CAPELLES BUILDING STORES LIMTED – TRADING TERMS AND CONDITIONS – DEFINITIONS
In these conditions the following definitions shall apply:
“The Company”: Capelles Building Stores Limited
“The Purchaser”: The person, firm or Company placing the Order
“Order”: The order accepted by the Company for the goods
“Goods”: The goods specified in the Order
“Terms”: These Terms and Conditions
“Working Day”: All days excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays
“We” or Our” refer to the Company, its Directors and employees
STOCK TILES
The company keeps a selection of tiles in stock and the returns policy for these tiles is as follows:
• Only full boxes of tiles can be returned, no single tiles will be accepted
• The Company will accept returns of single décor, border tiles and mosaics
• We can only accept returns of stock tiles on the production of a valid till receipt and only within three months of the date of purchase. The shade and batch of the returned tiles must match our current stock in order for us to accept the returned tiles
• A refund or credit note will be given for the returned tiles at the net price originally paid
Whilst every effort will be made to ensure adequate stocks of all stock tiles, the Company cannot guarantee that it will have sufficient stock tiles in stock to fulfil an order at any given time. We recommend that you take all tiles that you require at once as we cannot guarantee that we will be able to supply the same shade/batch if additional tile are subsequently required.
SPECIAL ORDER TILES
If a Purchaser places an order with the Company for tiles which are not usually stocked by the Company, the Company will require a 50% non-refundable deposit. The Company will provide an order acknowledgement detailing the tiles to be ordered and the Purchaser must check this and sign to confirm acceptance. No special orders will be accepted without the Purchaser signing the acknowledgement to confirm that the correct tiles are being ordered. At the time of delivery an invoice will be issued for the full value of the order. This invoice, less any deposit paid at the time of the order, will be payable under our normal credit terms detailed below.
It is the responsibility of the Purchaser to ensure that the correct tiles have been supplied upon delivery/collection. The Company must be informed of any discrepancies within 2 working days of delivery/collection. The Company will not be liable for any discrepancies if notified after this date.
Over orders of special order tiles cannot be returned to the Company under any circumstance. Where plans or measurements are provided to the Company by the Purchaser we will calculate the number of tiles required based on our Suppliers estimate of the number of tiles per square metre. Whilst every effort will be made to ensure the correct number of tiles is ordered we cannot accept liability for any over or under orders and it is the responsibility of the Purchaser to ensure the correct number of tiles is ordered. Our calculations for tiles are only ever estimates and we will always allow for approximately 10% extra tiles for the purpose of cuts, breakages and spares. This practice is in line with common industry practice. Plans often differ from actual site conditions and we therefore recommend that whoever is tiling the room calculates the square metereage required.
The Company cannot guarantee any delivery times for special order tiles. We aim to fulfil all tile orders within 15 working days from the date of the order but this can be longer as occasionally our suppliers are out of stock or freight cannot be shipped to the Island due to adverse weather conditions.
It is essential that the Purchaser ensures that they have sufficient tiles of acceptable quality and shade prior to installation taking place. Under no circumstances will the Company accept any claims for damaged or incorrect tiles nor for undesired shading if the tiles have been fixed to the walls. Fixing of tiles constitutes acceptance of the tiles and it is the Purchaser’s responsibility to ensure that the tiles are acceptable prior to fixing.
TILE SHADINGS
Colour, glazing and shading of tiles can vary dramatically from batch to batch. Samples in our showroom and brochures are for general guidance only and will not necessarily be identical to the tiles held in stock or ordered from our suppliers.
We always recommend once you have received your tiles that you lay them out as they will be laid prior to fixing to the wall or floor as under no circumstances will we be liable for any errors or shading issues once the tiles have been fixed.
FIRES AND FIREPLACES
The Company will provide advice about which fire will suit your requirements and will measure and fit your fire and fireplace once it has been delivered. A detailed quote will be prepared for this service and if the quote is acceptable a 50% non-refundable deposit will be required to confirm the order prior to any goods being ordered from our suppliers.
