Terms and Conditions & Guarantees

It's commendable that companies offer 5 and 10-year guarantees on products, but what are you truly receiving?

READ THEM BEFORE YOU PURCHASE!

Most guarantees come with numerous conditions that must be met for the guarantee to remain valid. They might require the use of specific products for maintenance, impose additional work not included in the initial price, or exclude certain issues like dampness from the warranty.

When people install something new, the excitement often leads them to overlook the fine print or any documents provided upon completion.

If a structure deteriorates after the guarantee expires, customers might be relieved it lasted that long. However, if something is in poor condition 10 years after spending £45k+, there's a significant issue. Even £20 is a substantial amount to me. If I spent 45K on something I expected it to last a lot longer than 10 years.

I believe guarantees can be misleading, acting like a placebo that distracts from potential issues post-expiration, or immediately after the structure is complete. This is just my opinion, take a look at this log cabin that is 9 years old.

12 Mattresses in 2 Years LOL

Why discuss mattresses when I'm in construction? We went through 12 mattresses in two years due to them failing and me claiming against the guarantees. They developed large craters and ridges (within a matter of weeks, these were not body impressions), and it was frustrating to keep replacing them. Fortunately, I was within my rights to claim against my guarantee.

I keep all my receipts and return items within the guarantee period, if they become defective. I'm not sure how many others do this, but it should be more common.

With our latest mattress company, the warranty terms were clear: to keep the guarantee valid, I must flip the mattress weekly for three months, then monthly. If I don't, the guarantee is void. We do flip our mattress weekly and I take photos, but this is very annoying. This example highlights the maintenance and stipulations often hidden in the fine print when purchasing a garden room from a major company. READ THEM BEFORE YOU PURCHASE!

Signing Guarantees

I believe guarantees should come with a certificate clearly outlining requirements. Both parties should sign it, ensuring responsibilities are understood before purchase.

For instance, if protecting a timber structure requires a specific paint, and you need multiple coats inside and out, the costs can be significant. Spending £200-£300 annually on paint is not trivial. Then finding someone to do it is an extra cost, they may charge a couple of days to allow for drying time in between coats.

My message is simple: be cautious. These extra tasks are costly, and neglecting them can void your guarantees. You have the right to claim under warranties if you've fulfilled all obligations, so ensure you read the guarantees and terms before making significant purchases.

Expensive Outdoor Garden Rooms Guarantees

Recently, I visited a showroom for garden rooms and was questioning the flooring of their expensive outdoor buildings. I have since received an email stating they use "pressure treated joists, which are water resistant." To the untrained eye, this might seem like a satisfactory response. However, the reply didn't mention waterproof timber— that’s because it doesn't exist. Eventually, it will rot, its wood and wood rotes! Especially when these buildings are installed on level patios where surface water can seep underneath and cause internal rot.

This company offers a 10-year structural guarantee against rot. Perhaps this is because significant rot might not start until after the guarantee expires 9 year old log cabin.

These discussions led me to inquire about the additional floor bearers mentioned in their brochures. They claim these bearers reduce dampness and prevent rot. If we were to buy these extra bearers, they would likely need to be spaced at 400mm, requiring 17 bearers for a structure like the Fox Den, which is 6.8m wide. The initial price I found online for 50mm by 47mm treated timber in 4.8m lengths is £5.13 per length, totaling £87.21. Yet, this company is trying to charge me £400+. Resting the structure on floor bearers might also create a haven for rats, and the wood will still rot. Once the bearers rot, replacing them would require lifting and reassembling the entire structure.

Now, they're offering composite bearers priced at £1200+. I have questioned the load capacity of these composite bearers, as they're not reinforced and are purely plastic. Placing a 6.3 x 4.2 structure on them could cause them to snap.

I believe I'm asking this company questions they haven't encountered before, which is disappointing. Some people have more money than sense, while others work hard, making something like the Fox Den a dream. It's unfair that all you receive is a 10-year guarantee, and the proposed solutions to potentially extend the life span are costly and eventually ineffective.

What frustrates me the most is that these extras my experience demands should be standard! Yet, this is the reality we face today. Businesses are primarily focused on profit, wanting you to pay more and pay repeatedly. Guarantees are often meaningless in my opinion! A standard year aligns perfectly with consumer rights, but anything beyond that is merely a distraction to prevent people from properly researching.

I wonder how many people actually claim their guarantees before it's too late. With this post, I aim to encourage more individuals to review their paperwork in a timely manner.