Ripped off By Builder

RAS

JohnnyJet wrote: »

I now have power upstairs, electricians finally came today and have done it all in one day.

Another milestone!

And now you have power up there, it will be much easier to do remaining work.

Hugely impressed by your continued determination.

JohnnyJet

Been asked to do another TV programme, a follow up to the last one. Not sure if I want to drag it all up again. Anyone have any views?

psychopathbabble

JohnnyJet wrote: »

Been asked to do another TV programme, a follow up to the last one. Not sure if I want to drag it all up again. Anyone have any views?

What would you gain from it? Any more professional work?

I would say it depends entirely on what you get out of it. If the answer is nothing but a whole load of carppy memories I'd avoid it. If they will do any work for you then I'd say yes! Probably best to have a word with Mike as he has been in your position.

lisawaters

I think Psycho's nailed it.

Maybe you'd do it to help the programme that did work for you, but unless there's a chance to name and shame the builder, not sure how it would help you.

I hope your house is now back together and the home you wanted. Memories do fade...

JohnnyJet

No won't get anything out of it, they just want to show how we have got on since the last show. I do feel a bit of loyalty but worried that the builder will start sending us letters again. Spoke to my wife about this earlier and she is really against this, so I guess that is it. I agree with her really, thinking about it I really don't want to stoke up those negative thoughts again.

JohnnyJet

lisawaters wrote: »

I think Psycho's nailed it.

Maybe you'd do it to help the programme that did work for you, but unless there's a chance to name and shame the builder, not sure how it would help you.

I hope your house is now back together and the home you wanted. Memories do fade...

House isn't finished yet, stopped working on the ground floor last year to concentrate on getting all the insulation and wall up on the first floor. Now have 3 more plasterboards to cut and get up and 1 sheet of insulation to fix.
Run out of loft insulation and shops have now put their prices up so I am getting the rest from leftovers on eBay and Friday-ad.

I have set myself a deadline of the middle of August to finish upstairs minus the skirting board and I am working on it every day. Only worked one hour today as I am too tired. I know I have a few more months work left upstairs but I feel so close to finishing it now.

Will then start work downstairs again, putting remaining carpets down, adding stair rail, finishing painting etc.

Looking at it still quite a lot to do but feel pretty optimistic about it at the moment.

lisawaters

JohnnyJet wrote: »

House isn't finished yet, stopped working on the ground floor last year to concentrate on getting all the insulation and wall up on the first floor. Now have 3 more plasterboards to cut and get up and 1 sheet of insulation to fix.
Run out of loft insulation and shops have now put their prices up so I am getting the rest from leftovers on eBay and Friday-ad.

I have set myself a deadline of the middle of August to finish upstairs minus the skirting board and I am working on it every day. Only worked one hour today as I am too tired. I know I have a few more months work left upstairs but I feel so close to finishing it now.



Will then start work downstairs again, putting remaining carpets down, adding stair rail, finishing painting etc.

Looking at it still quite a lot to do but feel pretty optimistic about it at the moment.

Have you asked anyone for a bit of help, or do you prefer to do it all yourself?

JohnnyJet

I have been offered some help and I accepted; some jobs are impossible on my own. My father-in-law has been great and friends occasionally have helped. You’ve probably guessed that I find it hard to ask for help but I have accepted that I have to. My wife offered to try to do the dry lining and is doing a very good job.

I feel that it is under control now so help is not as important. I do find it difficult releasing control now and will only get trades in to do specific tasks that I don’t feel confident undertaking. I’m afraid that is a symptom of my experience.

lisawaters

I completely understand much of what you say. I still have to finish off some work and anyone I use will have to agree to me paying 80 percent on completion and the rest a week later if all is OK. No paying upfront for materials or anything else, and written quotations and VAT receipts only. If they don't agree, there will be some reason why. Even trades I know and trust go with it, or get the elbow.

I have learned the hard way, as have you. Anyone who doesn't follow these rules is an idiot.

JohnnyJet

Just thought that I would have a look at a post that I made on 24/08/10 and see if I finished all the things on the list and also make a new list of outstanding jobs.

JohnnyJet wrote: »

Things left to do, in order that I can remember -

Fit guttering - Done
Fit small missing soffit to side of house - Done
Attach missing wood to front of house - To do
Attach washing machine - Done
Finish door architraves - Done
Hang doors - Done
Paint last bedroom - Done
Fit skirting boards - Done
Fit carpets - Two rooms to do
Put up curtain poles - Done
Fit boiler - Done
Change front door - Done
Re-wire faulty light sockets - Done
Fill holes in wall by some electric sockets - Done
Build cupboard to house consumer unit - To do
Finish floor upstairs - Done
Fit insulation upstairs - 99% Done
Plasterboard, paint, all electrics, plumbing etc upstairs - Almost done
Fill water mains hole in garden - Done
Put in all radiators - 1 left to do
Fit missing electric sockets - Done
Fill in hole under front window - Done
Fit shower, bath and sink - Done
Clear building rubbish from garden - Almost done but still some builder rubbish left and loads of wood to dispose of.
Cut wood for hole under stairs - Forgot about that, still to do
Repair back door steps - Done

Wow has it really taken over 18 months to do. It's been practically non stop since then and still a few more months to go.

So things to do from original list -

1) Attach missing wood to front of house - Need a long ladder to do this, but will only take 5 mins.
2) Fit carpets in bedroom and hallway - Still have no carpet in our main bedroom, still using offcuts and old rugs.
3) Build cupboard to house consumer unit
4) Plasterboard, paint, all electrics, plumbing etc upstairs - Listed in more detail below.
5) Clear building rubbish from garden - Still finding builders rubbish when I clear bits of the garden including their crisp packets and loads of silver foil that I'm guessing one of them used to wrap their sandwiches every day.
6 ) Cut wood for hole under stairs - Big hole in cupboard under stairs.

Estimated time excluding upstairs items (5 days).

Additional items to do (and estimated days to complete) -

First Floor
Finish plasterboarding (2 days).
Insulation (1/2 day).
Drylining and filling holes inc screw holes (4 days).
Painting walls (6 days).
Plumber to finish plumbing (2 days).
Fit skirting board (3 days).
Painting skirting board (3 days).
Fit 8x door lining etc - 4 doors (3 days).
Paint door linings (1 day).
Make custom door for smaller size door (1 day).
Make wooden frame for eaves storage (1 day).
Insulate eave storage frame (1 day).
Board eave storage (1 day).
Make eave doors and insulate x6 (4 days).
Add window shelf and supporting frame (1 day).
Fit chimney cowl (1/2 day).
Finish Cat6 cabling (1/2 day).

Total (34 1/2 days).

Ground Floor

Finish sanding and painting bedroom skirting (1 day).
Caulk all windows and doors (1 day).
Finish bathroom painting (1/2 day).
Fit kitchen blind and other small kitchen items (1/2 day).
Make door for non custom frame (1 day).
Paint and add skirting in under stairs cupboard (1 day).
Fill gaps by front door ready for carpet (1 day).
plaster and paint door seal (1 day).
Paint airing cupboard (1 day).
re-fit stair railings,posts and bannister (2 days).
Paint staircase, walls and posts (2 days).
Fit understairs cabinet (1/2 day).
Finish network cabling (1/2 day).
Add bottom of staircase beading or sand and re-paint (1/2 day).

Total (13 1/2 days).

Making a grand total of 53 days. Oh that's longer than I thought and I can only do evening and weekends. Hopefully I have overestimated a few items, but think that is fairly accurate. My aim is to re-visit this list from time to time to check progress and tick items off.