One builder or different tradesmen for building works?

quatro

I shall soon be renovating a victorian brick built detached house - which needs attention to pointing, the roof, rebuilding of garden walls, replacement fascias/guttering, replacement patio doors, windows etc etc.

I will need quotes for the work and wonder if it's best to get them from a builder who will do all - or seperate quotes from a bricklayer, a roofer, a replacement window/door/upvc fascia company who may or may not do a better job with the job they specialise in.

Your thoughts/experience would be appreciated, thank you....

bruce2110

depending on the area you live in, you will find that most builders have some general experiance in most of the things you have mentioned, but i would always point out that a jack of all is a master of none...

you could ask a local builder to quote for all the works you need doing, then get independant quotes to see how they compare. another thing to consider when looking for tradesman is get several quotes, and get references(a good builder) won't have any issues in giving examples of previous works they have done, so you always check and speak to people they have worked for to see if they were capable of completing the works you need!

bruce2110

Julienetmums

Most builders would sub contract the specialist stuff out anyway (we are a firm of heating engineers and often work for builders who employ us along with electricicans, duct specialists etc.

You may pay slightly more for one firm doing it as they will add a bit onto the quote to cover their admin.

quatro

Thanks for your replies - the one thing that is relevant is that scaffolding will be needed for both pointing the brickwork [2 walls] and works to the roof. I think it could be tricky to tie 2 seperate tradesmen in to do work in the same period of time and I wouldn't like them to get in each others way!
I think I will have to find a builder who can promise a good job on both, and maybe that would mean them working alongside tradesmen they have used before on one job or the other.
I have met one builder who is not relishing the thought of all the pointing, but ok with roof works - and one bricklayer seems happier with the pointing and doesn't seem phased by the roof problem.
More later.........!