We cannot guarantee any delivery times for fires and fireplaces as we are dependant on the delivery times of our suppliers. Typically you should allow 15 to 20 working days for the delivery.
GRANITE WORKTOPS
We supply pieces of granite to be used for various purposes (kitchen or vanity worktops, windowsills, etc). The Purchaser is responsible for providing a 1:1 scale template made out of suitable material so that we can cut the granite to shape. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required before we can proceed with any granite order.
We cannot guarantee any delivery times for granite worktops as we are dependant on the delivery times of our suppliers. Typically you should allow 20 to 30 working days for the delivery however this may take longer due to supplier stock levels, public holidays, etc.
OTHER SPECIAL ORDERS
Any orders placed with the Company for non-stock items will require a 50% non-refundable deposit prior to the order being accepted. The balance of the invoice will be payable once the goods have been delivered in line with our standard credit terms as detailed below. The Company will provide an order acknowledgement detailing the goods to be ordered and the Purchaser must check this and sign to confirm acceptance. No special orders will be accepted without the Purchaser signing the acknowledgement to confirm that the correct goods are being ordered. It is the responsibility of the Purchaser to ensure that the correct goods are being ordered.
No special order goods can be returned to the Company unless they are damaged or the incorrect goods have been supplied by the Company’s suppliers.
We cannot guarantee any delivery times for special order items as we are dependant on the delivery times of our suppliers.
DELIVERY AND BREAKAGES
For all tile and fire orders over £300 delivery is free. A delivery charge of £20 will be payable for deliveries under this value. Should the delivery require the hire of a Hi-Ab then we will pass on the cost of this hire to the Purchaser.
All deliveries must be checked by the Purchaser and any breakages notified to the Company within 2 working days of delivery. The Company cannot accept any liability for damaged goods after this period. Any items purchased from our showroom or taken from our store must be checked at the point of sale as we cannot accept items after they have left our premises.
RETURNS
Stock Tiles
Full boxes of stock tiles may be returned to the Company within 2 weeks of purchase and must be in their original boxes and in a re-saleable condition. The tiles will only be accepted if they are of the same shade as our current stock and only on presentation of a valid receipt. Individual tiles will not be accepted and we recommend that at least 1 box of spare tiles are retained by the Purchaser in case of future damages.
Special Order Tiles
Under no circumstances will the Company accept returns of special order tiles.
Stock Patio Slabs
Returns of stock slabs will be accepted within 2 weeks of the delivery date providing the slabs have not been laid and are in a re-saleable condition. The slabs will only be accepted on presentation of a valid receipt.
Special Order Patio Slabs
Under no circumstances will the Company accept returns of special order slabs.
Other stock items
Returns of stock items will be accepted within 2 weeks of the delivery date providing they are in a re-saleable condition. Goods will only be accepted on presentation of a valid receipt.
Other Special Order Goods
Under no circumstances will the Company accept returns of special order goods.
All returned goods must be brought back to our showroom by the Customer. If the Purchaser requires returned goods to be collected by the Company then a collection charge of £20 will be made for small sized items and a charge of £45 per hour will be made if a Hi-Ab is required to collect the goods.
TILING SERVICES
We do not offer tiling or measuring services under any circumstances. We can provide you with a list of recommended independent tilers who will be able to measure and fix your tiles under a separate agreement. The Company does not employ these tilers nor receive any commission from their appointment and we cannot therefore accept any responsibility for the work carried out by them.
Any orders placed with us must be paid for in full at the time of delivery of the tiles and no funds can be withheld from the company pending fixing of the tiles.
ADHESIVES AND GROUTS
We will make every effort to ensure that the correct adhesive and grout is supplied for the specifications of your project. However, our advice is based on the product specifications provided to us by the manufacturer and therefore no liability will be accepted if the wrong adhesive or grout is used.
