Builder has walked off site

Doozergirl

grumbler said:

Well, some people say that their "local tip accepts asbestos sheeting from personal disposal. Must be double wrapped in plastic and it put in a special bin at the tip."

The OP talks about the old garage coming down, so it is almost certainly cement sheets that don't require a license for removal because the asbestos is held in the cement and doesn't have loose fibres unless you purposely start damaging it.  

For that, what you say is true.  Knightstyle's post does read as frightening, but they do link to the HSE where there's plenty of info on how people can remove it safely.   

I can't vouch for how someone who uses grip fill instead of sand and cement will treat asbestos cement sheets, but the danger was almost certainly posed more to themselves than anyone else.  Like Covid, asbestos dust isn't as risky outside as it would be inside.  

madwife1_2

Thank you for all your comments. Unfortunately throughout it all, when I was questioning everything my partner backed him. Last week I decided enough was enough and sent him an email listing everything that needed to be put right, alongside his non-professional attitude ie; the fact that beer had been drunk on the job, empty beer bottles were left in my garden on one occasion, on another 2 days he had turn up completely hanging and did no work other then drink coffee. That thee garage was knocked down and the rubble was left in my now open garden for a week before he came back and removed some of it (apart from the asbestos sheet roof) . I wanted to throw him off the job weeks ago..
Maybe a letter of intent with a refund for the cost of relaying the patio is the way forward, but I am wary of him becoming nasty...and I feel that it will be me alone that will need to sort this. Alternatively I have learnt a very tough lesson.

FaceHead

When the MSE forum is more supportive than your partner...perhaps head over to the marriage and relationships board. 

prowla

I had a "friend" do some work for me and he brought a mate along who didn't really know what he was doing.

He did get me to pay for materials along the way (fence posts), but then never finished the job, some of it was slipshod, and he left nails pointing out on the neighbour's side.

He then stopped turning up, despite promises to appear, so I gave him over a month (maybe two) to get it done, but then I finished it myself, including making good the neighbour's side.

He never got the last bit of the money, because he didn't complete the work.

I still say hello when I see him, but I'm not interested in stopping for a chat.

As far as the job goes, I'm better off than it was when it started, so mustn't grumble.

Jeepers_Creepers

madwife1_2 said:

Thank you for all your comments. Unfortunately throughout it all, when I was questioning everything my partner backed him. Last week I decided enough was enough and sent him an email listing everything that needed to be put right, alongside his non-professional attitude ie; the fact that beer had been drunk on the job, empty beer bottles were left in my garden on one occasion, on another 2 days he had turn up completely hanging and did no work other then drink coffee. That thee garage was knocked down and the rubble was left in my now open garden for a week before he came back and removed some of it (apart from the asbestos sheet roof) . I wanted to throw him off the job weeks ago..
Maybe a letter of intent with a refund for the cost of relaying the patio is the way forward, but I am wary of him becoming nasty...and I feel that it will be me alone that will need to sort this. Alternatively I have learnt a very tough lesson.

I don't suppose you have any sort of recordable record of these slovenly incidences? If not, just note it all down with dates, and as much detail as possible (literally including brand of beer consumed!).

Ok, what work has been done, and how much has been paid? How much would you need to recover from him to get you to a 'continuation' point with hopefully no added loss to you? Did the other builder who came out give you a quote for making good the poor work, and then completing the task?

But, I'll emphasise - don't rely on that builder's report in taking legal action - you need a professional and impartial account.

Do you have Legal Protection on your house insurance? If the answer is 'no', give yourself a darned good kicking and sort that out for the future (tho' too late for this case).

Seek CAB advice too, for accuracy - you must do this correctly.

TELLIT01

Employing friends to do work is fraught with potential problems.  I've been lucky most of the time as my brother-in-law is a builder and has done some really good work for us. 

It wasn't quite so good when I employed somebody I knew to remodel our garden.  I hadn't seen him for a few years but he quoted like the others and his price was very similar.  It seemed like a good idea at the time to work with somebody I knew!  What I was unaware of was that he had been very ill and therefore worked very slowly, and only worked when he felt like it.  For example it took him 2 weeks to erect about 100 feet of timber fencing with concrete posts.  Our neighbour had a very similar job done in 2 days.

He hadn't appeared for a few days so I texted to find out what was going on and his reply shocked me.  He had been given the chance to use a friends property in Spain for 2 weeks so was on holiday.  He hadn't even mentioned it.  I could go on.  The only positive was that he was unable to do some of the work himself and the people he got in were superb.

Mickey666

grumbler said:

Well, some people say that their "local tip accepts asbestos sheeting from personal disposal. Must be double wrapped in plastic and it put in a special bin at the tip."

It's not just 'some people', there is loads of information online about the types of asbestos work that doesn't need a licence.

Even the Health & Safety Executive give lots of guidance about such works:  https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/index.htm

Due care and attention is certainly required when dealing with asbestos but there's absolutely no need to panic about it, especially asbestos cement products that are no more dangerous than many household chemicals and solvents sold over the counter.

Rosa_Damascena

madwife1_2 said:

Thank you for all your comments. Unfortunately throughout it all, when I was questioning everything my partner backed him. Last week I decided enough was enough and sent him an email listing everything that needed to be put right, alongside his non-professional attitude ie; the fact that beer had been drunk on the job, empty beer bottles were left in my garden on one occasion, on another 2 days he had turn up completely hanging and did no work other then drink coffee. That thee garage was knocked down and the rubble was left in my now open garden for a week before he came back and removed some of it (apart from the asbestos sheet roof) . I wanted to throw him off the job weeks ago..
Maybe a letter of intent with a refund for the cost of relaying the patio is the way forward, but I am wary of him becoming nasty...and I feel that it will be me alone that will need to sort this. Alternatively I have learnt a very tough lesson.

Have you been threatened? Its horrible living in fear but you must log any threats with the police via 101. Personal threats are a criminal not civil matter.

As for your partner, is s/he actually putting said "friend" before you?

DRP

Your partner recommended this fella, has seen the result and is still supporting him? Even after you’ve given the fella more than 10 grand?

I think you should be asking your partner to go talk to him... initially at least, before any legal action. I just can’t think of any scenario where your partner can let this happen.