Perímetro Quotidiano, Figueira da Foz — A Cautionary Tale for Anyone Hiring This Local Contractor
If you’re searching for reviews of Perímetro Quotidiano in Figueira da Foz, or you’re an expat weighing up local contractors for a renovation project in central Portugal, this is our honest, first-hand account of what happened when we hired them to install a composite deck.
Hiring a contractor in Portugal is unlike any experience we’ve had elsewhere — and trust us, we’ve now renovated in three different countries. The market here has its fair share of unregistered, cash-only operators who’ll take on a cheap renovation for a hefty upfront deposit, often 70% or more before any work begins. In the early stages, it’s all smiles, warm promises, and reassurance. But if things take a turn, it’s the client left holding the bag.
Here’s our story of what happened when we hired Perímetro Quotidiano to install a composite deck in our back garden.
The Job We Hired Them For
We contracted Perímetro Quotidiano to install a composite deck at our property in January/February of 2025. The work was completed around March of 2025.
Before the job began, we were told that the installers were the best and knew what they were doing. We used composite decking from Leroy Merlin the brand was NATERIAL and it came with a 5 year warranty. Based on those assurances, and the quote of just under 6000 euros incl IVA (vat), we went ahead.
When Things Started Going Wrong
By March 2026 (a year later), roughly one year after installation, we notice the deck boards were warping. Over the following weeks this progressed to visible buckling, and the material became noticeably brittle in places. We were still in winter and this was not due to sun exposure, it was due to water absorption.
Its interesting to note that the product itself comes with a 5 year warranty, this is however NUL and VOID when a contractor purchases the product, which then comes with a 6 month warranty (according to Leroy Merlin staff).
The product itself, was also supposed to be 100% composite, only after removing the product did we notice the sticker stating it was 55% WOOD…no wonder there was swelling!
Contacting Perímetro Quotidiano
We reached out to Perímetro Quotidiano on the 15th March 2026 and explained that we had been fighting with Leroy Merlin regarding the warranty of the product, they however would not deal with us as the contractor had purchased the materials, so I asked they they come and assess the situation themselves.
After no response from Perímetro Quotidiano we had no alternative than to make a formal complaint in the “Red Book”.
Livro de Reclamações (Complaints Book)
On 17th March after no reply from Perimetro Quotidiano, and given the lack of resolution, we formally registered a complaint in the Livro de Reclamações (Portugal’s legally mandated complaints book, which every registered business must provide on request). Upon receipt of the complaint I got a message from the owner stating that it was not necessary to make a formal complaint, and that he would come see me. Well it took one month before he arrived to take a look. He acknowledged that the decking was incorrectly installed with no spacer gaps left around the boarder or between the panels.
He then stated that he would get the installers back to reinstall at their own cost. Another month or two later (now going into summer) still nothing had been done and schedules repair dates had come and gone.
Eventually we sourced our own contractor who quoted 2000 euros to make the repairs. The owner of Perimetro Quotidiano said he would pay us the money. After a few messages with no responce or payment we then hired a lawyer.
Legal Action
We have since sought legal advice and are pursuing formal notice / mediation.
Perimtro Quotidiano was contacted and promised to make repairs. They have since failed to do so and a formal registered letter has been sent seeking damages and legal fees.
Where Things Stand Now
As of 21st July 2026, the deck remains unusable, and we have taken the burden upon ourselves to repair it at our own cost. Litigation remain unresolved, with no refund received as yet.
A Broader Note for Anyone Renovating in Portugal
If you’re new to Portugal and hiring local contractors, a few things we learned the hard way:
- Always ask for a written warranty on materials and workmanship, not just a verbal assurance.
- Photograph the work at every stage, from delivery of materials through to completion.
- Know that the Livro de Reclamações is a legal right — every registered business must provide it on request, and refusal is itself a reportable offence
- ask for references and reviews on social media sites.
Good luck, we hope your experience will be a pleasant one.
We’ll update this article as our situation with Perímetro Quotidiano develops. If you’ve had a similar experience with them, or with composite decking installation in Portugal generally, we’d like to hear from you in the comments below.