Finding a new builder

[Graham Jones]

Hello,

I'm just wondering does anyone have any experience of how keen are builders to take over another builders job? Is it hard to find a builder willing to do this?

But then how do you know your replacement builder is any better? The builder we currently have came highly recommended, but for us it just hasn't worked out, all trust has gone.

If I didn't have a little bit of knowledge of how things are done I'm sure we also would have recommended him, I'm sure lots of people just let them get on with it without checking all work done each day.

But maybe it is a case of better the devil you know?

Graham

[Phil L]

I think you may be getting a bit ahead of yourself here, have you discussed with him the floor joists? Why can't you have an insulated floor slab? Why can't he use smaller joists on dwarf walls?

IME you are asking for trouble getting someone else in now...the first builder will want paying more than you are prepared to part with, and the new builder will overcharge you to finish off someone else's work. And at the end of it all, anything you aren't happy with will be the fault of 'the other guy'

[Graham Jones]

I do understand, but this is not the first issue we have had, confidence is already low and this feels like the final straw. I do understand that sometimes things don't go to plan but rather than come and speak to us they just seem to bodge it and carry on and hope we don't notice. Obviously any delay to them is costly, but this seems completely non-integrous to me. But maybe this is the way most builders operate? Maybe my expectations are just too high.

Anyway if the BCO is OK with everything so far then I might feel better.

Graham

[js.b1]

Ask him to fit a Saniflo. Use it. Clog it. He will then pay you to let him go...

[Lobster]

Very hard.

If you are even able to find anyone willing, he'll want a premium. But TBH any decent builder (ie one who is reasonably in demand) will not want to touch you, since as far as he is concerned, from his perspective you will be persona non gratis (technical term for "Awkward Bugger"), with your track record of a failed relationship with the previous builder (regardless of the realities of the situation).

David

[tim....]

I do understand, but this is not the first issue we have had, confidence is already low and this feels like the final straw. I do understand that sometimes things don't go to plan but rather than come and speak to us they just seem to bodge it and carry on and hope we don't notice. Obviously any delay to them is costly, but this seems completely non-integrous to me. But maybe this is the way most builders operate?

---------------------------------------------------------------

Of course it is. Remember, this is the same species of animal who thinks that it's OK to make an appointment and then if they decide that they don't want the job, just don't turn up without making any attempt to cancel.

(posters to those board excepted, of course)

tim

[Andrew Gabriel]

I think that was my view too, based on what I read here, experience of various friends, and is also why I DIY almost everything.

However, my parents had an upstairs extension about 18 months ago, and I'd have to say their builders were superb. They had an architect draw up the plans and they retained him to supervise the build and sign off each payment stage. He chose 3 builders to give quotes, and my parents picked the one they preferred, but obviously the architect selected builders he knew would do a good job. The builder brought in specialists to do each part of the job; carpender, plumber, electrician roofer and leadwork plumber, glaziers, decorator, tiler, and maybe more I didn't see, and they all worked very well together. The result is very good - much better than I initially expected. Final staged payment was 6 months after completion, to allow for any snags which showed up later to be fixed (just re-grouting some corners after settling).

[D.M.Chapman]

I think this is the key bit...

builders he uses regularly, who know not to bugger him around by not turning up etc?

Again, who all work together regularly. Builder I know love this sort of work - the architect knows what they want, and provides regular, well paid, well spec'd work.

I know a couple of builders (neither local to me :-( ) who admit they turn down (ie, don't bother) with private stuff if it's not managed by an architect or similar. Working for a private customer is just too much effort, and they aren't short of work (even know which surprised me a bit). A plaster I know says that same - he'll abandon private work to keep his regular employers happy.

Trying to find a builder to do some work for my parents, having similar problems - either silly quotes, or no references, or never get back to us. Finally I seem to have found a retired guy who is interested in a couple of days a week pocket money. Sounds perfect, plenty of references, flexible, and my parents are in now great rush so he can pick off a job a week :-)

Darren

[Owain]

I'd have added it to the invoice: Unnecessary work extra to specification/regulations and instructed by architect. =A31800.

Owain

[ARWadsworth]

The same guy threatened to take me to court over the extractor fan in the utility room. He wanted a "low voltage" fan installing:-)