Help me source stuff for builder before I panic buy!

[lamandler]

So just had meeting with builder renovating our house, and rather than pay for a project manager we (first mistake) are sourcing everything ourselves. He has just told me he needs pretty much everything, so I am now in a flap. Here are the things I need (we are in London if that matters) and of anyone has any pointers or recommendations I will you very much:

Aluminium sliding door from kitchen to garden (about 2.1 m wide)
Wooden sash windows, made from scratch
Lovely new front door (Victorian terrace)
Reclaimed but cheap fireplace
Engineered floor for kitchen - oiled oak would be luvverly

More too, but I will schedule that panic about kitchen and bathroom until tomorrow

Thanks!

Sorry door should be 2.7 wide if that matters. This is going to be a disaster

No idea about the rest, but ukflooringdirect.co.uk were great for me and quick delivery.

Order stuff before you think you need it - I had huge problems with my bathroom stuff - bath had to be sent back, taps took 3 weeks to arrive, etc. Doing it again I would not source from the least expensive places necessarily - they seem to just order from the supplier and that takes ages. I've had great luck with ebay and quick delivery - even on larger items.

Get stuff in, make sure you like it way before you think you'll need it. Once the work starts it seems to go very quickly. Good luck!

Try Express Bifold Doors for bifolds and French Timber Direct for flooring - both have short lead times. Sash windows are usually shockingly expensive so it's well worth getting a number of quotes. London Door Company for front door?

Local joiner for windows and door (am assuming you want a copy of the original). ebay for fireplace.

Thanks everyone, hadn't thought eBay will do

RatherNot, have you used French timber? Their stuff looks like very good value...

You forgot 100 tons biscuits & 5000 gallons tea

Seriously though our builders seemed to get almost everything from jewsons. Not sure if one near you in London.

Engineered floor from Topps Tiles

London Door Company - avoid like the plague. Average work at inflated prices. Get a local joinery company to do it instead.

Where are you OP? Get a screwfix catalogue NOW and work out where the nearest one is- ditto b&q, homebase your local electrical suppliers etc.

You could also use a freelance specifier or project manager. They sometimes pass on their trade discount which can make their fees very good value.

God no do not get your engineered floor from topps tiles! Theirs arenot good quality. Yes yes to ukflooringdirect - great engineered wood flooring at decent price. I've recently bought my engineered oak flooring from there and it is amazing. Go for the 6mm thick (wood top layer thickness) stuff to allow for it to be resanded a few times.

Reclaimed fireplace check out eBay and local architectural salvage companies.

Lamandler, yes, I have their engineered boards in 230mm wide. We went down to their showroom/factory in Kent, which is well worth a visit as you can choose the actual batch of wood you want. Our builders laid it and claim it's good quality - we've certainly had a lot of compliments. The guy who owns it is great source of info, even dissuading us from having a more expensive board as he didn't think we needed it. We're in London too and delivery was easy. HTH.

Depending in where in London you are, try Dorking Stoves and Fireplaces. Not necessarily cheap but we had a good experience with them installing a reclaimed cast iron insert.