Cowboy builders

[cobracol]

Andy, spot on,
Simon, Sorry if i miss interpreted your post! but you did slate the builder, and posted a pic of plugs in the cupboard! an obvious asumption to think the jobs were done by the same person!

[Big Dai]

Oh God - I was worried enough before I saw this thread. Finally got my planning permission late last year & am now in the process of choosing a builder. It's a fair sized project - turning a 3 bed bungalow into a 4 bed dormer, extending the kitchen & living room & turning the garage from a single to a double. Was hoping to be in by late autumn - maybe it will be done by the time I retire in 2018?

[slogger]

After my dealings with builders and the planning office, I'd just move!

[Big Dai]

I'm planning on doing - into the completed project - it's taken me 3 years, 4 applications, 2 appeals, 1 planning consultant and an absolute bloody fortune to get this far - property has been empty for 4½ years

[V8 BJC]

Originally Posted by andicole0

Brian we have used Sussex Construction in the past

Sussex Construction Ltd - Builders of Distinction

They still work with the architects we used too.

Also, but a bit further away Wilkins Roberts

Andi.

Thanks Andi, that is really helpful.

[v8pete]

We're now nearing the end of our extension project and the dust is now clearing. It's true to say that I've had a few moans about the builder during the course of all of this, but in each case they've been silly stuff that was quite annoying at the time, but fairly easy to correct - many of which imo were due to the usual thing of builder running several jobs at once & not giving quite enough planning to some parts of the job beforehand.

Without question though, the biggest lesson that I've learned so far is that the single most important aspect of the job is finding a builder who you can communicate with when you have a problem. I've just fallen out with the local double glazing company over my £200 deposit, which got me thinking that if I'd had the same attitude from my builder that the double glazing firm gave me, then i'd be in the asylum by now ! - it really made me realise that above all, being able to communicate when you have issues, which is inevitable, is the key. Obviously, it helps if they're good at their trade too - recommendations are great , and make sure that you actually go and see some of their (current) work.

One other thinng that struck me, is that us pratical/engineering types are probably a builder's worst customer - as we ineviatbly hold a micrometer up to everything they do...

Getting the architect to "project manage" the build is also something that can massively limit the stress, but will of course cost you more dosh usually.

Just my thoughts!
Pete

[andicole0]

Originally Posted by v8pete

SNIP

Getting the architect to "project manage" the build is also something that can massively limit the stress, but will of course cost you more dosh usually.

Just my thoughts!
Pete

Totally agree, worth every penny we spent on our architect from working out what we wanted to getting it approved and getting it built. Then dealing with any defects.

If anyone in the area is after a good reliable architect let me know.

Andi.

[Steve]

i've had a few extensions on different houses.

without fail, all have been really smooth.

before each one, I sat with the builders, and went through what I wanted, and asked them to make sure if they had any issues/problems/deviations etc, that they cleared them with me in writing before doing anything.

In one instance, the building regs made the builder taker footings 3 ft deeper then budgetted, which increased his costs, but he assisted by offsetting other costs elsewhere, and the final cost was actually less than the original budget.

I only ever use people personally recommended, local to me, who need to continue to have a good reputation to keep business flowing in