Building work is a nightmare currently. Trades are in short supply, so any issues with delays in one trade, or illness, or even planned holidays has a massive knock on. Project planning is virtually a waste of time. We are on the 12 iteration of my critical milestones in 16 weeks. My job was estimated as 8-10 weeks, were 16 weeks in and at this rate I think we’ve 6-8 weeks more.
most of time no one is on site at all, or maybe 1 person. I then get flurries of 3-4 days when stuff moves ahead because the stars align or something. I get people coming in on Saturdays or Sundays or bank hols to try to get jobs done- a few of my trades bods are exhausted and working really stupid hours.
I have not been able to use my kitchen now for 4 weeks. It wasn’t planned that my kitchen would be out of use at all. The roof needed replacing. Not the ceiling. Roof came off. Roofer cancels At last minute on day he should start. . Roof leaked in heavy downpour next day. Ceiling and walls damaged. Ceiling started to be pulled down . Possible asbestos found. Wait for test results - no asbestos. Ceiling pulled down. Roofer goes completely awol . Roof leaks again with more damage. Roof now on, but electrics have shorted due to water leaks and electricians on hols till next week. Still no ceiling, crap falling down all over kitchen, and room (which is my open plan kitchen, dining, lounge) smells of Damp and all windows covered with tarps until gutters fitted next week. So can’t use lounge either.
and so it goes on. My builder project company has been left out of pocket by their tried and trusted roofer going awol. Builder is furious and very frustrated. Roofer was paid by my builder for materials and is trying to get the money back. The roofer has worked reliably with my builder for 5 years, my builder thinks he is making a packet of picking up last minute panic jobs where other roofers fail to show up.
put bluntly, it’s a shit show for everyone. Sorry you’re in the mess…I know how it feels…but most of it is just beyond anyones control given covid, brexit and lack of skills investment - all of which sits with the government to sort.
as people keep saying to me, try to focus on what it’ll be like once done. You will get there. You need to keep the trades that do show up on side and bite back your frustrations. Pissing them off could mean they just walk and then you’re incurring even more delays.