Building company or individual tradesmen?

FreeBear

JeffMason said: And repair of a small patch at top of stairs

Stair wells are not nice places to do any work on the ceiling. Invariably, it will need a scaffold tower in order to work safely. And once a tower is up, the stairs are next to impossible to climb - Currently in the middle of doing work in my stairwell, and need to plan everything in advance to make sure tools & materials are in the right place.

PollyWollyDoodle

I need  a new kitchen and bathroom and other small areas of work and I’m getting quotes from general builders to do everything. Firstly, I don’t want to have to find and deal with individual trades, I don’t have the time and as you have found, it’s hard to get anyone to quote for a small job. Secondly, I think it will be more cost-effective overall - eg while the plaster in the kitchen is drying, they can get on with the bathroom etc. I know that I don’t have the project management skills to coordinate all the different issues. 

I have been lucky enough to get some personal recommendations - ask your friends or neighbours, and if possible go and see work that they’ve done. Be cheeky, if you see a skip outside someone’s house knock on the door and ask if they’d recommend their builder. Anyone good is likely to be very busy though. 

JeffMason

FreeBear said:

JeffMason said: And repair of a small patch at top of stairs

Stair wells are not nice places to do any work on the ceiling. Invariably, it will need a scaffold tower in order to work safely. And once a tower is up, the stairs are next to impossible to climb - Currently in the middle of doing work in my stairwell, and need to plan everything in advance to make sure tools & materials are in the right place.

I didn't explain that very well. It's only ceiling in the bedroom. The top of stairs is just a small patch at floor level that was damaged when flooring was done in bedroom on other side of ajoining wall. Bottom of stairs is again the lower half of one wall that is maybe a meter or so wide.

JeffMason

PollyWollyDoodle said:

I need  a new kitchen and bathroom and other small areas of work and I’m getting quotes from general builders to do everything. Firstly, I don’t want to have to find and deal with individual trades, I don’t have the time and as you have found, it’s hard to get anyone to quote for a small job. Secondly, I think it will be more cost-effective overall - eg while the plaster in the kitchen is drying, they can get on with the bathroom etc. I know that I don’t have the project management skills to coordinate all the different issues. 

I have been lucky enough to get some personal recommendations - ask your friends or neighbours, and if possible go and see work that they’ve done. Be cheeky, if you see a skip outside someone’s house knock on the door and ask if they’d recommend their builder. Anyone good is likely to be very busy though. 

Thank you! I agree - much easier - and I'm working on finding good people. I've asked a few people I know who live further away (hoping they're commendations will cover my area too) but I'm new to the area and don't know many people locally. My next door neighbours just said they could do with similar and to let them know if I find anyone!