I refer to the letter from John Ewen in the September issue.

This illustrates exactly why retentions ARE necessary. The building trade has not got the ‘cowboy’ reputation for nothing. In general, its lack of site quality control inevitably results in more and more niggling little defects that are obviously expensive to rectify once off site and the building is occupied.

If there was no retention it would encourage all builders to act like the one mentioned in the letter. I speak as a consultant who, two years after practical completion of a project on which the contractor assured would have zero defects, has just completed yet another inspection, only to find defects have still not been remedied.

Until the quality of work on site is vastly improved, then retentions must stay.

I refer to the letter from John Ewen in the September issue. This illustrates exactly why retentions ARE necessary. The building trade has not got the ‘cowboy’ reputation for nothing. In general, its lack of site quality control inevitably results in more and more niggling little defects that are obviously expensive to rectify once off site and the building is occupied.

If there was no retention it would encourage all builders to act like the one mentioned in the letter. I speak as a consultant who, two years after practical completion of a project on which the contractor assured would have zero defects, has just completed yet another inspection, only to find defects have still not been remedied.

Until the quality of work on site is vastly improved, then retentions must stay.

David Elsy, Consultant electrical engineer, Tyneside

David Elsy is the winner of this month’s drinks vouchers.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor