Field shelter build issues WWYD?

[Hepsibah]

We commissioned a field shelter to be built and erected to our specifications i.e. not the standard design but with smaller openings at the front as well as gates just in case we ever needed to shut the ponies in. We paid half up front with the rest to be paid on delivery.
Delivery came on a day of torrential rain so the day before we offered to wait until the weather cleared. The seller said no, that he and the team were used to working in the rain so they were fine to build it as planned.
Next day shelter was installed in sideways rain. The seller confessed to having made a mistake with the doorways and said he would need to return the following week with a couple of extra panels and the gates which hadn't yet arrived with him. Shelter was up and the ponies were making use of it so we agreed. That evening we got a message for payment and since it was delivered, we paid.
This is a month ago now and surprise, surprise, it hasn't been completed. We messaged him giving today as the deadline to finish the job a week ago so we're confident he doesn't intend to.
We want the job done but that isn't going to happen. I feel we should reject the shelter and get a refund. My OH feels the best idea is to tell the seller to refund the difference between the standard shelter and what we paid. If we do that though, we won't have the shelter we wanted and 2.5k is a lot of money for something we didn't want.
What would you do?

 

[Parrotperson]

well in hindsight (its a great thing) you shouldn't have paid the full amount until he'd been back. TBF he may still be waiting for delivery of stuff (my handyman waited over a month for things he needed to build me a cupboard-brexit,covid have led to lots of shortages)

But if he isn't responding write a letter to say "if you don't complete the work before xyz..." I'll take you to court. Maybe consider a solicitors letter? Although obviously, expense.

You can use the small claims court if under a certain amount (I forget how much) and its not expensive.

 

[HeyMich]

There's a massive timber shortage at the moment, our usual timber merchant has months of delays and ridiculous price hikes because of it. That being said, the guy should have been in touch and told you if that was the reason.

 

[Antw23uk]

Sadly you made the mistake of paying for an uncompleted job. I would likely want the difference refunded. You'll struggle sending it back for a full refund if its 'bespoke' (even though technically you have a standard shelter for 'now'?)

I still havent made a decision on a shelter, i hear too many horror stories so paranoid about who to choose!