We cannot accept any returns for opened adhesive or grouts. Unopened bags will be accepted back into stock and a credit note or refund will be issued only upon the presentation of a valid till receipt and only within one month of purchase.
CUTS TO TILES, SLABS, GRANITE, ETC.
The Company offers a cutting service whereby items can be left with us to be cut (at a charge which varies depending on the type of material cut and the complexity of the cut). All items to be cut must be clearly marked on their face. We cannot accept liability for any damage, breaks, cracks or incorrect cuts to products caused whilst cutting.
CREDIT TERMS
Unless you have a pre-arranged trade account with us all invoices are payable within 7 days of the invoice date. The company reserves the right to charge interest at 2.5% per calendar month on any outstanding overdue balances. You will be sent weekly statements detailing outstanding balances until the balance is paid in full. Failure to pay the balance owed within one month of the invoice date may result in action being taken to recover the debt through the Courts. Any costs incurred by the Company in recovering the debt will be borne by the Purchaser.
PRICING
The price of the goods ordered will be the price quoted in any written quote or the price relevant on the day of the acceptance of the order by the Company. Prices for tiles are quoted per square metre but please note that the tiles are actually priced individually so the square metre price is an approximation based on the number of tiles per square metre.
The prices displayed on the tiles are subject to change if our suppliers change their prices to the Company. It is not always possible to re-label the displays with updated prices immediately after they change and therefore the price charged may vary to that on display. The correct price at the point of sale is that recorded on our computerised stock control system and not necessarily that displayed on the tiles.
RISK AND PROPERTY
The risk of damage to or loss of the goods passes to the purchaser at the time of delivery of the goods. Notwithstanding delivery of the goods the property of the goods shall not pass to the Purchaser until the Company has received in cash or cleared funds:
(a) Payment in full of the price of the goods; and
(b) Payment in full for all other goods agreed to be sold by the Company to the Purchaser, for which payment is then due or accruing due.
IMPORTANT PRODUCT INFORMATION ABOUT NATURAL STONE TILES
Please read through the following information carefully before ordering your tiles. It will help you to select the correct tiles for your application. The following refers both to the Original Style Earthworks range and our natural stone products sourced from different suppliers.
Choosing The Right Material
The characteristics of our natural stone, slate, marble and terracotta all vary considerably, as does their suitability for different types of installation. For example, pale limestone used in a kitchen is more likely to show marks and wear than a travertine. Please bear in mind that most of our tiles are porous to some extent. If they are laid outside, they may absorb water and this will make them susceptible to frost damage.
Colour Variation
These tiles are made from natural products. It follows, therefore, that there may be some variation in colour from one tile to another. Indeed, this is usually considered to be an advantage from an aesthetic point of view. It also means, however, that you cannot assume a single sample tile will give you an accurate indication of colour of the surface as a whole.
The distinctive yet subtle variations in hue within each tile and between individual pieces enhance the character of the installation. Differences between batches can be even more marked. For this reason we strongly recommend that you buy all the tiles at one time. We also recommend that you, or your fitter, spends time loosely laying the tiles to achieve the most pleasing distribution of shades before fixing them permanently to the wall or floor.
Blemishes
Similarly, due to the natural origins of these products, some of our tiles may have minor chips or blemishes. Such relatively insignificant imperfections should be considered normal and not the result of poor or faulty workmanship. This factor is more apparent in some materials and finishes than in others and your choice of tile should take this into account. Porous and pitted tiles are clearly less suitable than polished ones for surfaces that need to be kept spotlessly clean.
Tile Sizes
Nominal sizes and thicknesses for each type of tile are given throughout the brochure. However due to the high degree of hand- finishing , these should be treated as a guide only.
When calculating the number of tiles you will require, do not forget to make an allowance for cutting and wastage of approximately 10%.
