In builder hell - is it usually like this?

[AhBiscuits]

I'm currently having an extension built. Fucking hell it is taking a long time. Already way past the estimated completion and I can't cope with the mess and chaos.

This is what happens every day

Arrive at 10
Give me an impressive sounding run down of what they plan to achieve.
Go for a shit
Stand around scratching their balls and pondering the job ahead.
Move some materials around.
11:30-1 lunch.
Actually do a bit of work
3pm declare they won't get everything finished but will come back first thing.

Repeat.

I cannot take this anymore, I regret starting the bloody thing.

Our flawed education system has caused this mess. Any kids that are decent and intelligent are persuaded down the academic route. Lots of tradesmen are basically "grunts" who are little more than odd-job men, often with no formal training, often incompetent or criminals. They know customers are desperate due to shortage of tradies so it's easy money for them. Yes, lots are decent people, competent, properly trained, etc., but it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff as a householder when there are no official supervisory bodies except for gas and electric (which too aren't as thorough as they should be). In our village, we've a two-brother firm of builders who are literally booked up years in advance - learned on the job from their fathers, and who are now training up their sons. They're "proper" builders - turn up on time, do the job right, etc and have a very high local reputation, but you just can't get them unless you;re willing to wait years, even for small jobs. They do everything themselves except for the things they're not allowed to (gas/electric) - they do roofing, plastering, carpentry, groundworks and proudly never use subbies as they don't want to risk suffering dodgy workers themselves! It's such a shame that the trades aren't respected more and decent kids aren't encouraged into the trades to raise the standards.

We had a double side extension done last year, a big one ! Was done in 5 months I was absolutely on them every single day . My husband worked away so I was managing it I was pregnant with an unexpected third raging pgp and I needed them the hell out of there and my house back together , like yesterday!

This happened to us, regarding being ‘punished’ for complaining about something they’s done wrong. Always another problem arose, and basically we stopped raising our worries. It was a horrible process, but the extension is great, thank fuck! I will never ever do it again though, if we move. No way José!

I think they are actually ghosting us now. They came on Monday and collected some of the rubbish. Nothing since. Messages have been read and ignored since. The main building is done and signed off by building control. Inside is complete and we've started decorating. It actually looks amazing.
There are a number of outside bits and bobs that need finishing, like the drainpipe, filling a hole down one side, putting the fence back up, taking away all the rubbish and some bits of equipment etc. They also haven't brought the blinds for the velux windows over, which were included in the quote. We might just suggest to them that we drop hands. They won't get the final payment and we'll sort the rest ourselves. I'm just ready for them to be out of our lives. It's been a painful process, our house is definitely done after this!!!

£500 cash bonus if completed by X date and to a high enough standard.

Shouldn’t need to be done but it’s a hell of a motivator if you just want it done

Don't be ridiculous. You don't offer someone a hefty bonus as a sweetener for doing the work they're already contractually obliged to do.

Got home yesterday- works completed a week ago. Completed my arse. The "some bags of rubbish" outside the house is two full industrial size bins (the big square bags), the "amazing finish" is anything but, lots of scratched white wash and chipped walls, none of the carpets they pulled up have been relaid and, the worst, our American style fridge freezer (not huge for what it is but big enough) which has to have either its doors or the doors of the rooms taken off to move has been left two rooms away from the kitchen. They knew what it took to move it and they knew where we wanted it because they asked. I sent a message almost immediately and wife of builder rocked up at the door. They didn't move it because they'd had to move it soooooo manu times.

I told her to get out. A couple of hours later I get "if you empty we'll come back and move it".

So bloody angry. And they dumped an extra 5k on us in the final bill. Some of it stuff they allegedly incurred six months ago.

Your builder sounds similar to ours @Liverpool52
The guys from building control commented about how our guy is a nightmare to deal with. Not sure where the 5 star reviews on Checkatrade came from.

You got a workman to actually turn up that's impressive in itself

The Polish guys we had last year were great, it went like this
8am - turn up and The Boss explained what would be happening and left
8.15 - 5 Occasional wee but apart from that no breaks and refused all drinks etc
5 pm - Boss turned up and explained what they had done and what they would be doing next while the guys cleaned up.
5.30 - peace and quiet

Bloody hell, where are you located and can you share their contact details?

A few bad reviews for our builder have started to appear online. I stalked his social media and 10 days after starting work for us he posted

Feeling good 7 days no drink. I've been drinking 1lt of vodka a day for over 3 months, It's time for a life style change

And then yesterday his MIL posted a rant on his FB asking where he is, saying that he has abandoned his wife and kids, that any money he gets goes on drink and drugs and that he's a lowlife, selfish prick.

So I'm not feeling overly optimistic about him coming back 😣

Crikey, he sounds a little distracted. I hope it works out for you

Reply and say 'excellent news. See you in the morning then'