Builder - red flags or normal?

comeandgo

Does he have employees or is he using sub contractors.  The more you tell  us the more likely I’d start again with someone else.  You are now in a more knowledgeable position to start again. 

leypt1

comeandgo said:

Does he have employees or is he using sub contractors.  The more you tell  us the more likely I’d start again with someone else.  You are now in a more knowledgeable position to start again. 

They're subcontractors I believe

Thanks, if he doesn't agree to our changes then we will have to think again. If we were to start again what information should we be asking for upfront? I'm thinking now

Payment schedule

Insurance info

Subcontracting arrangements

Detailed component spreadsheet

Details of qualifications and competencies 

Is there anything else you'd recommend?

RAS

leypt1 said:

The kitchen is 6.48m2 including the area under the units, excluding this would make it 3.24m2

Bathroom is 4m2

I assume this is 4 square metres?? Or 4 metres square?

Makes a huge difference to the job.

hkuk1973

Hello Leypt1,,

Again, just to share with you our own experience. We did look into UFH but decided against it.  Mainly becasue we seen to be getting more and more hot weather so we may as well have something that is good for both hot and cold.  We have now  decided to go for a HVAC.  The one we choose costs £1392 with zero vat.  I am told that they are very effective at heating and cheap to run. It will be installed when the extension is completed and the system is going to service the extension only.  The rest of the house is still on gas central heating. If anyone out there thinks it is not a good idea, please let us know as we have not committed to it yet.  Although it is a bit late now to think of UFH but I believe we still have time to go for radiators. 

leypt1

Some unexpectedly good news: We emailed the builder this morning to (politely!) suggest a new payment schedule, push back on UFH heating and building control etc., and he immediately texted to say he didn't feel comfortable doing the work and sent our deposit back!

Feel slightly bad as he probably thinks he's quite a good builder - and he probably would have got the job done! But we feel very relieved

Thanks everyone for your advice!

And - a bit of a weird diversion - but yes it's 2m length * 2 metres width  = 4 metres square!! Hence why we're leaning towards electric UFH

ashe

leypt1 said:

Some unexpectedly good news: We emailed the builder this morning to (politely!) suggest a new payment schedule, push back on UFH heating and building control etc., and he immediately texted to say he didn't feel comfortable doing the work and sent our deposit back!

Feel slightly bad as he probably thinks he's quite a good builder - and he probably would have got the job done! But we feel very relieved

Thanks everyone for your advice!

And - a bit of a weird diversion - but yes it's 2m length * 2 metres width  = 4 metres square!! Hence why we're leaning towards electric UFH

If you found him on checkatrade he probably isnt. The amount of people on this forum who find people on there then say "but he had really good reviews!" is insane. Good builders do not have to use these sites to find work, they're usually booked up through word of mouth alone. 

twopenny

Well that's a good result if exasperating.
And great he just pulled out and returned the deposit promptly. Allows you to move on straight see.

If he wasn't prepared to cover your requests without any negotiation, wanted so much up front and couldn't remember/check what he'd quoted for the future wasn't going to get any better

leypt1

A further update/question - we went through the national federation of builders, who have sent through our quote request to this company:
https://british-builders.com/

has anyone got any experience with them? appear to have certifications coming out the wazoo and want detailed info up front, which is reassuring

on the other hand, their trustpilot page says they've had multiple fake reviews deleted

FreeBear

National construction firm with offices in Covent Garden & Liverpool - That means large overheads which will bump up the cost to you.

HampshireH

I have found the best tradesman come through word of mouth. Who do your local community recommend