Extension project

kamworm90

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

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

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

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... 

kamworm90

And yes, building control was here 

BikingBud

You  may get a more complete response on 

In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

I have suggested it is moved.

silvercar

BikingBud said:

You  may get a more complete response on 

In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

I have suggested it is moved.

I’ll move it over.  Welcome to the forums, @kamworm90.

kamworm90

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. As the part of original roof was already broken and I have little ones, I wanted this to bo sorted. Then, he 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 few builders mentioning that we were taken advantage of because 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. They recommended we should have close look at the total cost as the contractor made some money on this. 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  

singhini

i would be checking with the council first. Changing from a pitched roof with rooflights to a flat roof with a lantern is significant, and in many councils it counts as a material alteration that must either:

be re-approved, or

be confirmed as non-material by the planning officer.

If the builder changed it without checking, that’s on them — but you’re the homeowner, so you’re the one who will face enforcement issues later if it’s not compliant.

by all means ask for cost breakdown but others saying you “were taken advantage of” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true (There may have been structural reasons for the change. Or the price might have been as a whole-project figure, not line-by-line, so as long a the project gets finished the cost will always be £x)

kamworm90

singhini said:

i would be checking with the council first. Changing from a pitched roof with rooflights to a flat roof with a lantern is significant, and in many councils it counts as a material alteration that must either:

be re-approved, or

be confirmed as non-material by the planning officer.

If the builder changed it without checking, that’s on them — but you’re the homeowner, so you’re the one who will face enforcement issues later if it’s not compliant.

by all means ask for cost breakdown but others saying you “were taken advantage of” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true (There may have been structural reasons for the change. Or the price might have been as a whole-project figure, not line-by-line, so as long a the project gets finished the cost will always be £x)

Hi, so the cost was broken down but only in discussion. He even asked us to pay for the roof completion but lantern isn't installed saying it's not part of the roof project. As far as I know, the reason was because of the materials he was supplying. 

TadleyBaggie

Original thread that has been moved:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6642883/extension-project#latest