What is our legal right regarding building work?
Firstly, the issue of age or illness is not one directly related to this matter. I know that sounds cold, but the law has some emotional detachment to just deal with the matter in hand. The builder you had a contract with is bound to supply you with what you ordered. But that builder also had a contract with the manufacturers of the blocks. The quality of the blocks is a matter for them and not the builder, if it was not directly obvious to him that these blocks were defective in any way. The builder is entitled to his payment, and the issue you have is an indirect one with the manufacturer. But the manufacturer may be able to successfully argue that perhaps chipping and weathering is a natural property of the product. If you think you have a case contact a solicitor to help sort this problem out. Since the disputed sum is a small one, this may be dealt with in the small claims court, or by some form of ADR, reducing any legal bills.
