Hall,Stairs & Landing

diamondsky

Hi,

I am losing sleep trying to sort out my hall, stairs and landing. I contacted 3 contractors and only 1 turned up and said we would have to get other tradesmen in for some jobs as he didn't do these and quote £11,500.00. We were thinking around £5,000.00. Now, I am the contractor and finding it a nightmare trying to get 1 quote never mind 3.

Order of Works:
1) Vestibule floor is sunken so needs excavation and reconcreting etc.-
Contractor also quoted for renewing banister with spindles, newl posts and handrails - total floor and bannister £1386.50 - does this sound about right?
2) Advised to strip skirts, stair strings, dado on one level and 11 door frames prior to plasterwork - quote £1766.00 to strip and wax or varnish - worried if the end result will be varied as some skirts and dado are new as well as new bannister. Is this quote okay, worried I will have to paint white anyway, so cost of £1766.00 hurts the wallet somewhat just to prepare for paint.
3) I have a trusted electrician used before for shifting plugs.
4) Plaster walls and ceilings -trusted plaster used before.
5) Woodwork - wax or varnish or paint
6) Walls painted - trusted painter used before
7) Floors - trusted floor company used before
8) Joiner needed to hang 11 new doors - not found yet

Does this order sound okay and any ideas would be welcome on the woodwork. I don't know whether to get it stripped at £1766.00 or would it be cheaper to replace, skirts, dado rail, door frames and strip door innard and bannister strings. Any advice would be very much appreciated, as I am slowly going grey after completing the rooms in the rest of the house!

diamondsky

Hi,

Well, after sadly not getting any advice to my DIY nightmare.

Things have started...

I have had my porch dug out and recemented which was a farce I have to say. I now have levelling compound stuck on my path and door step and on the glass door! I can't get it off, I 've used a jetwash but its not shifting. Anyone else had this problem and sorted it out, I would appreciate a reply. The company had put a quote in for woodwork but after paying £450.00 for a small porch cemented floor which is now cracked and a bad job I didn't give them the wood job.

Anyhow, next stage...

I have the plasterer, the stripper and the wood person on board.

We had a change of plan and decided instead of stripping all wood it would be cheaper to remove. So, we told the plasterer we would remove the architraves, skirts and dado and for him to come in and do his thing. Then the stripper to come in for other bits and the wood guy to finish with his bit. Then the decorator and carpet people.

The wood guy knows the plasterer and said it would be best if the new wood goes on, the stripper comes in and the plasterer last. This concerns me as the plastering even though I will attempt to cover the new wood will get messed up I'm sure.

What do you think, please if anyone can advise so this could possibly be done for xmas, I would be grateful.

Nile

Hello diamondsky

I've moved your thread to the 'Is This Fair' board.

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Kind Regards

Nile

covbaldy

If you say though now you are replacing the wood - why do you need a guy to come in and strip? Surely the wood is all natural to start with?

Just make sure the plasterer finishes off well and clears up all mess, you should be able to sand down and splashes or bits. And the plasterer should come in before all the new wood is fitted, saves a problem. Then just get a chippie to come in and fit all new wood and hang doors.

Thats the best way to look at it I think.

diamondsky

Hi,

Thanks for replying. I have to have the stair stringers and part of staircase stripped as well as door innards and vestibule. The rest of the wood will be replaced.

I did want the plasterer in first because he is messy but now the joiner is saying he should be first as if the plaster starts without any skirts and architraves on, he said he wouldn't have anywhether to float the plaster to. Which means that when the joiner comes in, he said there would be gaps.

So, joiner wants in first...

diamondsky

Hi,

I've not heard from the joiner or plasterer so I don't know what is going on. I have a feeling they are going to say it will be left until after Xmas, which I don't think is fair after they have had a good deal of notice to get this sorted out. I can't even contact the wood stripper or painter or carpet layer as I can't give anyone a date. The house is cold because all the floorboards on the three levels have gaps, shiver me timbers...

I wish I could wave a magic wand and DIY SOS come and rescue me from the hell of DIY...

justpaper

if they havnt started by now i think u may have to hold it off Jan,.. i rekon the workers are finishing off other work,.. and cuzs ur job seems like its just started and a big job they might be holding it out till next year,..