Fixing And Sealing
We strongly recommend that your fitter obtains our free leaflet ‘Earthworks Fixing Guide’ (available from the Original Style website – www.originalstyle.com) and reads it thoroughly prior to commencing any work. This booklet explains fully the steps necessary to plan, fix and seal your tiles and how to maintain them in first class condition in the years ahead. In particular, it is important that the fitter understands the requirements for surface preparation, the pattern or blended effect you want, protecting newly laid tiles from ongoing work and the importance of sealing.
Please Note
Earthworks tiles are made from natural products. There will be some variation in hue within each tile and between individual pieces which enhances the character of the installation.
IMPORTANT PRODUCT INFORMATION ABOUT PAVING PRODUCTS
Please ensure that you read this information before any installation of any of our paving products. Below is important information regarding natural stone & concrete paving along with a simple guide to laying a patio & some very important fixing instructions. We highly recommend you use a professional installer with previous experience of laying patios.
Colour variations & Natural Stone conditions
Colours depicted in brochures are as accurate as modern photography allows. Tonal variations are evident in all manufactured and natural stone products, we therefore recommend that colours are judged from actual materials. This is of significant importance when selecting a natural stone product, where, by nature, each component will exhibit considerable deviations. However samples are for guidance only & can vary dramatically in texture, colour, tone & finish from batch to batch & from sample seen.
Manufactured products are designed to simulate natural stone and naturally occurring aggregates are utilised, therefore variation between batches can occur. Where possible, products should be selected from the same production batch. Reconstituted stone will weather in a similar way to natural stone, therefore the effect of the elements and site conditions may cause some colour change dependant on the degree of exposure.
Natural stone is an extremely hard wearing and low maintenance paving. It may, however, contain minor imperfections and foreign materials as part of its inherent make up. This does not affect the performance of the paving. Being a natural stone product means that no two stones are the same and can result in a wonderfully random riot of colour bringing a unique look to your garden. After laying, some natural stone products may exhibit a brown colouration where oxidation of any iron content occurs. This is a natural occurrence in all stone & may bleed from the stone after installation, which is beyond our control. This may be more pronounced in our Buff & Pink granite as these granites get their colour from iron oxide within the slabs & will vary from slab to slab & batch to batch. This should be able to be removed using a cleaner called Lithofin Bero. This cleaning can take place after the installation is complete. We recommend that once any oxidation has been removed that the area is left to settle & dry & then sealed using the appropriate sealer. We would recommend that any patio should be left for a season before sealing. We will not be responsible for any discolouration or oxide that may appear once the patio has been laid or for any cleaning that may be required.
If you have more than one pack of paving to lay then you MUST lay the patio by using a mix of slabs from each pack to ensure you get an even blend of paving. We will not be responsible should you lay areas of paving from one pack at a time and there is a change of shade between packs as each pack may differ in colour, texture &/or finish. We highly recommend that you lay the slabs on the area to be fixed prior to fixing as we will not accept any returns or claims for slabs once they have been fixed. Fixing of slabs indicates acceptance of the slabs and the customer has a responsibility to ensure that no unwanted slabs are laid by their contractor.
All natural stone products should be laid on a full mortar bed & granite paving MUST have a cement & liquid SBR (primer) slurry mix applied to the back of the slab before installation. To produce the bonding slurry dilute SBR Bonding Additive with an equal volume of water then mix to a smooth creamy consistency with ordinary Portland Cement. The approximate mix is 1 part SBR: 1 part water: 5 parts cement (by volume) giving an approximate coverage of 30m² per 5 litres of SBR per coat. Following preparation of the substrate as detailed above the bonding slurry should be brushed vigorously into the surface giving an approximate 1mm thickness. Subsequent coatings must be applied while the bonding slurry is still wet. Should the slurry dry then a further coat must be applied. Please refer to Paving Expert website for further detailed instructions
http://www.pavingexpert.com/stonpv04.htm .
