Abode Plastering - Terms and Conditions
1. Scope of Work The specific scope of work, including areas to be plastered or rendered, materials, and any additional services, will be detailed in a written estimate and agreed upon by both parties before commencing work.
2. Payment & Booking Terms Our payment terms vary depending on the nature of the booking to ensure efficient diary management.
A. Priority Bookings & Friday Slots For urgent works or specific "Priority Slot" requests (e.g., Friday bookings), a fixed booking fee of £230 is required upfront.
Payment: An invoice will be sent once a date is provisionally agreed.
Confirmation: The booking is only confirmed once this payment is received.
Non-Refundable: As this service allocates immediate administrative time and blocks exclusive diary space, this fee is non-refundable (see Section 3).
B. Projects Over £1,000 For all projects with a total estimated value exceeding £1,000:
Deposit: A 20% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking date and cover initial material allocation.
Balance: The remaining 80% balance is due within 7 days of completion.
C. Standard Bookings (Under £1,000) For standard works under £1,000 (excluding Priority Slots):
No upfront deposit is required.
Payment is due in full upon completion of the work.
Accepted Payment Methods: Cash or Bank Transfer.
3. Cancellation & Distance Selling Waiver
Standard Cooling-Off Period: Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, you normally have the right to cancel a contract entered into online or by phone within 14 days.
Waiver for Priority & Immediate Works: By paying a deposit (for Large Projects) or a Booking Fee (for Priority/Friday slots), you are making an express request for Abode Plastering to secure your slot and commence administrative/preparation work immediately. You acknowledge that by requesting this immediate start, you waive your right to the standard cooling-off period. Consequently, these payments are non-refundable if you choose to cancel.
Standard Cancellations (No Deposit Held): For standard jobs where no deposit is held, we request at least 48 hours' notice for cancellation. Cancellations made with less than 48 hours' notice may incur a cancellation fee to cover lost labour time.
4. Late Payment & Interest Payment is due on the dates specified above. We exercise our statutory right to claim interest and compensation for debt recovery costs under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act.
Interest: Overdue payments will be charged interest at 8% above the Bank of England Base Rate. Interest accrues daily from the due date until the date of actual payment.
5. Additional Charges & Unforeseen Works While we strive to provide accurate estimates, certain site conditions cannot be determined until work commences. The following items are considered outside the standard scope and will be charged as EXTRAS unless they were explicitly itemised in your original estimate:
Joist & Background Preparation (De-nailing): Our estimate assumes surfaces (specifically ceiling joists and walls) are free of obstructions. If we are required to remove old nails, screws, or lath remnants to ensure a flat surface, this will be charged as Labour.
Porterage (Material Handling): Estimates assume clear ground-floor access. If materials must be manually carried up multiple flights of stairs or over significant distances (e.g., due to restricted parking), a Porterage Fee will apply.
Heavy Waste/Skips: Standard waste removal (bagged plaster waste) is included in our estimate. However, if the project generates excessive rubble requiring a skip (e.g., lath and plaster removal), the cost of the skip and associated labour will be charged as an extra.
6. Guarantee & Exclusions We guarantee our workmanship for 12 months from the date of completion, provided the surfaces have been properly maintained. However, the following exclusions apply due to the nature of materials used:
A. Structural Movement & Timber Drying We install boards to industry standards. However, we are attaching to a timber structure subject to environmental changes. We are not liable for:
Screw Pops: Timber joists shrinking as they dry can cause plaster covering screw heads to "pop." This is a natural reaction of the wood, not a workmanship defect.
Hairline Cracks: Minor cracking at joints caused by structural vibration, settling, or thermal expansion/contraction of the substrate.
B. Glancing Light & Artificial Lighting Plastering is a hand-applied finish. Quality is assessed under natural daylight from a standard viewing position (2 metres), in accordance with British Standards (BS 8000). We do not guarantee optical perfection under "glancing light" (artificial lighting cast parallel to the surface) or critical lighting conditions.
C. Drying Conditions The Client is responsible for maintaining appropriate ambient temperatures (between 5°C and 20°C) during the drying process. Abode Plastering is not liable for failures (cracking, crazing, or bond failure) caused by force-drying (using heaters directly on wet plaster), lack of ventilation, or frost damage occurring after application.
D. Artex Disclaimer While we employ industry best practices when skimming over Artex, the inherent nature of old Artex can lead to unforeseen delamination or cracking. We cannot provide a guarantee against these occurrences. If delamination occurs, plasterboarding may be the only solution, which would incur additional costs.
7. Client Responsibilities
Access: Provide clear, unobstructed access. The room must be empty of furniture and belongings.
Utilities: Ensure adequate electricity and water supply are available on-site.
Preparation: Complete necessary prep (removing wallpaper/paint) unless otherwise agreed.
Protection: Protect items/areas not in scope (flooring, fixtures).
Horizontal Protective Stone (Rendering): For rendering work, the client is responsible for ensuring all horizontal stone elements (coping stones, etc.) have a minimum 40mm overhang and a damp-proof course (DPC) extending past the inside edge of the wall prior to rendering.
8. Liability We take reasonable care to protect your property. We are not liable for damage caused by circumstances beyond our control (fire, flood, theft).
Water Ingress (Rendering): Abode Plastering is not liable for damage resulting from water ingress if the horizontal protective stone elements and DPC are not installed as specified in Section 7.
9. Privacy Policy We respect your privacy. We process your personal data (name, address, contact details) strictly for the purpose of providing estimates, invoicing, and performing our contract with you. We do not sell data to third parties. For full details on your rights and how we handle your data, please view our Privacy Policy available on our website.
10. Governing Law These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. By accepting our estimate, booking a Priority Friday, or paying a deposit, you agree to these terms and conditions.