Lone woman buying wreck of a house! help!

clearingout

Hello,
this seems to be the best place to post. I am recently divorced and am buying a wonderful house which is stuck in the 70s. I don't have any money at all to do it up.:rotfl:

I have had a few quotes in for work on the floors which I am happy with and have chosen a chap to go with. However, I need a ton of artex removing, replastering etc. in two large downstairs rooms (including the removal of some dodgy 70s' Bernie Inn beams!) and removal of artex from bedroom ceilings or whatever it is that needs to be done to make them more up to date.

one builder has suggested the cheapest and most effective way to do this is to put up plaster board. Is he right?! He has quoted but I feel the quote is very high. Am awiating 2 more quotes but indications are not dissimilar.

So, as a lone woman who is very obviously a lone woman (no brothers, father died recently), how the hell do I work out if a quote is a good one or not?! How do I avoid getting totally and utterly ripped off?! Have to say I have been impressed by the way I have been dealt with but there is always that...anxiety that I'm just not getting the deal I could if I was wearing the trousers..!! any tips or if anyone can give me a ball park figure (I can give room dimensions if that helps) so I know who's seen me coming and who hasn't could be very helpful! thanks! :eek:

deedee71

As a lone woman who has just been ripped off by a dodgy plumber I feel your pain!

Does the artex need to be removed? I think there are products that skim over it leaving a flat surface. You may still need someone to do it for you but it is bound to be cheaper.

In fact I think your best bet is to try to find a handyman who can do what needs done without charging the earth. I bet he would also give his opinion on other larger jobs that need done too.

Good luck!

latecomer

How much has the builder quoted for boarding and plastering?

You could always just say to any prospective builder that you need to discuss with your OH before making any decisions. They dont need to know you are a long female - your OH just happens to not be in when they come round.....

Plasterer

Got some more info? Not too fussed about the size of the rooms (As long as there not like the Albert hall) just the type of artex - can you describe what it looks like? And where in the country?

PS Why not get dating with a good wholesome plasterer - Sorted

clearingout

thanks all for your comments. I haven't actually been daft enough to tell a builder I'm on my own but making the comment I have to ask my husband is a useful one - will use it! thanks!

As for dating plasterers - you offering?! You would have to put up with 3 very boisterious boys though, and a woman prepared to fleece you something rotten for your plastering skills!:rotfl: I have no shame.

The ceiling artex is the usual random speckle kind of thing in all the rooms...

Living room has a kind of fan pattern on the walls (very attractive, red coving to go with it!)

Walls in the hallway and on the landing look like some kind of rough 'country cottage' kind of look, no pattern, just like it's been slapped on unevenly and left!

And the piece de resistance is the extension. Beams with the slapped on uneven stuff inbetween. Think pub built in 2010 but inside looks like it was done in the 1800s....

Builder quoted £2.5k for boarding and plastering - two (good size) rooms and ceilings, landing, hallway, three upstairs ceilings only (average sized bedrooms you get in an averaged sized house!). Have just had a chat with a jack of all trades who is going to look for me and quote - he was of the opinion boarding would be the most expensive option! Clearly depends who you talk to, doesn't it?!!

North west is the location!

hethmar

Have you tried the My Builder site (and theres another one similar) You put on the job you want done and then local people bid for the work.

Canucklehead

Good afternoon: get in a couple of quotes from time served plasterers recommended to you by a source you trust (rather than handymen/women) for a professional finish. Btw... I wouldn't recommend scraping artex as it could contain asbestos fibers. We had our swirly artex ceilings skimmed by a pro and it looks the business.

Good luck with your renovations

HTH

Canucklehead

clearingout

nso - yes please! Pm me - worth a shot! thanks!

Plasterer

clearingout wrote: »

thanks all for your comments. I haven't actually been daft enough to tell a builder I'm on my own but making the comment I have to ask my husband is a useful one - will use it! thanks!

As for dating plasterers - you offering?! You would have to put up with 3 very boisterious boys though, and a woman prepared to fleece you something rotten for your plastering skills!:rotfl: I have no shame.

The ceiling artex is the usual random speckle kind of thing in all the rooms...

Living room has a kind of fan pattern on the walls (very attractive, red coving to go with it!)

Walls in the hallway and on the landing look like some kind of rough 'country cottage' kind of look, no pattern, just like it's been slapped on unevenly and left!

And the piece de resistance is the extension. Beams with the slapped on uneven stuff inbetween. Think pub built in 2010 but inside looks like it was done in the 1800s....

Builder quoted £2.5k for boarding and plastering - two (good size) rooms and ceilings, landing, hallway, three upstairs ceilings only (average sized bedrooms you get in an averaged sized house!). Have just had a chat with a jack of all trades who is going to look for me and quote - he was of the opinion boarding would be the most expensive option! Clearly depends who you talk to, doesn't it?!!

North west is the location!

I think your builder could be right to overboard by the sounds of it - however your artex can be skimmed over, difficult without seeing it.

Just breaking down your quote £2.5K for boarding 2 (good size) rooms Ceilings and dabbing walls, the landing ceiling and walls, your Hallway ceiling and walls and 3 upstairs ceilings. Take his arm off!!! I would charge upto £400 for boarding and skimming 1 ceiling.

PS nah not offering - Misses Plasterer would cut em off

clearingout

Lol plasterer - many thanks! I will see what other quotes come in at and make a choice but it's helpful to get the idea that is reasonable in the circumstances.

many thanks!

Tom_Jones

Just remember if your artex is as old as the house it will probably contain asbestos so it is advisable to overboard, and the quote of 2.5k is not that bad if he supplies the materials.