We highly recommend natural stone paving to be sealed using the appropriate sealer however we recommend that paving should be left for a season & you MUST ensure that it is completely clean, any efflorescence has disappeared & the patio MUST be bone dry before applying any sealer. Sealing natural stone paving will help prevent the build up of lichens, algae, dirt etc & will make the paving easier to maintain. We will not be responsible for any sealer applied incorrectly & recommend that a small inconspicuous area is tested before the whole patio is sealed. Follow the manufacturers instructions before application. Please allow at least 10% for cutting, wastage & breakages. Please note that your material has had to travel along way, on & off boats & lorries & there is often a chance that you will have some damaged or cracked slabs. These can often be used for cuts however if they cannot then we MUST be notified within 3 days of delivery. Claims or replacements will not be given after this time and we must have all damaged slabs returned to us so we can claim from our supplier.
Patio maintenance
Regular maintenance is required to keep the overall appearance of the product in pristine condition. We recommend thoroughly washing paved areas with warm soapy water and brushing off with a stiff broom three or four times a year.
High pressure washers are not recommended for use on manufactured & natural stone paving. We cannot be held responsible for the possible effects or damage caused by the contamination or application of some chemically based products which come into contact with a concrete or natural stone paver e.g. some weed killers and acid or alkaline based cleaners. We recommend that acid is NOT used on any natural stone paving.
Common salt should not be used to de-ice wet cast paving. To prevent possible surface damage always use a proprietary brand of de-icing product expressly formulated for use on concrete.
Different patio cleaners are available and we would recommend using a Lithofin product.
Sizes and joint widths
All dimensions quoted in brochures are nominal and are for guidance only. Actual sizes will vary, particularly on the products designed to replicate natural stone which have features such as riven profiles and fettled edges. Where space is critical, Bradstone recommends dry laying the product to check area required (especially circles and patio feature kits). The sizes and quantities given in the colours and sizes tables usually allow a nominal 10-15 mm joint width. When laying random paving and circles, joint widths will depend on the paving type and laying pattern chosen and will be variable – from approximately 10mm to 30mm.
Dark patches
Sometimes dark patches appear on the surface of concrete paving slabs. It is caused by the movement of the moisture content within the paving slab drying the surface at different rates. Given time and natural weathering the darker patches tend to tone down and become less apparent.
Efflorescence
Efflorescence is commonly identified as a white mark that sometimes occurs on Concrete Paving, on brick work and very occasionally on Natural Stone pavers.
Efflorescence is the accumulation of crystallised salt on the surface of the paving. In the case of Concrete Paving, salts from within the cement rise to the surface of the paving where they accumulate causing a white mark. Efflorescence may also occur on Natural Stone products depending on the chemical composition of the stone and the local weather conditions. Efflorescence is an unpredictable, but temporary, process. Once all the salt from the paving has risen to the surface it is commonly worn away through use or by weathering. This process seldom takes more than 12 months. Efflorescence may temporarily disappear when wet.
In most cases scrubbing the paving with warm, soapy water or a mild bleach solution will reduce the build up of salt from the surface of the paving. This breaks down the crystallised salt causing it to be more readily worn off through use and weathering. In extreme cases of efflorescence, an acid wash may need to be applied to remove the salt. It is important to note that the salt may again form on the surface of the paving if the efflorescence process has not finished. Consequently, acid washes should not be applied until the efflorescence process has concluded. If you are considering acid washing to remove efflorescence, please use it with caution as it may react with your paving. Efflorescence does not structurally affect paving.
Installation guidelines
STEP 1: Digging the foundation You need to allow 150mm for foundation mix and paving, and if you are laying directly next to a house then the finished patio should be at least 150mm below the damp proof course. This means you will need to dig out the area to a minimum depth of 300mm below the damp proof course. To ensure that water does not collect on the paving, the foundation needs to have a fall of 1 in 60, which means one centimetre of fall for every 60 centimetres of width. So a 3m wide patio will need 5cm or 50mm of fall.
