Extension project

kamworm90 · 2025-11-28T11:20:39+00:00

Hi,
We are about to finish the project and we stumbled across few issues. We are having extension and kitchen done. The builder changed the design of our roof mid way through the project from pitched roof with 2 skylights to flat with lantern. Tried to charge us more for it but we refused so as a "gesture of goodwill" he said he'd do it for the same price. However, we had another building company mentioning that we probably paid too much as flatroof (fibreglass) is cheaper than what we originally agreed as pitched roof requires more labour, more money for materials and overall more time to build. I'm considering asking for a cost breakdown- not to be a pain but because of the comments we heard from other people. Could you advise?
Thanks

kamworm90 · 2025-11-28T11:22:54+00:00

The reason I'm doubting this builder is because he also agreed originally for more work to be done as a sales tactic but when it came to doing it, he denied couple of jobs (and these were quite important to us). Unfortunately, we missed these in contract being bought by sales talk....

gwynlas · 2025-11-28T11:51:34+00:00

It is a little late to be having these discussions.
Why did you agree to the flat roof which will possibly cost you more with maintenance in the long run?
Essentially you should have had a written contract before commencement of works.
Whilst you might have not needed planning permission for changes have works been signed off by buildiing control?

kamworm90 · 2025-11-28T12:29:40+00:00

gwynlas said:

It is a little late to be having these discussions.
Why did you agree to the flat roof which will possibly cost you more with maintenance in the long run?
Essentially you should have had a written contract before commencement of works.
Whilst you might have not needed planning permission for changes have works been signed off by buildiing control?

Hi, so we had a contract for pitched roof. And the price was agreed on it. Once the walls were up, we had a call that there was some issue they didn't expect and the fear roof is only option. As I have small kids at home, I just wanted things to be finished. But it didn't occur me that flat roof may be less expensive until it was pointed out. Especially since he made it sound like he's doing us a favour...