Builder cut corners

You're 1st sentence raises an important question. You mention your son in law and yourself supervised most of the construction. Either ye did and are responsible for not doing so adequately? Or ye didn't.

Supervision of the build would have meant actually checking BOMs and materials along with checking ongoing works and ensuring that the spec agreed to in the contract were being met.

I'm not trying to excuse shoddy workmanship on the part of the builder but if you are claiming that there was supervision on your part? Then there was very clearly a failure on your part too. With that in mind, I'd advise you to drop that particular bent of thinking if you pursue a remedial action.

As to what can be done. Was there a contract in place? Did it specify fixtures and finishes? Was there a snagging list completed before handover? Were any issues raised regarding issues prior to the final drawdown or payment?

I'm confused. If you supervised it adequately then how did the builder cut corners?

It very clearly wasn't.

Good luck explaining that although the build was adequately supervised, that you now have issues. Issues with the work that you adequately supervised.

Even the trolls are cowboys these days 🤠

Then what the hell supervision were you doing if you didn't see something as obvious as a patio not being put down properly, or guttering not being up to scratch? I dread to think what else was missed.

I'd say supervision extended to "yeah he's on site today"

Yourself and the son in law should have done the work. Would have taken the same amount of time as supervising it properly and would have met your standards

Did you get a 'Certificate of Compliance' ? it may not help you in the issues you mention, but it is something that anyone working with builders should demand as it protects you going forward. No doubt someone will be able to explain this better.

https://www.lawsociety.ie/Solicitors/knowledge-base/Practice-Notes/Certificates-of-compliance-with-Building-Regulations

Jesus not every post on here that doesn't make absolute perfect sense is a windup. People often post on boards BECAUSE they've found themselves in a messy situation. In the past I've worked with builders who I wouldn't trust with Lego, and secondary school teachers who ran their self-builds like a prison and got total respect from tradesmen.

Is this supposed to be some kind of gotcha? Over Christmas and New Year, in bad weather, on short days. OP didn't say they spent 160 man hours on it.

This type of crap totally ruins what could otherwise be helpful discussions for people on this site.

OP, if they've paid the builder already, they're not going to get very far. No offence, but as the saying goes, a little knowledge can be dangerous. Having some background in construction (or anything else for that matter) can give you a false sense of security that you will be a good supervisor, when in fact you subconsciously focus on areas which you're knowledgeable on or prefer.

In my own job (where I supervise industrial equipment), I've been caught out more by stuff I thought I knew backwards, than stuff I hadn't a clue about but was forced to research.

As to what do do next, I hate to recommend letting the builder away with crappy work, but if the only issue is a wobbly patio and a few screws in a gutter, get them fixed yourself, and eliminate the stress of fighting with with builder.

He said when he walked on the patio he could see the tiles were loose.

Which means he didn't walk on the patio after it was build, or when doing the snagging list, or when doing the final handover.

What level of supervision doesn't even walk around the place?