Fire Check Door too long in new build

Inforapenny

Recently bought a new build in a housing estate, estate built by one of the well known home building organisations. Snagged, keys got & all.

Got a carpet fitted upstairs and two of the doors wont close now, wont move even. The person who laid the carpet said these two particular doors were too long as there was no issue with the other doors.

He mentioned getting the builder back to trim the door as it is a fire check door.

Waiting to hear back from customer care from the building company about this, is this something we should expect them to come out and correct? Or is it tough as we snagged, signed off etc.

Thanks

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058302645/fire-check-door-too-long-in-new-build

At a guess, you bought a 3 story house. What was the first floor first when you purchased. Or on the plans? ie was it designed for carpet. Or is this something you are adding. A fire door has limited allowable clearance at the threshold. It might be the case the the door had to be installed in compliance with the handover design.

You are now modify that that design, and responsible for maintaining compliance. The only exception would be if the first floor was specifically designed for a carpet finish to be fitted in which case this is a defect. Snagging is signing off obvious items. Builder will also be responsible for a 12mon defects liability period.

You could try raising it with the builder say doors are now binding on the floor. It's not a huge deal to have him send somebody to under cut the door and it might just happen for convivence.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058302645/fire-check-door-too-long-in-new-build

as above, if the new works have rendered the building non compliant (fire doors doesn't close) then its up to you as the client for the new works to resolve the issue.

Inforapenny

Thanks both.

The show house had laminate on the ground floor and carpet upstairs (1st floor).

So we have replicated what was on the floors in the show house in our own house.

The fact some of the doors close perfectly fine upstairs and two don't I thought it may sit with the builder to remedy.

The construction company have said they will send someone around to have a look at a few of the issues I raised (this is one of them) so hopefully they may fix it.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120805637#Comment_120805637

its not a huge job, so hopefully they will do the work without question, but youre a very minutiae level of the contract between you and the builder, and the fact youve already carried out the snag and taken possession of the house... in my opinion the builder will be doing you a favour.

Inforapenny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120808231#Comment_120808231

Thank you. Like you said hopefully they will do it as they are still on site. If not, will figure something else out, it is only a small thing.

Not to get to bogged down in it but more out of interest, at snag time how are you supposed to know whether a standard carpet & underlay if fitted will enable the doors to operate properly? I dont think most people would be bringing around underlay & carpets while snagging.

Especially if the show house had standard carpet & underlay and no issue with doors closing in show house and you replicate carpet on the same floor as showhouse and 1or 2 doors dont function properly

If they are fire doors, is there any legal requirement, on owner or builder, (if carpet fitted after taking ownership of the house) to ensure they operate properly?

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120809913#Comment_120809913

The dwelling should be constructed as to the contract documents. If it's built properly, it's not a snag item.

The show house is not really relevant, you did not purchase a turnkey finish as per the show house (in which case the door would have been installed for carpet). You contract would have stipulated a finish level. They need to hand over a compliant design, it would not be accept able to install non compliant doors with the expectation that the owners complete the compliance works. If there was an incident, they'd be liable.

That's not to say that the way it was handed over was the only way. They could have used saddle boards, or discussed the future finish. But in generally, its better to leave the door too long than too short. It's a doddle to plane a bit off, a lot hard to put it back on.

Inforapenny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120811580#Comment_120811580

Thanks :)

FJMC

I think it would be normal practice to adjust the doors after floor finishes are laid.

It's a fairly easy job to plane the underside of the door and most doors in their construction / assembly will allow for that.

Its almost impossible for the builder / developer to accommodate everyone's choice of floor finish so better to allow the adjustment after.

Even if everyone goes for carpet you will have different thickness / type of underlays and different thickness / type of carpet.

F