Information required please

[Joe]

Building will start in two weeks on an extension to my house. All the planning and building regs., have been done. I have found a builder and signed a contract, i.e. staged payments etc. What should I look out for as the build starts and continues. How will I know if the job is being done correctly. I have to inform the local council at various stages of the build. Will they inspect and check the job is being done to correct standards. Being an ex-shipwright I have problems when I watch other trades doing their stuff. I am now to old to DIY so I just watch. Any feedback will be helpful Joe

[Brian Sharrock]

The _contract_ should place an obligation on the contractor/builder to notify the BCO at the required stages and not to proceed without the BCO approval. {There's little yellow card issued by the Building Regulations Dept of the council for this purpose and 'my' council ,at least,, permits email notification] Unless you're the 'Project Manager' , with responsibility for the notification/approval stages, it _should_ be the contractors responsibility. Check you're contract for details and make certain who has this responsibility.

And; yes, the BCO should check that the job is 'being done' to the standards _shown_ on the approved drawings. {The approved drawings should be compliant with the 'correct standards'. - this is a bit of a moving target as your approved drawings will have a three year 'window' to be transformed into a building and 'correct standards' may change within the three years. But the BCO will certify that the works comply with the drawings.

[Owain]

No; the BCO should make sure the work is being done in compliance with building regulations, which should broadly be in line with the plans which have been approved, for the bits of the work he sees. He's not a substitute for a site agent and is not there to protect your interests, although he may be evry helpful.

Owain