Loft conversion builders surrey

colman12

Hi all

i am looking for recommendations on builders that do loft conversions around surrey?

I have all the plans through to building control so really just need some reliable and tested builders to generate some quotes and see what the bank says!

thanks in advance 

Robin9

What part of the country are you ?

FlaatusGoat

Checkatrade seems to have quite a few well reviewed tradesmen in Surrey that do lofts?

twopenny

I'd start by asking neighbours and friends who've had it done who they used.

colman12

Thanks, it is Guildford. Yeah, no one in the street has had it done, couple of side side extensions but no lofts.

Checkatrade do have lots, but every tradesmen on there is 9.9999 rating, so wondered if people had personal experience on using a builder.

Doozergirl

https://www.fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder.html

I think that's the best starting place.  Every builder goes through a strict vetting procedure and has had their work independently inspected.  Builders offer proper contracts and there is a mediation service available to you if things do go wrong between you.  

They're a not for profit and don't let just anybody in.  It's a different model to the likes of checkatrade.  

https://cityloftslondon.com will be on the Ask an Expert stand over the weekend at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show. Always worth a visit when you're renovating and you can get a free 15 minute appt with all sorts of experts.  They won an award the same year we did.  

colman12

great thank you for that recommendation

FreeBear

Doozergirl said: It's a different model to the likes of checkatrade. 

Decent builders will have more than enough work on their books without using checkatrade type websites. If they are touting for business on those platforms, you should be asking yourself why.

gzoom

FreeBear said:

Doozergirl said: It's a different model to the likes of checkatrade. 

Decent builders will have more than enough work on their books without using checkatrade type websites. If they are touting for business on those platforms, you should be asking yourself why.

We got quotes from 5 builders for our project, 2 told us they had waiting list of 2 years+, we waited 12 months with our current builder. Right now he has work booked out till the end of 2024. 

I would be very suspect of any builder who can start works straight away. As I'm also realising very quickly with our build project, the most important thing to have with the builder ISN'T the contract, it's trust. Without trust contracts are literally worthless bit of paper. 

Ask around friends, family, colleagues, get multiple quotes, any good builder will also offer you the chance to speak/vist their current projects up front. Finally expect a massive variation in the 'quote', we had a price range of £250-400k from the same drawings and all came onsite to look around!!! 

Phil4432

twopenny said:

I'd start by asking neighbours and friends who've had it done who they used.

This is good advice, I'd add that if neighbours/friends have had a good job by a specific company, make sure to get the specific people that did the job.  The quality of different workers in even a small company, can vary dramatically.

That's been my experience.

Albermarle

When we had a loft conversion, I remember that all the specialist loft companies were significantly more expensive than local builder quotes. We found a local who mainly did lofts and they were around 25% cheaper and did a good job.