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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not let the builder in who turned up 4 hours late?

23 replies

pavlovthepregnantcat · 14/04/2009 20:23

He was meant to be coming round to give us a quote for loft conversion. His wife called to say he would be an hour late. He did not show.

Until 5 mins ago. I ignored the doorbell the first time as I am in bed, after just this second settling DD after yelling at her, yelling at the cat who would not get out of her room without brute force, and breaking a chair leg off DDs plastic shite chair (did put it back on). I ignored the doorbell the second time, as I feel like shite, could not find anything to wear other than DHs manky ol' dressing gown. The third time, I located a dirty pair of trousers and went stomping down there, opened up the door scowling.

A nice portly looking man in a yellow builders jacket {necessary to do a quote? nice and friendly saying 'mrs pavlov? I am xxxx, sorry I am late' Late? I say, you were meant to be here at 4! You are too late, DD is just settled' Poor chap, I bit his hand off, and he then said he had the day from hell and his phone died in the middle of nowhere and no way to phone again to say he would be later. Could he reschedule? I relented. Sure, tomorrow.

Then, I felt bad as he really did look frazzled and he made the effort to come at least. Even if it was 8:15pm!!

AIBU to not let him in? Should I give him another chance? (either, he is loyal enough to come visit like he said he would, by hook or by crook, or he is highly disorganised and I don't want him touching my loft?!).

Was I a bit mean?

OP posts:

HecatesTwopenceworth · 14/04/2009 20:25

yes. although I do see your point.

Let's just wait and see if he comes back tomorrow eh?

Seuss · 14/04/2009 20:27

Don't think you were BU but he obviously had a crap day too. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and try again tomorrow but I wouldn't feel bad about being annoyed at someone who was 4hrs late! (and no third chances!)

2rebecca · 14/04/2009 20:28

What world do you live in where builders normally appear on time? If you have spare reliable, pleasant looking builders send him away. Up here they're like gold dust. I'd have got dressed and made him a cup of tea!

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 14/04/2009 20:29

Hecate - he is seeing his bank manager before he comes, so I am guessing he will show! I did sort of apologise, pointed upwards to DDs room and muttered something about rummaging around in the loft waking her, and he profusely apologised, his fault he said.

I just got settled though, after DD would not settle, after the phone rang twice and then the fucking door bell. I just wanted to be left in peace this evening. And my poor DD, I apologised to her (I did not yell loudly) My poor cat. Not apologised to her yet (I screamed at her) She is standing all proud like an egyptian statue - that means 'piss off mother I am annoyed with you'

OP posts:

dittany · 14/04/2009 20:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 14/04/2009 20:31

2rebecca - see, I am a builder virgin. I have had 3 others come along, they were prompt, but wanted to charge me £25k for the privilege! He will be back tomorrow, I am sure he can't turn away business any more than I can turn away builders.

I will let him have some of my maryland cookies.

OP posts:

Longtalljosie · 14/04/2009 20:38

Hmmmm. We had a decorator who always had excellent sob stories excuses for being late and unreliable, and then we engaged him and he turned out to be an utter shyster, we took him to the small claims court in the end.

It's not a good start before you've even got a business relationship with him. Check his references carefully!

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 14/04/2009 20:40

Longtalljosie - ah, you see, he had a clipboard and everything, so he must be legit eh? . He was recommended, but of course I shall go inspect some work!

OP posts:

2rebecca · 14/04/2009 20:57

We had builders who had all the official certification, but a 3 month job still took 8 months, even when project managed by an architect with regular meetings. Not sure there's any guarantees. Good cheap plumbers are always hopeless re timekeeping, but do the job properly in my experience.
My tree surgeon is the only one who comes vaguely on time and does a good reasonable job. Shame he doesn't do roofing as well. They're a strange breed, keen to tell you how terrible the job the last roofer did was, and how much you still need doing. Mind you I wouldn't want their job, but they really could tell me anything, and we had 3 different roofers give 3 totally different ideas of what was needed.

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 14/04/2009 21:05

2rebecca - I am now very worried about getting our loft done! I don;t want a 3 month job to take 8 months! I want it done before new baby arrives!

