When the builders have gone...Lessons Learned

[Gozogozo]

So we have had a kitchens-lessons-learned, bathrooms-lessons-learned, and most recently a renovations-lessons-learned, and they have all made me realise how much I didn't know but needed to, so incredibly helpful.

Soon the builders will move out and we will move back in - any tips on the actual move, what I can expect builders to clean up and what the post builders clean should involve would be helpful. Should the builders come back and touch up cracking plaster, for example

We simultaneously have to leave a rental flat, first time for that too, and I know there will be all sorts of things that I haven't considered....

So, come on and share your hard won knowledge! Thanks!

And use a razor blade or craft knife blade if, like our builders, they didn't take the protective covering off the window frames properly and the plastic film is still plastered in.

Take all your towels out of the bathroom and leave just a separate hand towel for the builders. Otherwise they will use your bath towels to wipe their mucky hands on.

Leave them an ashtray in the back garden so they don't leave your pots studded with fag ends.

To Pinkie & Maltloaf: we have moved out to avoid builders dust as very asthmatic - 6 months rent factored in as a cost of our build - and many people do the same to speed things up so that builders do not have to clean up every night and work faster.

I know that they will need to clear up after themselves before we move back in & I know that we need a builders clean, as it is termed in flyers through letterbox, but I am not sure how much builders will clean & how much will be left to cleaners ifyswim. I know that I can ask both, but I also know that I am likely to get caught out with each saying 'well, that's their job' as if I should know, and I won't know because this is the one and only time I will ever go through this hell! Rant over! (Can you tell that I've had enough of building )

Our builders, lovely as they were, swept up every day but that was about as far as their "cleaning" went

if you have to clean up plaster splashes, wet them first. This will make them softer and you are less likely to scratch the surface beneath.

Emulsion paint will soften if wet, but meths mixed with WUL will work faster.

squidgymaltloaf

Yes they are charging but it's just part of the total. I've been really pleased with them so far and I only know they're charging for this because their quote was fully itemised.

I think we were spoiled with our builders. They were respectful of our property, used all their own equipment including hoover, left the place immaculate AND little or no snagging. Any issues I brought up they had already spotted and were dealing with. And they were fixed price and only worked on one project at a time. Expensive yes but so worth it.

Piggychops, do you builders work in London?

What I've learned this time (second time round) is that you absolutely totally can keep even the most awful demolition dust at bay.

I was terrified before we started this project. It was easier to stay put than move out for various reasons and everyone told me such horror stories. A random lady even interrupted me and a friend on the train to say don't try to stay through it, it would be too awful.

For the last 8 weeks we have sealed ourselves into 3 rooms downstairs while the builders have gutted our first floor and hallway. We have had a wall and a chimney breast knocked out inches away from the doors into where we are living. IT HAS BEEN FINE. The dust does NOT get everywhere. You just need to be unimaginably anal. Seal all gaps with folded paper and/or bubble wrap and then use industrial quantities of masking tape, and re-tape at regular intervals. During the worst tape layers of bubble wrap or similar over the entire doors.

Not a speck got in - well, not after the day that we realised that it can also get in under the skirting board few inches along from the door.

It's fine. Totally doable. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Obviously doesn't apply if you're doing the whole house at once!!

Apatite Sorry couldn't be further away. Scottish Highlands!

piggychops - mine were fabulous and I'm in London, only west London through. pm me If interested

No worries piggy, thanks anyway!

Ours were great. Even brought their own milk, kettle and mugs!