My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

Help me source stuff for builder before I panic buy!

15 replies

lamandler · 14/03/2013 12:25

So just had meeting with builder renovating our house, and rather than pay for a project manager we (first mistake) are sourcing everything ourselves. He has just told me he needs pretty much everything, so I am now in a flap. Here are the things I need (we are in London if that matters) and of anyone has any pointers or recommendations I will Brew Wine Thanks you very much:

Aluminium sliding door from kitchen to garden (about 2.1 m wide)
Wooden sash windows, made from scratch
Lovely new front door (Victorian terrace)
Reclaimed but cheap fireplace
Engineered floor for kitchen - oiled oak would be luvverly

More too, but I will schedule that panic about kitchen and bathroom until tomorrow

Thanks!

OP posts:
Report
lamandler · 14/03/2013 12:26

Sorry door should be 2.7 wide if that matters. This is going to be a disaster

OP posts:
Report
wendybird77 · 14/03/2013 20:36

No idea about the rest, but ukflooringdirect.co.uk were great for me and quick delivery.

Order stuff before you think you need it - I had huge problems with my bathroom stuff - bath had to be sent back, taps took 3 weeks to arrive, etc. Doing it again I would not source from the least expensive places necessarily - they seem to just order from the supplier and that takes ages. I've had great luck with ebay and quick delivery - even on larger items.

Get stuff in, make sure you like it way before you think you'll need it. Once the work starts it seems to go very quickly. Good luck!

Report
RatherNot · 14/03/2013 21:46

Try Express Bifold Doors for bifolds and French Timber Direct for flooring - both have short lead times. Sash windows are usually shockingly expensive so it's well worth getting a number of quotes. London Door Company for front door?

Report
lalalonglegs · 14/03/2013 22:06

Local joiner for windows and door (am assuming you want a copy of the original). ebay for fireplace.

Report
lamandler · 15/03/2013 16:41

Thanks everyone, hadn't thought eBay will do

OP posts:
Report
lamandler · 15/03/2013 17:34

RatherNot, have you used French timber? Their stuff looks like very good value...

OP posts:
Report
agnesf · 15/03/2013 17:36

You forgot 100 tons biscuits & 5000 gallons tea

Report
agnesf · 15/03/2013 17:37

Seriously though our builders seemed to get almost everything from jewsons. Not sure if one near you in London.

Engineered floor from Topps Tiles

Report
mrsH1974 · 15/03/2013 18:37

London Door Company - avoid like the plague. Average work at inflated prices. Get a local joinery company to do it instead.

Report
WishIdbeenatigermum · 15/03/2013 18:42

Where are you OP? Get a screwfix catalogue NOW and work out where the nearest one is- ditto b&q, homebase your local electrical suppliers etc.

Report
mrsH1974 · 15/03/2013 18:45

You could also use a freelance specifier or project manager. They sometimes pass on their trade discount which can make their fees very good value.

Report
Selks · 15/03/2013 18:50

God no do not get your engineered floor from topps tiles! Theirs arenot good quality. Yes yes to ukflooringdirect - great engineered wood flooring at decent price. I've recently bought my engineered oak flooring from there and it is amazing. Go for the 6mm thick (wood top layer thickness) stuff to allow for it to be resanded a few times.

Report
Selks · 15/03/2013 18:51

Reclaimed fireplace check out eBay and local architectural salvage companies.

Report
RatherNot · 16/03/2013 10:53

Lamandler, yes, I have their engineered boards in 230mm wide. We went down to their showroom/factory in Kent, which is well worth a visit as you can choose the actual batch of wood you want. Our builders laid it and claim it's good quality - we've certainly had a lot of compliments. The guy who owns it is great source of info, even dissuading us from having a more expensive board as he didn't think we needed it. We're in London too and delivery was easy. HTH.

Report
LaGuerta · 16/03/2013 12:05

Depending in where in London you are, try Dorking Stoves and Fireplaces. Not necessarily cheap but we had a good experience with them installing a reclaimed cast iron insert.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.