Econoloft - really slow?

[HiDBandSIL]

We're using Econoloft for a loft conversion. We signed the contract with them at the end of December and were told that they'd start work in 3 months.

It's been 3 months now and they haven't even finished the drawings! They've said we won't get a date for the work to start until we've got the party wall stuff sorted (we can't start that until they've finished the drawings) and then it will be 6-8 weeks before they've got a team free to start work.

So that will be at least 7 months rather than 3. They won't even have started by the date they said they'd have finished!

Is that typical or have we just been unlucky? If you've had a loft done by them, how long was it from start to finish?

[HiDBandSIL]

I thought I should come and update this because it has now been nearly 7 months since we signed our contract and Econoloft still haven't started work. When we signed they said it would be 3 months.

They were supposed to have started work yesterday, then they postponed it to next Friday and now they've said that the team they were going to use have declined the job and we don't have a start date at all anymore.

I'm speechless about it at the moment so I'll just leave that information here for anyone thinking about using them...

[HiDBandSIL]

As this is turning into quite the saga I think I'll start keeping a little diary here of what happens next.

Here's the tea: and cake:

Feel free to join in with your tales of building work woe (doesn't have to be Econoloft).

[HipsterHunter]

Oh what a nightmare!

You will need much tea and cake and wine!

[HiDBandSIL]

Thanks hipster . Have some .

I'm sat here wondering whether it would be slower to wait for Econoloft or find another builder to do it. It's not looking great either way.

Just to make things worse I'm 4 months pregnant and the work is scheduled to take 3 months. We're waiting for this loft conversion to be done so we can extend.

[Spickle]

I know it is a long time ago, but perhaps have a read of this old thread :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/1103545-Anyone-used-Econoloft

[Sarahsea1]

Out of interest, what's the benefit of using Econoloft over other loft/building companies?

[SarahBeeney]

Hi,we are nearing the end of our conversion with Econoloft and they've been good. We had to wait a while for the building team but that's because I requested a specific team so they could have started earlier.
Where are you based?I'm SE London.

[Thecatsmother17]

Where are you? We had our loft converted and they started two weeks after we signed the paperwork.

[HiDBandSIL]

spickle - oh good god. I wish I hadn't read that. I was just thinking things couldn't get any worse!!!

sarahsea - for us it was the thought that they'd be quick and good at doing loft conversions because they do loads and nothing else. They're usually more expensive than regular builders. We've already been proved wrong on the "quick" bit. Now that I've read spickle's thread I'm worried about then "good" bit too!!

beeney - I think this is part of the problem. We're not in London and as I understand it, although they're quick to say they cover all over the place, their home turf is around Bromley. The builder we've just waited six weeks for said at the last minute he didn't want to travel out of London...

cats - TWO WEEKS???? I literally don't know what to say to that. It took them 5 weeks to send us the first set of drawings and at 7 months they've still not started work.

[Blankscreen]

My friend has used them.amd had similar Stories re the teams.falling through at the last minute.

Theirs.has been nothing but trouble. Building work.started before christmas its still not finished.
Personally i would go elsewhere

[SarahBeeney]

All the tradesmen have been from the Isle of Sheppey,so not too far from SE London.I have no idea what other areas they cover though!
I didn't find one company with a 100% good review record. It seems it's down to luck.
I have to say the head office have been very effective with keeping in contact/answering questions. Sorry you've had such a bad experience

[HiDBandSIL]

Oh blank that sounds awful and I totally agree with you beeney all of these companies seem to have a good number of bad reviews.

Some good news today. They've found us a new team and we've got materials and scaffolding coming on Monday and Tuesday. Fingers massively crossed that it goes ahead now!

[HipsterHunter]

Yay fingers crossed!

[SarahBeeney]

At last!If the materials are arriving it should be starting soon!I hope you have a good team. Our guys were very considerate and funny as well. I think they appreciated the endless cups of tea.

[SeetheseeyessogreenIcanstarefo]

What a thread linked too there what a roller coaster.

