ABODE PLASTERING — TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Section 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.

Section 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 Non-Performance & Deposit Refund). 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.

Section 3: Cancellation & Distance Selling Waiver

• Priority Booking Fee & Distance Selling Waiver: Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, consumers typically hold a 14-day cooling-off period. However, by paying the £230 Priority Booking Fee to secure a Friday slot or urgent work, you are making an express legal request for Abode Plastering to immediately allocate administrative time and block exclusive, high-demand diary space. You acknowledge that by requesting this immediate allocation of resources, you explicitly waive your right to the standard 14-day cooling-off period. Consequently, this £230 booking fee is strictly non-refundable under any circumstances should you choose to cancel or postpone the booking.

• 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.

Section 4: Late Payment & Statutory 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.

Section 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:

• The Unforeseen Damage Policy: When undertaking plastering work, particularly when removing existing finishes, it is common to uncover hidden issues such as blown plaster or structural damage. If this occurs, all work in that specific area will temporarily pause. To maintain transparency and project momentum, we will provide a photograph of the hidden damage alongside the cost to rectify it (either a flat fee or charged at our standard hourly 'Extras' rate) via written electronic communication (including WhatsApp, SMS text message, or Email). We require a simple written confirmation (e.g., a "Yes" reply) to that message before we proceed with the repair. This digital communication chain acts as our mutual agreement and a binding variation to the contract when compiling the final invoice.

• 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 & Skip Usage: Standard waste removal (bagged plaster waste) is included in our estimate. However, if a 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. Please note: Any skip hired by Abode Plastering is strictly for our construction waste only. Clients must not dispose of personal household rubbish, white goods, or hazardous materials in our skips. If unauthorised waste is discovered, the client will be held fully liable for any resulting overweight charges, hazardous waste fines, or the cost of a replacement skip.

Section 6: Guarantee & Technical 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:

• Baumit 10-Year Warranty Certificate & Client Handover Package Clearance: The official Baumit 10-Year Warranty Certificate and associated technical handover documentation are strictly reserved and held pending 100% final invoice clearance. Standard final invoice footer clause enforced across eligible projects: "Your official Baumit 10-Year Warranty Certificate and Client Handover Package are fully prepared and will be issued immediately upon full clearance of the final settlement."

• Concealed Services (Heating & Electrical): To ensure the durable, smooth, flat finish associated with our work, all concealed services must be adequately prepared by the preceding trade before plastering begins. Heating pipes (including protective sleeving) must be recessed deeply enough to allow a minimum of 10mm of plaster coverage over the highest point. Electrical cables and conduit/capping must be fully recessed into the masonry and must not sit flush with or proud of the surrounding wall. Any subsequent shadowing, cracking, or surface deterioration that occurs because these minimum depth requirements were not met is explicitly excluded from our 12-month guarantee.

• Structural Movement & Timber Shrinkage: We install plasterboard to strict industry standards. However, our finish is ultimately attached to a timber structure that is subject to environmental changes. We assume absolutely zero liability for "Screw Pops" (which occur when timber joists shrink as they dry, forcing the screw head to pop through the plaster) or for hairline cracks at joints caused by structural vibration, natural settling, or thermal expansion/contraction of the substrate. As these issues are structural and unrelated to our finishing application, any requested remedial visits to rake out, re-secure, and patch these pops will be charged at our standard 'Additional Repairs & Patching' rates.

• Inspection Standards & Glancing Light: Plastering is a hand-applied, traditional specialist trade. While we pride ourselves on a premium, smooth, flat finish, it is not a factory-machined surface. In accordance with standard UK industry guidelines, the finished plaster must be inspected from a minimum distance of 2 metres under normal, ambient daylight conditions. We explicitly accept zero liability for microscopic imperfections, minor trowel marks, or shadowing that are only visible under "glancing light" conditions (such as high-powered artificial site lighting, up-lighters, or lamps placed directly against or parallel to the wall). Minor surface preparation, light sanding, and the application of a mist coat prior to final painting remains the standard responsibility of the decorator.

