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Original poster

Want to kill my builder, am I alone???

33 replies

CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 13/08/2007 22:07

Feeling very fed up with building work on my home.Also pregnant after a stillbirth so not very rational at moment.

Need to hear some builder stories to make me realise I am not alone...

OP posts:
Merlin · 13/08/2007 22:10

Firstly, sorry about the stillbirth .

From experience with builders I think you just have to grit your teeth and and just think how wonderful your house will be when it is finally finished.

I have today watched the stupid idiot doing our driveway scoop up the excess gravel which he over ordered and take it all away again ..... about 4 trips in his truck - took most of the day and did nothing else!!!!!

Merlin · 13/08/2007 22:10

Meant to say congrats on being pregnant again though!!!

Katymac · 13/08/2007 22:11

I haven't got builders yet & I hate them all already

Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 13/08/2007 22:22

Mine is currently on hols (again) and starting an extension,conservatory when he gets back (about two months later than I wanted...baby due 4 months...in wee bit of panic) Hes cheap and usually very good (hes a friend of a friend so know his work)

Asked him end May to do our bathroom. Was seperate loo/bathroom with an old airing/water tank cupboard in.Had new heating system put in when we moved in the house mid March so idea was to get rid of now reduduant cupboard, move loo and make one bog bathroom.Asked him how much to do and he said (famous last word) wont be much.FIRST big mistake, did not get price (have in writing for extension)

He started it beg June (while I was on hols) and only finished it last week as he kept skipping off to another job. When I got back from hols he gave me bill for £2100 (I provided suite and tiles) and when I harrassed him to come back and finish it ast week he gave me another bill for £870 so 3 grand in total.I think I have been ripped off but thought ok, bathroom looks great.

But then tonight sat on loo again (pregnant and cant poo -sorry tmi) looked at shower thing (the one you turn for water) and its not straight and underneath the tile is chipped so spent last half hour crying to dh who is now looking at it wondering how to put right (wich is sweet as I know he cant, it would have to be redone)

sorry for ramble.I am bloody mad (and I have heartburn)

OP posts:
Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 13/08/2007 22:23

that should read one big bathroom (pmsl at bog bathroom as I am so common )

OP posts:
Merlin · 13/08/2007 22:26

mmmmmmm does sound a lot of money - deffo get him back to sort out shower.

I sympathise - it's a PITA!

Merlin · 13/08/2007 22:27

Thought you were Ireland hence the bog bathroom

Merlin · 13/08/2007 22:27

'In' Ireland even!

Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 13/08/2007 22:38

Just think that for 3k it shpuld have been a perfect finished job.Gonna have to be really on his case now but really have other stuff to be bothered about right now

OP posts:
arfur · 14/08/2007 11:56

Dont get me started on builders! Have had no kitchen for 3 weeks, whole house is tip, my beautiful new american fridge freezer is being delivered AS AGREED WITH THE BUILDER on Friday and the tilers who arrived to tile the kitchen floor this morning were here for around half an hour and have not been seen since! Builder said dont suppose there is any chance of rearranging the fridge delivery is there? AAAARGH!! My beautiful oak kitchen cupboards are stacked in the garage waiting to be fitted and my lovely hugely expensive range cooker is being delivered on Friday too - probably also heading for a long stay in the garage! Does that make you feel any better? sob sob boo hoo

Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 14/08/2007 16:41

arfur

aggghhhhhh!!!

Poor you.That actually makes me feel worse as I will be having a new kitchen and I can see all that happening to me just as I go in labour.....

OP posts:
Bettymamma · 14/08/2007 16:55

3 weeks - I'm on my 5th week with my kitchen. Do you have dust EVERYWHERE as well!!

Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 14/08/2007 20:40

Betty

What have you had done?x

OP posts:
Bettymamma · 15/08/2007 10:33

Old kitchen ripped out, ceiling replaced, wall removed, windows and doors replaced and new kitchen put in.

