Builders charges for "additional work" and majorly over-running

frustr4ted

Hi everyone,

My first post here, apologies for the length of this and I'm probably just venting mostly but any advice would be great appreciated!

We took out a contract to what was described as a relatively easy garage conversion. Use the existing shell, new roof, slight 1 metre extension at the back and a small bathroom within. We were reasonably happy with the quote and timescales provided on 2-3 week - all seemed good.

We had the 'salesman/company director' visited twice so we could be reassured they were doing exactly what we asked.

Since then we've had nothing but delay and invoices for extra costs the builders are deeming outside of the contract. I'm listing in order:

-They missed off moving our boiler (already in garage), additional cost £1410. Frustrating but not actually on the quote so we accepted additional cost but seemed excessively high?
-First day of work, they found more concrete than expected when digging the foundations which according to the workman put him a couple of hours behind - £432
-We asked for a change, when the rear extension wall was to be rebuild they were going to use an existing window but we asked for it to be bricked - £396
-Despite a like for like outside, cost to build a very small parapet wall - £840

At this point I was already venting my frustration over the ongoing cost and asked if anything additional is likely, of which response was nothing apart from "optional extras"

-Came home to find front door handle over-forced and I couldn't get into the house. The electrician was the only person onsite that day and had a key to the house. Obviously denied this - £142 and locked out of my house for 3 hours
-Additional cost for 2nd skip. Yes in the contract but after just 1 week into the job it was clear they hadn't quoted enough skips in the quote. Plus they have been dumping stuff from other jobs into the skip - £288
-Despite boiler being moved and price included the move, all parts and labour we were told it needed a new flue as part of the move £118
-Quote advised "Supply and fit 3No Rooflite windows mechanically operated to the value of £250 per unit." Contract advises "Any roof windows quoted for are 550x780 pine and manually operated". They sent us a link to their catalogue and the cheapest to meet these requirements were approx £600 each!! In the end they ordered cheaper 600x600 ones off Ebay!!
-Quote advised an allowance of £1000 for a new front door. Despite this we were offered an upgrade for an extra £180. I asked for the actual pricing and this was refused.
-Get a call from the electrician, the no. of spot lights in the quite was insufficient for the space and he didn't know why they obviously didn't quote for me - £144
-Get an alert from my car (app enabled) after a collision occurred outside my house. Timestamped with the exact time they said they left the property. They were parked facing away from my car with a gap not big enough the park another car. The car was hit straight on and the damage was at the height of the tipper at the back of the tipper truck, brick-dust all over the collision area and stones etc on the floor where it happened. Although the company director "was on my side" he eventually denied any wrongdoing and refused to provide any details. The car was 2 1/2 weeks old!
-Same day as advising he would not speak about the car incident, additional request for £900 for additional gully and soil pipe for the bathroom they had quoted to supply and install. They insist they were unable to tell at the time of the quote if this was needed. On site builders told me they missed it off and they have filled the ground where it should have gone with concrete.
-The price of tiling has suddenly increased during the time of quote to time it needs doing due to "increased labour costs". From £35 to £45 per sq metre.
-Invoice received for £97 due to the allowance for a bathroom suite in the quote not being sufficient. We haven't asked for anything extra and they are provided a basic bathroom from plumbase - they insists that costs rise between quote and installation?

On top of all this the work was started early Feb and is still ongoing, if the "ETA" is correct it will have taken 8 weeks, they have been onsite less than half the time. The salesman/director obviously insisted at the time "we only do one job at a time".

I have spent so much time and stress on this it's ridiculous.

Any advice would be appreciated in terms of where I may stand legally or based on anyone's experience :beer:

thearchitect

It will come down to the details of the contract which you have with the builders, I would imagine.


As a matter of interest, was this a "turnkey commission" - did they do the design, obtain statutory consents, and so on? Or did you have your own drawings prepared then go out to tender?

binao

' Checking the thread " Builder wanting a LOT more money" may help you.


It's 20 or so threads below yours at the moment.

Good luck.

frustr4ted

I provided them with my own drawings.

thearchitect

Okay. And how detailed were they? Full construction information?