Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Decent builders for fair size extension/renovation project?

4 replies

CKLondon · 18/09/2013 16:15

So:

We've bought a v neglected flat that has the potential to be lovely (excited!) but it needs new everything - there isn't even a kitchen at all atm.

We've worked with a great architect/structural engineer but he only knows pricey local builders. We really want to get builders who come well recommended, and because we're not living there we could have the builders live on site, which means they don't have to be local...

The flat is in NW London, and we'll be ready to invite tender in a couple of weeks.

Any thoughts/recommendations? Already got some great kitchen tips in here - probably going for DIY-kitchens' units, and sourcing the granite worktops (tips welcome) and appliances separately.

Builders need to be able to cope with fitting kitchen (ideally), bathrooms, floors, painting, knocking down and rebuilding back extension, adding side extension, rewiring, plumbing, plastering pretty much everything!

I'm happy to source the fitters/painters/plasterers etc separately if it helps massively with cost, but tbh would prefer if one lot could do all of it so I don't go completely mad.

Help!

OP posts:
MummytoMog · 18/09/2013 16:33

Go have a nosy on your local council website, find local people who've had work done recently (planning permission granted section) and knock on their doors/stuff a note through asking about their builders. Most people will be very happy to tell you about their experiences and you might find a good lead or two.

I hate granite worksurfaces though Wink

CKLondon · 18/09/2013 16:36

Thanks for the tip, will do - what do you dislike about granite / just the whole look/feel, or some practical drawbacks I should be aware of?

OP posts:
MummytoMog · 18/09/2013 17:29

Oh don't mind me, I just hate the way they look and I'd worry endlessly about the kids running into a corner of one! I only really like wood but I'm aware that plenty of people love granite and think wood looks cheap.

CKLondon · 19/09/2013 14:31

Oh I get you - I love wood too, but just can't face the maintenance/care - currently we have granite and it can take such a bashing!

Anyone got any good builders they'd care to recommend please?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page