Kitchen fitting - am I being unreasonable?

[Squidgems]

I've just had the bathroom done and now the guys are doing my second lounge/dining room and a separate kitchen. After gutting the kitchen they got in another chap to do the first fix electrics. I wanted the fusebox/consumer unit changing and moving which I'm paying for separately. I had to argue the toss with the kitchen guys about paying for some extra sockets as the quote had included all electrical work. I decided I wanted even more and will be paying an additional amount to the electrician.

The fitters have been plastering today. Now the thing is that there are some areas in the kitchen that haven't been plastered. This is around the gas and electric meter walls and not to the bottom of the wall in some areas. When I asked them about it they said yhey had run out of plaster. I assumed they would get more and finish the walls. I've looked in the kitchen while they were out and found that they have set up a drier to dry the walls faster and have started assembing the units. When I've asked about finishing the plastering they said that because ithe area is where the units will go it won't matter. I've said to them that I will pay for the extra plaster.

I want things done properly. I've waited a very long time to renovate my house but feel that they are rushing through things.

Last week they accused me of being too fussy because I queried the fact some of the grouting had small air holes, some tiles are slightly proud, they missed bits when applying silicone and didn't box in the waste pipe as asked at the back of the toilet. At one point when talking about the cost of replacing skirting boards that the had taken off in the lounge they said that I could pay for the work done so far and they would leave. I had already paid them for the bathroom though.

I feel I am walking on eggshells but I'm spending my hard earned savings and don't just want the kitchen to look nice on the outside but to be sound underneath as well.

There was a recent thread about whether or not to leave tradesmen on their own to get on with things. I wish I could but what is happening is showing why I can't do so.

The guys have just left leaving the dehumidifier running in the kitchen.

So, am I being unreasonable? What should I do?

[Squidgems]

Forgot to say sorry for the length of the post. Didn't realise it had turned into War and Peace!

[nemno]

I don't know what the answer is as I am currently in the same position. Watching over them has caught a lot of potential irritants for me, but I am sure they'd rather I buggered off. I would want the walls plastered properly too and would insist they do.

One of my builders is great at working towards a high standard finish but he is not always here. So it's who/the team you get that makes all the difference but as all the different trades are pulled in as independent contractors there is no way the references you get beforehand actually translates into what actually may materialise. It's all very well for the head builder to tell me that he won't employ the tiler again but that doesn't make my 50sqm of tiling look better.

So no help but much sympathy.

[Squidgems]

Sorry that you are in the same predicament Nemno. What gets me is that when I've said about the little annoying things, they've said 'ah, my wife is just like you, noticing things'. So why don't they realise that they should take a bit more care! It's so infuriating.

I'm lucky that I've got lots of annual leave to use up. However I can't be in the room watching everything and I've got to show trust. Maybe this might be a case of what I don't see won't upset me? Oh no it doesn't bear thinking about!

[LadyLapsang]

I don't think you are being unreasonable. If they quoted to plaster, then they plaster. If they quoted to box in pipes then they do that etc. DH always makes workman prepare a full written quotation - then everyone is clear on the work being commissioned and the payment for each element.If they fail to complete the work to the standard required then they don't get paid. Actually never a problem because dodgy builders avoid full written quotes which each element priced up.