Builder not done any work for weeks/months

[timealone]

We're having an extension done, which was started at the beginning of May. the builder has cleared the site, taken down the garage and dug about 1/3 of the footings, and then hasn't done anymore for a couple of months now. There was one thing in the plans that needed to be rectified and had to be resubmitted to building regs, but that only accounts for about 2 or 3 weeks of delay.

In the agreement we signed with him at the beginning, the estimate was 16-20 weeks. He has been working on my friend's extension and has taken 2-3 times longer than originally estimated and still isn't finished. I'm starting to lose confidence that anything will be done, but unfortunately we paid him a 10% deposit up front. Has anyone been in this position before and able to advise? I was thinking of getting some quotes from other builders, but losing the money we have already paid would sting, and I don't know how likely it is that we would get it back.

When you had the problem with building regulations and the work had to stop until it was sorted, your builder probably started on someone's else job and is committed to that now. Your job has been put on the backburner until the current work is finished and he can come back to you. I assume your builder has to pay for his employees and can't sit about waiting for a couple of weeks.

I would phone him to find out what's going on. Hopefully you'll be back on the list soon. Sounds like he's got lots of work on which is a good sign that he's in demand.

My H is a builder and would never take a deposit upfront, he would draw a payment on the 1st Friday. If there has been a delay he would have to take other work or not earn money ( many builders can charge for your delay) who cause the plan delay. I would ask the builder when he expects to be back. Many small builders don't like taking over someone else's although a big Co would