Customer Policy & Terms

All quotations are based on the works, materials and specifications stated in the quotation. The agreed quotation should be read together with these terms. Any work outside the agreed scope, or changes requested by the customer, may be treated as a variation and priced separately before the additional work is carried out where reasonably practicable.

A 50% deposit is required before the agreed start date. The deposit must be received as cleared funds before labour, plant, materials or a start date are committed. The remaining balance is due on completion of the agreed works, unless a different payment schedule has been agreed in writing.

If the deposit is not paid by the agreed deadline, the booking is not confirmed and SC Construction may release the proposed start date. If an agreed payment becomes overdue during the works, SC Construction may pause further work until the account is brought up to date, subject to applicable law and the customer's statutory rights.

Any cancellation or refund of a deposit will be dealt with fairly and with regard to costs already incurred and losses directly caused by the cancellation; no term in this policy is intended to remove rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

If you decide not to proceed, please tell us at the earliest convenience and, where possible, before materials are ordered or labour/plant is booked. Early notice gives us the best opportunity to reduce costs and reallocate the booking.

Where a customer cancels, any amount retained or charged will be proportionate to legitimate costs or losses actually incurred as a result of the cancellation, where permitted by law. Customers retain any cancellation or other statutory rights that apply to the contract.

Changes to materials, dimensions, levels, layout, access, drainage, edging, walls, paving patterns or other aspects of the agreed works should be requested as early as possible. Where a change affects the price or programme, we will explain the additional or reduced cost and seek agreement before carrying out the changed work where reasonably practicable.

Additional work discovered to be necessary because of unforeseen site conditions may require a revised quotation or variation.

The customer must provide reasonable and safe access to the property, suitable working space, access to agreed utilities where needed, and a reasonably clear working area. The customer should remove or protect personal belongings and items they do not want exposed to normal construction dust, vibration or debris.

The customer is responsible for obtaining any permission that belongs to the property owner, including landlord/freeholder consent where applicable, unless SC Construction has expressly agreed in writing to obtain it.

Groundwork can uncover conditions that cannot reasonably be identified before excavation, including buried services, old foundations, concrete, unstable ground, unknown drainage, roots, tanks or other obstructions. We will take reasonable care and will raise significant unforeseen issues with the customer where practicable.

SC Construction cannot accept responsibility for damage to unmarked or inaccurately marked private services, pipes, cables, drainage or other concealed items where the location was not reasonably identifiable before excavation, unless the damage was caused by our negligence or failure to take reasonable care.

Groundwork and landscaping are weather-dependent. Heavy rain, frost, extreme temperatures, high winds, saturated ground or other conditions may make work unsafe or affect the quality of materials and installation. We may reasonably delay, rearrange or temporarily stop work where conditions make it unsafe or likely to compromise the finished result.

Where a delay occurs for reasons outside our reasonable control, we will communicate the revised programme as soon as reasonably practicable.

Natural stone, sandstone, porcelain, timber, gravel, aggregates and other natural or manufactured materials can vary in colour, texture, shade, batch and appearance. Samples and photographs are representative rather than a guarantee of an identical finished appearance.

Where the customer supplies materials, SC Construction is not responsible for defects inherent in those materials, incorrect quantities, incompatibility or manufacturer-related failures, except where caused by our negligence or failure to exercise reasonable care.

A dropped kerb or vehicle crossover involves the public highway and may require approval, a licence, inspection, planning permission or work by an authority-approved contractor. Requirements vary by local authority.

The customer is responsible for ensuring that the necessary permissions and approvals have been obtained unless SC Construction has expressly agreed in writing to manage the application. No work will be undertaken on the public highway without the required permission/licence. Council application fees, inspection fees and other authority charges are separate from SC Construction's installation price unless expressly included in the quotation.

Approval is not guaranteed. If permission is refused, delayed or subject to conditions, the programme and price may need to be revised.

SC Construction will carry out agreed services with reasonable care and skill and nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability where the law does not allow it.

We are not responsible for pre-existing defects, deterioration, movement or damage that was present before work began, nor for matters outside our reasonable control. We are also not responsible for damage arising from inaccurate information supplied by the customer or from concealed/unknown services where reasonable care could not have identified them.

Any liability provisions are subject to applicable law and do not remove the customer's statutory rights.

If you believe there is a problem with the completed work, please notify us promptly and provide photographs or reasonable access for inspection. We will assess reported issues and, where a defect is attributable to our workmanship or materials supplied by us, take appropriate remedial action subject to the circumstances and applicable consumer rights.

Some movement, settlement, staining, weathering, moss/algae growth, colour variation and changes caused by normal use or environmental conditions are natural characteristics of external landscaping and are not necessarily defects.

On practical completion, the customer should inspect the works and raise any visible snagging points promptly. Minor snagging or finishing items will be addressed within a reasonable period, taking account of weather, material availability and access.

Completion does not prevent the customer from exercising any statutory rights relating to defects or services that were not reasonably apparent at the time.

We may take photographs of completed work for records, portfolio use and marketing only where appropriate. We will avoid including identifiable personal information wherever reasonably practicable. If you do not want photographs of your property or completed work used for marketing, please tell us before or during the project.

Construction materials, spoil and waste will be handled as agreed in the quotation. The customer should keep children, pets and visitors away from active work areas, excavations, machinery, tools and stored materials. SC Construction may stop work if the site becomes unsafe.

Please raise concerns as soon as possible so that we have a reasonable opportunity to investigate and resolve them. We aim to communicate clearly about programme changes, variations, unforeseen site conditions and payment matters. Nothing in this section limits any legal right available to the customer.

These terms should be read alongside the individual quotation, agreed specification and any written variations. If there is a conflict, the specific written agreement for the project will normally take precedence to the extent permitted by law.

This policy is intended to provide clear working arrangements and protect both the customer and SC Construction. It is not intended to exclude or restrict statutory consumer rights.