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Original poster

To say something to the builders

17 replies

HelpIcantfindaname · 28/09/2023 08:10

In July we had a new driveway done, couldn't fault the builders. So when we decided to replace the patio (needs must because the steps were broken & dangerous & lots of the flags were cracked) we went with the same team. We expected to wait a while but they said they'd had a cancellation & could fit us in the following week.

They should have started work on 18th, but there was an excuse every day. They didn't even say if they were coming or not until we texted them.

They eventually started work on 26th. They told me laying flags is not the same as the block paving they did at the front & they could work in the rain. (They did work in some rain on the driveway.)

Now Storm Agnes was due yesterday & I wouldn't expect them to work in heavy rain, but in every weather app I looked at it wasn't due to rain here till after 1pm. But they cancelled yesterday because of the storm. They could have done a few hours work, the heavy rain didn't even start till after 3.

I'm really annoyed because with all the equipment & materials now spread on my lawn my dogs have no room to run around in the garden. The youngest is just 15 weeks & I'm having to take him in the garden on a lead to keep him out of the builders sand

DH thinks this is all OK. I feel like we are treating it as if they are doing us a favour when actually we are paying them thousands to do the job.

I'd have thought after delaying for over a week they'd have been working hard to get our job done. On Tuesday they left at 3 30. They used to stay till 4.30 -5 when they were doing the drive.

Do I say anything today, or just let it all go?

OP posts:
Northernparent68 · 28/09/2023 08:40

Let it go, there’s a shortage of builders. You need them more than they need you

SeptemberSuns · 28/09/2023 08:43

You have zero understanding of builders. They will have other commitments and are fitting your job in around it. Either you want them to do it or you don't. If you want them to go mention to them, if not let them get on with it and bite your tongue.

Original poster
HelpIcantfindaname · 28/09/2023 08:45

That's a very good point @Northernparent68 thank you.
I think if it wasn't for the inconvenience with the dogs I wouldn't be as bothered.
They've turned up a bit earlier today, so hopefully they'll get a lot done.

OP posts:
ButWhatAboutTheBees · 28/09/2023 08:49

Weather apps aren't 100% accurate and it's not worth it when it's known there is a storm coming to try and get all their equipment out only to rain earlier.

It works the other way and they end up missing a day's work when the app says rain that never happens too.

If you're really not happy with them then don't use them again.

Original poster
HelpIcantfindaname · 28/09/2023 08:50

@SeptemberSuns I think it's the difference in how brilliant they were with the drive. And that yesterday it wasn't forecast to rain till afternoon so they could have worked here in the morning. If they are fitting us in around other jobs they shouldn't have said they'd get it done in 3 days. To be fair, when they first quoted they didn't say 3 consecutive days. But they did say on Tuesday they'd get it finished this week.

OP posts:
OnAir · 28/09/2023 08:51

Half the problem is that builders are generally on a day rate so if they come out and get rained off the lads still need paying for a whole day. It works out better for everyone if you're going to be rained off to be rained off or go to another job that they potentially won't be rained off. They would have given it to you on a price but the lads are still paid on a day rate. Hope that makes sense.

sunshineandtea · 28/09/2023 08:52

They sound pretty standard. If not good!

There should be a communication skills module in builder school 😆

My extension that was supposed to take 12 weeks is heading for 12 months... 😭

Original poster
HelpIcantfindaname · 28/09/2023 08:59

@ButWhatAboutTheBees another good point, but their equipment is out, its all over my lawn.
We won't need them again as there's nothing more to do now the drive & patio are done/getting done.
And going on the driveway I'd still recommend them to friends.
Last weeks reasons were still needing to finish previous job, bad weather, worker hurt himself but that changed into him being ill, & then an appointment. And they never once let us know...I'd be sitting waiting & it would get to 9.15 & I'd text to see if they were coming. A lot of times it was something they could have let us know the night before so I didn't need to be up & ready & have moved my car before 8am.

Now they've started & we can't let the dogs out I do need it done as soon as possible, so I'd thought wanting them to fit in a few hours yesterday was reasonable.

OP posts:
Original poster
HelpIcantfindaname · 28/09/2023 09:03

@OnAir that is another very good point. Thank you. I hadn't thought about the way they are paid.
I guess I'm just bring impatient cos of my dogs, (well, the puppy really) & my dogs are nothing to do with them.

@sunshineandtea that sounds like a nightmare. When we had building work done on the house, many years ago, it overran too, but nothing like that long. Hope yours gets finished soon.

OP posts:
SomeCatFromJapan · 28/09/2023 09:13

From looking around at the various bits of work my neighbours are having done, this is standard. Just be patient for now is my advice.

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 28/09/2023 09:17

I doubt all their equipment is all over your garden. There will be some quite expensive tools which they wouldn't leave lying around.

And the winds were high yesterday too, which might have caused issues

They aren't going to trundle out there for a couple of hours, which might get rained off sooner, especially if they can nip to a different job which will take a day and wouldn't be affected by the rain.

SeptemberSuns · 28/09/2023 12:21

@OnAir utter nonsense. Builders are paid in a variety of ways, day rate is one but unless you know the manner in which this firm pays their staff you cannot possibly say.

rwalker · 28/09/2023 12:55

With a weather warning in place it was the right thing to do
some jobs are best done in one go not start and leave
stopping work they also have to pack away clean down tools and wash out mixers

ZebrasLoveLions · 28/09/2023 12:59

I would just leave them a very bad review online about how unreliable they are and sack them off.

GirlFromMarsBars · 28/09/2023 13:07

Sympathise with your frustration. We had similar with a wall which was meant to take a week and took over a month, the guys would sometimes not turn up, or just disappear halfway through the day.

To the poster who disagreed with them leaving tools all over your garden, it does happen, it happened to us - I also had young children who couldn't use the garden, and elderly neighbours who were impacted.

Unfortunately not much you can do as builders are in demand. But I would have a word with them

GirlFromMarsBars · 28/09/2023 13:08

Oh and not recommend them again to friends!

dcsp · 28/09/2023 14:07

If this was me, I wouldn't be overly worried.

The important things are:

  • The quality of your new patio, which you'll have for years
  • The cost of your new patio

Compared to these things, having two week's disruption instead of one (even having four week's disruption instead of one) is a tiny matter - ignore it and focus on the two things that really matter

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