Builders can only be two of these three things…

[sizeofalentil]

Cheap.
Reliable.
Good.

^Pick two out of three.

We've got a lovely builder - he's a lot cheaper than the nearest quote, is really nice, and does good work (we've had him in for three projects now), but he takes on average three times longer than he says he will.

Our four day kitchen project is now coming up to two weeks due to him not showing up on a few days (people let him down, other jobs, injured his hand playing sports etc) and the amount of dirt and grime everywhere is driving me insane. Our three week bathroom project took three months and almost drove me to divorcing DH.

Would hiring him again for future projects be madness, or would you put up with the delays because he's cheap and good?

TDHManchester - I bloody WISH there was hoards of cheap Polish builders clamouring to take people's jobs.

One of my friends is a painter and decorator. Complains to whoever will listen that his jobs are being taken by 'the Polish'.

I tried to book him in for a big job - think painting our entire house - at his full costs, wasn't angling for mates' rates or anything just to be clear - and he said no, because we're 45mins from him, and he wanted to play Pokemon Go that week.

We use a builder we call 'Slow Colin'. His work and attention to detail is exemplary but god he takes an age to get the work done. Wouldn't use anyone else though. I love his amazing workmanship. Sometimes I stop and stare in awe at his tiling. Everything is lined up to perfection and it is all finished beautifully.

Thanks, it took ages to write!

I guess at the end of the day, don't expect Nicky Clarke for a super cuts price.

In general / it's wrong, insulting and to be frank, he, I and any expensive builder has a queue of people willing to pay full price- and will tell you to piss off via ' I'm free June 2020'

You get what you pay for!

Not since the boom. There's a lot of slap it up and get on to the next job. Two of my Brothers work in a Trade, they say it is going on wholesale. One of my Brothers walked off a job recently because of shoddy workmanship - he didn't want his name associated with them.