• Drying Conditions & Premature Decorating: New plaster must be allowed to dry naturally at ambient room temperature. We strictly prohibit the use of force-drying methods (such as dehumidifiers or direct localised heaters) as this causes rapid moisture loss, flash-setting, and cracking, which will immediately void our finishing guarantee. Furthermore, the plaster must be allowed to completely cure—indicated by the entire surface turning a uniform pale pink colour—before any mist coat or paint is applied. If the client or their appointed decorator paints the surface prematurely, trapping moisture and causing subsequent peeling, flaking, or bond failure, Abode Plastering assumes absolutely zero liability. Any resulting remedial work will be charged at our standard daily rate.

• 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.

Section 7: Client Responsibilities & Site Access

• Access, Parking & Utilities: The Client must provide clear, unobstructed access to the property. To facilitate the safe offloading of heavy materials, a guaranteed, cleared parking space immediately adjacent to the entrance (e.g., a driveway) must be provided for the duration of the works. If immediate parking is unavailable or blocked by the client, necessitating the manual transport of materials over significant distances, our standard Porterage Fee will be automatically applied to the final invoice. Furthermore, the Client is strictly responsible for ensuring free and uninterrupted access to adequate electricity and clean running water on-site, which are essential for mixing, application, and tool cleaning.

• 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.

Section 8: Liability & Property Waivers

We take reasonable care to protect your property. We are not liable for damage caused by circumstances beyond our control (fire, flood, theft).

• Site Preparation & Furniture Movement Waiver: Abode Plastering is a premium specialist trade, not a professional removal company. If a room is not cleared and we are forced to move your furniture or belongings in order to commence work, the time spent doing so will be automatically added to your final invoice at our standard hourly 'Extras' rate. By failing to prepare the room and requiring us to handle your items, you explicitly accept all risk. You agree that Abode Plastering, its staff, and its insurers assume absolutely zero liability for any accidental damage caused to the items or the surrounding property. Any movement of your property by our team is done entirely at your own risk.

• 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.

• Non-Performance & Deposit Refund: In the unforeseen event that Abode Plastering is physically or operationally unable to carry out the work, any deposit paid will be refunded directly to the client's bank account in full.

Section 9: Privacy Policy & Data Handling

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.

Section 10: Governing Law & Jurisdiction

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.

Schedule A: Additional Works & Site Rate Card

Standard estimates cover the specific works listed in your digital documentation. The following rates apply only to unexpected additional site support or preparation works that were not agreed or included in the original estimate.

• ROOM CLEARANCE FEE / FURNITURE MOVING (£60.00 per room OR Standard Hourly Extras Rate): Standard estimates require the workspace to be 100% clear. This fee applies if Abode staff are required to undertake unexpected clearance work or move furniture upon arrival. Please refer to Section 8 regarding our strict zero-liability policy for handling client property.

• MATERIAL HANDLING & PORTERAGE (£50.00 per hour, Minimum 1 hour charge): Clarification: This fee applies if Abode staff are required to move CLIENT-SUPPLIED bulky materials (e.g., Plasterboards) that were not positioned correctly prior to arrival, unless manual handling was explicitly included in the estimate.

• ADDITIONAL REPAIRS & PATCHING:

  • Standard Patches & Cable Chases: £40.00 per area (Up to 30cm x 30cm). Includes surface prep & bonding.

  • Large Repairs: £50.00 per hour + Materials (Over 30cm). Requires backing plaster & drying time.

  • Major Repairs / Restoration: Requires Separate Estimate (e.g., Blown plaster removal, full wall reboarding, or extensive damage requiring a separate visit).

• DE-NAILING & WALL PREPARATION (£50.00 per hour): To achieve a high-quality finish, surfaces must be clean. This fee applies to the removal of unexpected fixings, nails, or wallpaper residue that were not accounted for in the original estimate.