Exterior plaster is uneven, window sills are too short, tightness of the ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System)

Notes, comments, ideas, suggestions ... all welcome. I just had to "vent". Sometimes you really feel helpless and lost as a builder.

Unfortunately, at the moment I don't see myself able to do much "more" than just "listen" to you. I’m only writing these few words so that you "see" that I’ve read it, in case that "helps" somehow. I saw the post fresh already two days ago, but then I thought: better keep quiet, because what good does it do you if I also comment on it with the question of whether your contractor has a master's degree in vandalism (because I think this clearly goes beyond the scope of just a "poorly talented" craftsmanship – I believe the dance style for this is called "pogo").

We only received a 5% completion bond from the general contractor, which probably wouldn’t be enough for a complete re-execution due to the defect (and according to the contract text, it may only be retained for serious defects after handover). But by referring to this bond, he has already indicated that he will insist on 100% payment from us upon acceptance in any case, as we have this bond from him as security and one could still increase or extend it.

At an acceptance, I would consider this completion bond to be a death certificate. It will depend on the involvement of a relevant, experienced expert helper to effectively establish the defects during an acceptance – yes, unfortunately, probably also a tacit acceptance through moving in. Prepare yourself, as a precaution, to have to sue against the fact that your contractor sees you obliged to full remaining payment. You will therefore need at least an expert, but probably also a specialist lawyer. Here in RLP, Ms. Reibold-Rolinger in Mainz comes to mind, but from Königslutter that would be half a world away. The lawyer of / (in SN) might be closer, but I don’t know them. You will definitely need someone with experience in botched construction work; with a lawyer for marital contracts you probably won’t get through something like this successfully :-(

Hello and first of all, all the best for the new year, especially health-wise and also for the construction. I am the long-suffering homeowner-builder whom 11ant named in the above post. My advice: under no circumstances should you accept the work (or have it accepted). Instead, submit a defect report to the general contractor with all the things you believe are not in order. Before acceptance, you do not have to prove anything; the general contractor bears the burden of proof that everything is in order. After acceptance, the situation reverses, and then you have to prove that something is not in order. This means that before acceptance, the general contractor must commission an expert and also pay for it if defects are found, and in your case, this seems quite certain.
Among other things, we also had problems with the exterior window sills. Excerpt from our expert report: Exterior window sills: The sealing is missing under the natural stone window sills. The natural stone window sills lack the top drainage grooves for controlled water drainage over the front edge. The window sill projection is too small. Ultimately, the distance must be at least 4 cm. Necessary measures: Renewal of the window sills and proper installation including sealing.
If the general contractor refuses to commission an expert, give him a deadline with the information that you will commission one yourself and then charge the general contractor for the costs. I can recommend TÜV Nord from Dessau. I can provide the name of the expert if interested; although he was commissioned by the general contractor, he thoroughly scrutinized him and found construction defects amounting to about €100,000.

Some expert who is after all only a TÜV assessor may perhaps scare a general contractor, but he will also bring an expert. Often the sworn experts of the chamber of commerce are not as expensive as the experts in court. As a rule, it does not stay with just one expert opinion when it goes to court, therefore in construction it often ends up in settlements, because the amounts in dispute are often assumed to be threefold and expert as well as court costs arise in addition to attorney fees.

Recommendations such as the 4 cm are also not standards. In part, one can refer to the current DIN 4108 Bbl. 2. However, here it is also about the reveal insulation in the window sill dimensions.

"Good" in this case means that there actually has been damage as a defect and not just a later damage of monetary value can be suspected.

Some expert who is actually just a TÜV assessor might scare a general contractor, but they will also bring in an expert. Often, the sworn experts of the chamber of commerce are not as expensive as the experts in court. Usually, it doesn’t end with just one expert report when it goes to court, so construction cases often end in settlements, because the dispute values are often assumed to be three times higher and expert as well as court costs are added on top of attorney fees. Recommendations like the 4cm are not standards either. Sometimes one can refer to the current DIN 4108 Bbl. 2. However, this also involves the reveal insulation in the case of window sill dimensions. "Good" in this case means that there is actually damage as a defect and not just a suspected monetary damage from a later issue.

And what do you want to tell the OP with that? Wait and have some tea?

No, to think about the costs when no agreement is reached.

I have been through all of that. But unfortunately, there are no alternatives (at least I don’t know any). Either you take action and that can possibly cost money and also involves risks, or you leave it as is and accept the botched job. By accepting, however, you choose the second option and usually no longer have the opportunity to correct it.