Its 1 man doing it though - a trusted old family friend who's expensive but quite thorough (so they say!!) and quite tidy (for a builder).

The dust and mess is stll driving me mad though with a toddler and a baby on the way!

Can your man not come back and sort out the bathroom? My man has quoted £3k for our bathroom with us supplying suite and everything as well. Must be the going rate!

ps how many biscuits and tea bags do they get through??
pps - good luck with ur pregnancy.

Toots · 15/08/2007 14:54

Jeez - just taken five minutes off clearing up in preaparation for kitchen gutting and new installing job. Read this and thought I'll just ring the builder and check that he is starting on Monday.

He 'can only apologise' that it will not be Monday. Or probably the week after.

Big fat grrrrrr. Only saving grace is I am not pregnant - which is joyful obviously but does so make rubbish things harder to bear. My sympathies unto those of you that are.
xx

Bettymamma · 15/08/2007 15:05

Bet he's my kitchen man Toots!

He should be finished next week...or the week after...

GET HIM OUT MY HOUSE I've HAD ENOUGH!

gibberish · 15/08/2007 15:09

I've been having a kitchen installed since the 3rd July I am ready for having a nervous breakdown now. My joiner has told us today he's too busy to be able to finish it so I have been frantically phoning around trying to get someone else Am waiting for one to come round this afternoon to give me a quote. Here's hoping he arrives... my entire house is in chaos and I have had no water in my kitchen for 2 weeks. And no end in sight at the moment.

Bettymamma · 15/08/2007 15:14

oohhh gibberish thats awful. Hope you have good news this afternoon from the new joiner.

How can they all of a sudden be too busy??

gibberish · 15/08/2007 15:18

We hired someone we knew and he said he would be able to fit us in in between all his other work. But his other work has now taken over and he can't find the time to finish our kitchen So we have some cupboards put in but the rest of the kitchen and the contents of the cupboards are in boxes throughout the entire house. It's a nightmare. At least we have the dishwasher plumbed in though

Bettymamma · 15/08/2007 15:29

Ah you see you have the dishwasher! I bet you have a washing machine too....

I reckon you're my neighbour - she's in the same predicament.

Good luck.

gibberish · 15/08/2007 15:40

lol Yes have my washing machine and tumble drier... life could be worse I suppose. Thanks Bettymama. I'm feeling a bit more positive now

coleyboy · 15/08/2007 15:47

Chocpeanut - would defo ask the builder to finish off the bathroom correctly.

DP is a builder, so can't really join in the builder bashing as I see both sides!!!

gibberish · 15/08/2007 17:08

Yeeeha! Joiner came and quoted. Much cheaper than I thought it would be and he is coming to do the lot next week. HUGE relief. And a plumber is coming within the next few minutes to plumb in my sink so hopefully will finally have water

Hope you all get your building disasters rectified soon

Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 15/08/2007 20:24

Good news gibberish.You just want the job done dont you?

I am going to 'have a word' when he gets back from hols coleyboy and get him to put things right.I ordered flooring today and thats going to take 3 weeks but at least it gives us time to 'finish' off and when floor fitted (I have opted for aqua seal cushion floor from allied carpets and they are fitting) I can light my candles and relax!!

Ha ha if only. We are having small extension on kitchen as its very narrow so pushing it out 3.5 foot and have a downstairs loo added.Also big conservatory right along rear with back living room and kitchen leading into it so a massive way to go. I was thinking about getting someone like mfi come in and design kitchen and get a quote from them to compare what builder gives us.At least a big co will get in done in a specified time and with a baby due in less than 4 months I cant bear to think I wont have a finished kitchen!

Betty -whens your baby due?

OP posts:
gibberish · 15/08/2007 22:07

Good grief, you are pregnant and having to endure all this chaos chocolatepeanut?? Don't know how you are managing to stay calm atall. Yes, def agree with telling him to fix it. Hope you can get it all sorted out soon.

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