STEP 2: Preparing foundation base To create the firm foundation, use a concrete mix of 6 parts all in one ballast with 1 part cement. Mix and add enough water to dampen the mixture just enough so it binds together. Cover the entire area with the mix to a depth of 75mm, level it out with a shovel and then tamp down using a length of timber or trample down with your boots.
STEP 3: Mortar preparation Lay the paving slabs on a FULL mortar bed, which should support the whole slab, not just the corners. You MUST ensure that there is contact with the whole of the back of the slab & the mortar.
Use a mortar mix of 6 parts sharp sand to 1 part cement. Mix together with just enough water to make it damp and workable, but not overly wet and runny.
PLEASE NOTE that ALL granite paving MUST have a cement & SBR liquid slurry mix painted on the entire back on the slab before fixing. Failure to do this may result is the slabs drying out at different rates & cause patchiness & or effect the surface of the slabs. We will not be responsible for any issues arising with paving that has been installed incorrectly. Please refer to http://www.pavingexpert.com/stonpv04.htm for full details.
STEP 4: Laying the paving First set up 2 taut string lines to guide both the line and the level of the paving. 1 line should run down the length of the patio and the second line side to side, with one including the fall for drainage. Start from the corner and work your way out from there. All paving MUST be mixed & blended together & laid dry before any installation to ensure you are happy before fixing as no claims or returns can be accepted after the product has been fixed. If you have several crates then you should be taking from all crates as you lay to ensure you have an even blend especially with natural stone.
Spread out mortar to cover an area slightly larger than the paving slab you want to lay and high enough to allow you to tap down the flag to the correct level. The bed should be approximately 30-40mm which will squash down.
Lift and lower the slab into place careful not to catch the corners. Using the rubber mallet start to tap it down. Hit the paver, firmly but not too hard, at a point that is roughly midway between the centre of the paving slab and each corner along imaginary diagonals. Move around the paving, tapping in succession until the flag settles down to the correct level.
Check the paving is level with a spirit level and that you have included a fall, then start to lay the rest of the paving, leaving joints as required.
Once laid, the patio should be left for at least 24 hours to allow the bedding mortar to harden and should not be walked on.
STEP 5: Jointing the paving Use a mortar mix of 3 parts soft building sand to 1 part cement and mix it slowly adding a little water at a time to get a smooth, damp consistency – not wet or sloppy. A plasticiser can be added to make the mortar easier to work.
Use a trowel or pointing gun to put he mortar into the joints, pressing it down and smoothing over using a pointing bar if necessary.
Take care to avoid any mortar going onto the surface of the paving slab especially with natural stone as this could stain the slab. Any mortar spilt on the paving should be wiped off immediately.
Once the mortar has hardened, all you need to do is give the patio a good sweep and then that’s job done.
Please note we are unable to accept any claims or returns once material has been fixed. You MUST ensure you are happy with the material BEFORE it has been laid.
Health and safety
Good manual handling techniques should be adopted when handling products. Some products in the range are heavy or are an awkward shape and it is recommended that suitable lifting equipment is used for these products. Always wear gloves and safety footwear when handling the product. If product is being cut, always wear safety goggles, and when using a high speed cutter also wear suitable respiratory protection, such as a dust mask. Before removing wrapping or banding, ensure that the products are on level ground or retained in some way to prevent falling over. When removing shrink wrapping and banding use the appropriate cutting tools; also it is recommended that safety goggles are worn. Product should always be handled with care as breakages, chippings and other damage may result from mishandling. Minor scuffing can occur due to movement in transit and will generally disappear in time.
Deliveries
All deliveries will have to be made by hiab & will be charged at £50 per hour. A full load will take approximately 6 crates depending on the size of the crates. Any returns / collections will be charged at £50 per hour.