Builders have decided background work needs to be done. Who pays?

[ThatsNotMyHouseItIsTooClean]

We have some minor building works going on at the moment. A couple of our ceilings are in poor state and in a couple of places water has come through where we had a leak. The builder builder quoted to replace the plasterboard in the affected areas & said he would then skim the whole area. It turns out the work is being done by plasterers rather than the builder & they have arrived & are refusing to skim the ceilings as they are but want the plasterboard taken down & replaced. The quote for this is a few hundred pounds for each room. I feel as though I have no choice but to agree but am miffed that the work is going to cost over £1000 more than the estimate and I am expected to pay this. Shouldn't the builder cover part of this?

Of course you would be expected to pay for the required work to be done. Also I would expect plastering to be done by plasterers- especially ceilings!

I not sure I completely understand though - the builder said the plasterboard would be replaced but this hasn't been done? I think you need to speak to the builder and ask him to clarify. It might just be a mis-communication.

He said only part of it would need to be re-boarded. I am frustrated that he effectively gave a quote on behalf of the plasterers without asking them what needed to be done. As soon as they walked in they said that they couldn't do what needed to be done. For previous admittedly bigger jobs, the builder had had the plumber, electrician, plasterer etc all around to look at what needed to be done and had then come up with a figure.

I would be grateful that the plasterers did refuse or you would have ended up with a bodge job that cost you more in the end. Of course you should pay but do let the builder know you are disappointed that he did not get the plasterer to look before quoting for you.

It was an estimate - it's not fixed. The builder can't always know what they'll find lurking underneath any facade.

Sorry, but yes you'll have to pay the extra to get the job done.

no builder should not cover this, when a builder quotes for a job, they should list all the basics they are quoting for, but as is quite normal, there will often be things that crop up along the way that weren't initially realised. always a good idea to have a contingency fund in mind for this. sounds like your builder thought the ceilings could just be patched, but plasterer is saying they can't. the only error the builder has made is he should have forewarned you this might be the case.

i sympathise though, we're just about to have our bathroom replaced and i fully expect the bill to increase as there's bound to be additional stuff crop up when the old bathroom comes out.

The problem is the communication between the builder and his chosen plasterer, - the builder reckoned you it would be sufficient to partly replace the boards, the plasterer on looking at it has decided he can't give you a good enough finish this way.

Annoying perhaps but you would rather have the job done properly, and this is why they estimate rather than guarantee a fixed quote - as others said they don't what they'll find when they start ripping down.