How do you find a reliable builder?

EvilMonkey

I've recently moved into a new house and I've a small list of jobs I want doing. (from tidying up some laminate to putting in a new downstairs toilet, so fairly wide ranging) I'm fairly cack handed with the DIY so am happy to pay for a builder but...Where can I find one who does good work for a reasonable price.I've asked around for recommendations and no had any luck with that. So its down to:- - Internet searches - Yellow pages - Local paperAny other thoughts?E.M.

Bertville

Your local council might keep a list of recommended tradesmen. Birmingham council do this and they are listed on their website.

Volcano

A builder isn't going to be too interested in laminate flooring or plumbing in a new toilet as they aren't really building jobs.

Many builders (and other tradesmen) are quite difficult to get hold of if all you want doing is relatively small jobs. A plumber should be quite happy to do the toilet, but depending on what other jobs you need doing it may be better to get a handyman to do them.

If you're unsure as to what jobs require which tradesmen, put a list on here and I'm sure I (or others) will be able to suggest who should be doing what.

StockportGerbil

Hi!
Where are you, I can think of people who would be more than happy to do all that / sub contract it where it's not their thing.
Regards
Kev

NastyMatt

I look in my contacts list for "Dad" and I ring him... he's a builder!!

That all sounds good.. but he still doesn't want to do the little stuff. When I looked at buying a place it needed loads of work doing.. his advice?.."You don't want to be getting into all that". nice.. i was going to put some work his way

springtide

Maybe you could ask the estate agent where you found the house if they can reccomend any tradesmen. They often have a list of people they use if they deal with lettings.

EvilMonkey

Am based in SE London, I think a decent handyman might be the answer (rather than a whole lot of specialists...)

The list is a bit mixed, some I can cope with and some not:-
- Partition off part of a hall and convert to a WC(this ones the biggest job and may be canned if unfeasible \ too £££)
- Tidy up laminate in a number of floors (incl the skirting bit etc.
- Sort out some outside lighting (might be able to do this myself)
- rip out suspended ceiling in 2 x rooms, replace with normal ceiling (or skim the artex ceiling thats "under" the suspended stuff
- Put in a new radiator \ towel rack in bathroom (pipework seems to be there)
- Redecorate (paint \ wallpaper) a medium sized room (again could do this ourselves)


There's probably other bits, but you can see its a bit of a mixed bag!

I've thought about trying the local estate agents for numbers as they had some contacts when we were getting stuff sorted for the survey.

E.M.

Alan_M_2

NastyMatt wrote:

I look in my contacts list for "Dad" and I ring him... he's a builder!!

That all sounds good.. but he still doesn't want to do the little stuff. When I looked at buying a place it needed loads of work doing.. his advice?.."You don't want to be getting into all that". nice.. i was going to put some work his way

You know the worst thing about being in any part of the construction industry is working for friends and family.

My sister is terrible for this, I get invited up for Sunday lunch when there is a long list of minor items that require fixing, we normally get to desert before the "Whilst you're here could you just......" conversation starts. I'd actually prefer Her to ask outright and I'd quite happily help, my father thinks it's highly amusing, because she asks me instead of him now:rotfl:

EvilMonkey

I'm in IT (I used to design software systems for a national high street shop), I get no end of "while you're here, can you look at my PC, it's running a bit slow..."

It's not even my job! (Like asking someone who makes pharmaceuticals to diagnose a dodgy toe...)

aah relatives...

Volcano

From that list you could combine the WC installation with the radiator installation to make it worth the plumber's time. The outside lights aren't too difficult, ask for advice and do them yourself. The ceiling is a plasterer/general builder's job. Handyman/carpenter for the laminate floor.

Like you say, if you can get a decent handyman he may be able to do the whole lot, but bear in mind the 'jack of all trades master of none' syndrome that may affect the quality of work you get. There's no doubt it is getting harder to find tradesmen to do the smaller jobs.