I agree they all tell you different things, one of those who quoted us a fortune said we needed steel beams, another guy said we did not. So, if we go for the one who says we don't, we will find out if he is bullshitting anyway as we are going for full application with building regs to ensure they approve structural work. That way if they approve it without steels, it will be ok. If they don't we know he is talking crap! But I have also heard that some loft specialists put in steels as standard, needed or not, and this bumps the price up.

OP posts:

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 14/04/2009 21:06

Oh and our plumber is always on time (not that we need him often, just to service the boiler) and when he put in the new CH he did it in a great time AND cleaned up after!

OP posts:

MollieO · 14/04/2009 21:12

YABU - he's a builder and he turned up the same day he was supposed to !!!!!!!! How lucky are you? Hope that he does come back tomorrow.

If you've had architect plans drawn up then the builder can quote and schedule against each stage which will give you a clear idea of how long it should take. Then double it to allow for 'unforeseens'.

2rebecca · 14/04/2009 21:13

It sounds like it's a structural engineer you need re the necessity for steel beams, not a builder. Our structural engineers were good, but expensive. They said what they thought was needed structurally for planning regulations and the architect then put that in a spec for the builders to price.

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 14/04/2009 21:17

2rebecca - oh dear how expensive? This builder can do the drawings/calculations. I am thinking this is going to cost!

Mollie - you are right. However, we do have another 2 coming tomorrow, so if he can be fussy...

OP posts:

EightiesChick · 14/04/2009 22:24

YANBU to say it's too late if he arrived 4 hours late and your DD was in bed. However, it's a good sign in my book that his wife rang to say he'd be late, even if he was then much later. Many's the time I have had some bloke I'd booked to do work on the house either a) turn up at least an hour late or b) not show at all, and I have never had a phone call to apologise or explain. So I'd give him another chance tomorrow.

In theory you have another 2 coming tomorrow, but again, in the past I've booked, say, 4 workmen to come out and quote on the same day, and I can't ever remember all 4 turning up. At least 1 has always gone AWOL. That's supply and demand I guess...

Gillyan · 14/04/2009 23:25

oh dear what a day from hell YANBU

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 15/04/2009 12:29

He arrived! 30 mins early!!! Apologised again for yesterday. He is currently working on a big conversion job, given us the address, told us to pop round whenever we want without warning to check what work is done/speck. He has a portfolio he will bring round for us to check/call clients. He has certs for liability etc which he will show us, and works alongside a structural engineer who is also able to do the drawings and ensure they are approved by building control. He gave us a ball park figure which we felt was reasonable. He talked about for example, all work being through the roof not through the house, if the workman puts foot through ceiling, he will repair it, same with any other damage etc etc.

So all in all, a success I think.

We had another firm in, they talled ball and bumph and did not really give us any idea of anything until we had the drawings but banded around a figure of 10-15k more than this other guy. I felt uneasy with these guys. I know you can't go on just gut instinct alone but I really did not feel like I wanted these working on my loft!

All in all, goes to show you should not judge a book by it's cover.

We have another one coming this afternoon, and 4 more arranged for this week, along with two structural engineers and an architect.

OP posts:

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 15/04/2009 12:47

Go with your gt instinct. You have to be comfy with who you have working in your house.

Rachel2796 · 15/04/2009 13:08

My husband is a builder and clients often have clauses written into the contracts that work is to be compteted on time or there are penalties to pay. The will ensure the builders really think about the schedule and not be too optimistic!

Never trust a quiet builder. Good ones always have too much work!

FAQinglovely · 15/04/2009 13:16

I bet he came early as his wife probably gave him an ear bashing when he got home and said he'd gone to yours 4hrs late.........after she'd rung and told you it would be an hour

AxisofEvil · 15/04/2009 16:22

Provided a builder is any good then they should do most of the work in the loft without breaking through into the top floor until they are ready to put the stairs in.

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 15/04/2009 16:24

Axis - oh good, shall take that as a good sign? He did say he might shout down the hatch for a refill of tea! The cheek! I was only a touch concerned that I would not be able to see what was going on interfere if I could not be up there (maybe thats the point eh!)

OP posts:

MollieO · 15/04/2009 16:27

It is normal to do a loft conversion through the roof. It is good that he works with a structural engineer. There is a lot of work in loft conversions, probably more so and more complicated than standard single story extensions.

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