Coronavirus - are you cancelling building work?

[flutterby31]

We're nearly finished an extension. Builders can carry on with a lot of work outside but would you cancel the guys coming in to lay flooring etc?

I think if you put things in place like making sure they can wash their hands before they come into the house and before they leave, stay in different rooms when they are laying the floor antibac spray the room they have been in should be ok especially if you are not in any vunerable categories my son has done some outside work for me this weekend

I've just emailed two firms who are due to do some work early then late April (late April is do gut and refit my bathroom).
Both have said all being well they will still do the work and observe all appropriate infection control actions and i'll make sure I disinfect everything before and after they've been each time.
But if I get sick then it'll all be postponed so I don't think anything's certain. They need the business too, self employed small businesses.

A kitchen company near us have stated that for jobs this week, they will still do the work but the homeowners must be separate from them and hand washing facilities must be available.
For projects beyond that, they are postponing them.

My experience is that everyone is cancelling/postponing their building work. I have a trade and all my booked work has been postponed indefinitely, and this is the same for other tradespeople I know (and in fact is the same for all self-employed friends in other sectors). I'm throwing myself into the homeschooling challenge to try not to think about the lack of work. It's the right decision for health but a financial disaster for sole traders.

Personally, if I was the client, it was outside work, and you have an outside tap and plug socket I would continue as planned. Inside work I would postpone.

We continued with getting the flat roof and garage roof replaced on our house, and that was agreed between us and the roofers to continue.
The kitchen removel/refurbishment we have postponed though. I feel awful as they are self employed but I cannot take the risk.

I work in a builders merchants and can confirm that there are a LOT of tradesmen who have jobs lined up for this week but are not expecting to work beyond that due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

We were due to have our thatched roof redone, planning through but needs chimney done before, planning due mid Feb and planning is completely dead, no response to anything since then. If we get approval would want to be sure we wouldn't be forced to stop with half a thatched roof so wary.

We do have a seperate bathroom which can be shut off by the garden and a socket and could put drinks in there so we could work that side of things. Think thatcher wants to postpone.

I’m currently sat in my bedroom with the dog whilst my floor is laid and some builders outside. I’ve got a downstairs loo and we are all totally separated. When they’ve gone I’ll get the bleach out

Does anyone know if building work is allowed to continue in a lockdown, residential essential work?

I don't think so @KoalasandRabbit . In fact, the Scottish First Minister said today that she already thinks building sites should be closing down. We're part way through an extension build - thankfully not knocked through yet but very worried about the knock on effects of this.

That's what I'm expecting too Ecthelion, just hoping an exception will be made for residential essential work otherwise may start getting leaks. We were told work needs doing asap to avoid leaks but thatcher says can't start until chimney done, planning not answered phone or e-mail since 1 February and risk you'ld have to abort half way through.

We are in a country already on lockdown. All building work has been suspended. We have a few things that have now been left in a half-finished state until they are allowed to return (luckily ours is mainly outside the house so doesn't really impact us daily)

Our scaffolding went up last week, to start work today on the outside of the house. The skip arrived this morning but the guys haven't showed. Now I don't mind if they don't do the work now due to the virus situation.... but I can't let the children in the garden with the scaffolding half done, it's too dangerous. They're couped up and causing havoc already (and I need to work). Do you think they'll come and remove it?

Thanks Caspian that's really helpful - was hoping that wouldn't happen, think best if we don't start it then but useful to know. Hope you can get yours finished before too long.

We are due to have cupboards built in the lounge this weekend. Just a single carpenter coming in to do it. I would of course postpone it, but I've already paid a £600 deposit and a delay would be indefinite at this point. I don't know whether to cancel or not, but we can't afford to just forgo the £600. What should we do???

I would go ahead assuming its still allowed, just take sensible precautions with each other and clean after they've gone.

We are due to have a window changed to bifold doors on Thursday. Hoping it goes ahead as I am having a c section next Monday. Once they arrive I will be leaving and spending the night at my parents house so my husband can come home and clean up.

They won't really be in the house much and it's only a one day job. I think clearing the brick dust will be the main job for us once they've gone.

We've cancelled. Don't want to take the risk. Will do it when we're out the other end.

Self employed ones may still want to carry on the work if you want them to. Builders merchants also likely to remain open even if other shops forced to close.

I am booked to have some work done end of April. At the minute it's still going ahead (replacing front door and some windows which are on their last legs). I'm hoping it can go ahead, as there will be minimal, if any contact. I can just stay in the garden or something and clean up afterward.

Was planning to get the broken fence replaced once the wind had calmed down, but I can live with it if needs be.

Now, easter weekend, me and dp had planned to get a skip and clear the garden. Lots of old slabs from an old patio, old bricks and a demolished shed which we wanted to clear away before grass mowing season kicks in. If we're in lockdown, is there any chance we can still go ahead with this?

This is the first bank holiday/long weekend we have managed to get off at the same time in 2 years, so many unfinished jobs to catch up on!

We are going to have to postpone our boiler/central heating installation I have been looking forward to all winter. It was due to happen in next 2 weeks, going to have to ask for it to be done in the summer. At least it is now getting warmer so no need for heating much longer. Feel horrible for the fitter as he is likely losing most of his income for few weeks/months.

Will also have to postpone the flooring fitting that was due to happen after central heating was in place. That was through a big company who have already been paid for flooring so not as big of a hit for them.

Our builder was not half way through the list. We have booked him and a joiner to do lots of jobs. Joiner did one job but we have door that needs to go on but painter hasn’t turned up so I think I will do it.
The builder laid a beautiful path a few weeks ago and started on the bathroom stripped shower area back to stone and then replastered. Sent message to say he didn’t know what to do his son has it. Of course we said don’t worry Family is more important and I also sent latest info at the time of two weeks not seven days. I have self isolated.
Only thing is we haven’t had a shower for just over two weeks. It is our only bathroom but luckily water back on and have a basin and toilet working. Been filling a little plastic basin and standing in it for head to toe wash and two flannels. We have three sons but can’t go there. DH had been to DS2’s shower on the way back from shopping the other day. We couldn’t go before as he has a temporary lodger a consultant at the hospital. Hoping child is ok and others don’t get it we haven’t heard. So do postpone if you can.

We've postponed work that was due to begin in the Spring.
As the builders are friends of our DS, we would have been putting them up and cooking as well.
I wish we'd got the back porch done, though, really need somewhere for dog leads, wellies and massive coats.

We're hoping patio can be finished outside. Inside flooring fitting will be postponed. We've had 23sqm of wood stacked in the kitchen since September, what's another few months?