Botched Garage Conversion

If you want the windows to be all of the same appearance you should ask for a balanced look, that would give the windows an all the same look so the ones that open look the same as the fixed non opening windows. The rendered wall looks fine and will look better when finished and painted, also I would think your builder was restricted by the exterior balance of the original garage door opening with regard to the window looking offset.......to be honest it looks a nice job!

 

It's a toughie, but the bottom line is that the builder should have done what he was asked to.

First things first - in order to narrow that window down to a 3-sectioner to look balanced on the inside, he'd have had to 'key' in an extra column of bricks down that side. That is doable, but tricky to match perfectly - it would certainly require exactly similar bricks - but that would then leave the contrasting-colour brick 'lintel' above it too long, I think, so that would need changing to the 'wall' colour bricks too - getting complex.

If the actual window 'style' doesn't match the ones in the rest of the house, then that's poor - he should have had an exact match made up. But if it's the fact it's 4 sections that annoys you, then I would suggest that 3 sections in that width would look even more wrong - each would be too wide.

I agree with Astra that it looks a decent job, although having the window going tight against the inside wall never looks totally right - it kind of suggest a room that's had an extra internal wall put in to divide it into two.

But, even tho' it looks a decent job, what's important is whether it's what you asked for and made clear you wanted.

What discussions were done - any sketches, written descriptions?

The job they've done is a simpler, quicker, job than having to use bricks which would need keying in, so - if anything - they should be charging you less than the original quote.

BUT, what was 'agreed'? I fear it was left pretty vague...?

 

If it isn't written down, dimensioned, material specified, details drawn then you are likely to get problems.

His idea of OK and yours will typically always differ, so nail down what you want and if you don't get what you described and what he quoted for, demand it. Otherwise...

 

To be perfectly honest I really don't see what the issues are. It looks a clean, tidy, good job. The rendering is clearly unfinished, being a scratch coat currently on the wall, it's also common practice to render when unable to match the bricks, to me I think it's a better job, as even if you match the bricks perfectly you can always tell it's been toothed out and is an addition. The window fits the original openings width, the soldier course and band course of bricks look neat, all inside looks ready for paint and they've done this within 5 days so they clearly are quite quick and appear efficient.

Can't see the problem myself.

 

Looks lovely, I like it.

 

Looks well balanced from the exterior.

 

Don't like the view out of the window though!

 

'Brookside'.

 

"Skipside" more likely!

 

It would have looked better if the mortar used for the brickwork was all the same colour and all the cement stains were cleaned off.