I would try to put on a Happy Face , and byte the bullet, and try to come up with an equitable solution.

BP Chuck

Thanks for the reply, BP Chuck - it's actually a typical 100-year-old Paris building, 7 floors, 2 apartments per floor. We're on the 7th, our neighbours below us on the 6th. We added a new shower (with that thick concrete base encasing the drainpipe which may be the cause of the problem) to an existing bathroom. No doubt lawyers will have to be invilved unless our insurers are pro-active enough!

fieldhigh_m3, This sounds to me like a fairly complex issue. Firs of all let us start at the beginning. The situation is not quite clear to me: 1) dO you own the building. I presume it is a brand new building if I understand correctly. I prsume when you say your "downstairs neighbour", the builing (or house) is at least two stories high and your neighbour, who lives right under you, is the one who gets drenched. Was the shower separatly added after the building was completed? If you do not own the builing (or the apt.) You should first of all complain to the owner. If he ordered the shoer to be installed, it is his reponsibility to take care of the matter. Incidentally, unless this is some modern flimsy building, the the European buildings are generally fairluy solidly built, and the ceiling would probably hold, but the pastering mayseparate from the ceiling may come down (which can be dangerous byitself In the Paris it may be a gypsum plaster, which doe not have much holding power when it gets very wet.). In a case like this, where all the piping is hidden (which I presume it is from your note), it is not the simplest matter to establish the problem. I would first establish who is going to "take care" of this matter, the home owner, the contractor, and assumes the repair costs and possibly the costs of the damamges. an attorney familiar with construction should be involved (although thi may, and generally does, delay things). To actually establish the problem, a good plumbing contractor would be the best to examin it. If he has a electronic listening device, it may help, if he is familiar with it. Once it problem is established, the repairs may be simple (note that I said "May" be simple). but it may require lots of masonary work, etc.). This is all I can say at the moment, as I do not quite understand the circumstances.

BP Chuck

Hullo all - would greatly appreciate it if anyone can tell us who to talk to on these issues with our recent renovations.

The most immediate issue is a major problem with a newly added shower, which we have just found out has been virtually flooding the bedroom of the downstairs neighbour for 2 weeks since we moved in - the neighbours just returned from holidays to find their bed and floor soaked and ruined, and a huge amount of water in their ceiling, which is in danger of collapsing.

We called an emergency plumber - he said that in his opinion the new shower base (solid concrete 8 inches thick) is leaking, as it coincides with the size, shape and position of the problem below. The specific cause cannot be found until the shower is broken up completely. Clearly the architect and builder are financially liable, but we do not believe they would be competent to rectify the problem.

Our insurance company WILL NOT send expert assessors and order repairs (the cost of which will be recovered from the builder) until they receive a demand from the neighbours insurers, as there is as yet no evident water or problem in our place. So Ive tried to impress on the neighbour that her insurers must urgently make a demand on our insurers, to hurry things up.

QUESTION 1: Is this all we can do, i.e. wait for the insurers to take action, or are there experts who we can call directly, to assess the problem and recommend professional repair work which will be guaranteed?

In fact, we need an overall assessment of our ENTIRE renovation job, as there is some bad workmanship and damages which we must have properly assessed and costed to repair, to claim against the builder. We have held back from paying the builder and architect the full amount, for that reason, and this could turn into a legal and financial issue between us and them.
QUESTION 2: Who does this sort of assessment for legal purposes?

Thankyou very much for any advice you are able to provide!