[Chalky14]

Appreciate it has been a few weeks but I'm glad I found this thread as I thought it was just me who was having crap service from Econoloft. Their survey guy came out at the end of June 17 to do the initial free survey. We were told to expect the estimate in 2-3 weeks. To date we've not received anything despite 3 chasers. Will be using a local Cheshire firm instead.

[NixV]

Sarahbeeney
If I may ask which area are you in and which team did your conversion?
We looking to use them early next year but I have read so many mixed reviews and what I've noticed is that it's all down to team you have that do the conversion. Seems team you had, knew what they were doing...

[citygurl]

I read this forum carefully before inviting Econoloft to quote for a dormer loft conversion. The surveyor visited in December and having chased the Head Office last week I now have a quote.

At the visit I was quoted £34k for a full dormer loft conversion which I did not want. The surveyor attempted to hard sell the same template package as my neighbour even producing their plans and quote. I require a shell (external structural works only) so that the finishing is to my spec . I have an aversion to UPVC windows and french doors with a juliette balcony.

The surveyor said he would not quote for a shell despite the website stating they do. This is because the 'cream' is in the add on work. I contacted Head Office and Wendy (absolutely lovely communications with me) said that the Managing Director confirmed that I could have a quote for a shell conversion. This arrived today and is almost £30k. £22k for materials and £7k for labour. It is a 360sq ft space.

I may have had a different result if I had agreed to use the surveyor for the Party Wall agreement. He was pushing very hard for this work. The surveyor is a contractor too. He admitted that some teams have never worked together before and are not as experienced as they could be but training is now provided!

I have queried the quote but am sorely disappointed.

[SarahBeeney]

NixV sorry this reply will be way too late!We are south east London and Lee was our Joiner. He was great.

[NixV]

Thank you Sarah. This is useful as we looking to proceed at the moment and viewing few places they’ve done in our area.

[SarahBeeney]

Best of luck. I found communication with the people in the office ran smoothly. All the workmen who came were brilliant. It took longer than expected as it was over the summer and unfortunately the electritian went on his holiday for 2 weeks so that set us back a bit. However,we weren't in a rush so it wasn't a huge problem. The Tiler they recommended was pricey but he did a good job.

[MrsTibbsmum]

Thank you SarahBeeney, it is lovely to read nice comments of the company. I am just returning to work at Econoloft after being on extended maternity leave. Dealing with the kids has been hard work. Im glad to be back now. I was saddened by the comments of delays and I do hope this does not happen again and the actual work on site made up for the delays. If anyone wishes to contact me to be reassured about any of our work Nationwide please do. We are a family business and rely on reviews, recommends and good workmanship.

[Chinnyreckoning]

Can you give me a very rough figure for converting a 3 bed 60s bungalow. The joists needed replacing as they aren't high enough etc so I've been told the while roof needs to come off😯

[MrsTibbsmum]

Chinnyreckoning There are so many variables to consider. How large the roof is? What type of tiles and how many. id give you a rough estimate of around £50k. If you send me a picture and your address I would be happy to give a better idea. Or call us for a free feasibility study.

[viktoria]

We used Econoloft quite a few years ago. I wouldn't recommend them.
I suppose it really depends on the team you get. Unless you have a specific recommendation it really is the luck of the draw.
We had a father/son team who seemed ok. We had a bedroom and en suite bathroom put in our loft space. Bathroom had a wall hung toilet. A couple of years after the loft conversion, the toilet seemed to come off the wall.
We called Econoloft and they sent the plumber back who said that the builders fitted the wall hung toilet the wrong way and it's their responsibility.
When I called Econoloft and told them what the plumber said, I was told that very sadly the builder who did our loft conversion, had died and there was nothing they could do as the wall hung toilet was an extra spec that they don't do any guarantees on. We could usually contact the builder and ask for him to correct the problem, but as our builder had died, there was nothing that they could do.
It cost us quite a bit to put the shoddy work right, had to take tiles off, get new tiles etc.
And the builder who put it right said that the people who installed the wall hung toilet obviously had never done this kind of work before.