Is it horrendous having work done at the moment?

[MsAnnFrope]

I keep hearing horror stories about delayed supplies, extortionate prices and unreliable contractors for having work done on the house because of COVID/Brexit.

Is this the case? Has anyone found it noticeably bad having work done? We want our kitchen remodelled, we have a professional design and a couple of quotes but are wondering if we should wait until next year?
I’d be grateful for anyone’s experience of this.

@Hekatestorch

Yes. The scaffolding, for my new roof went up last Tuesday.

Wednesday they didn't come because of supplies
Thursday they worked until 2pm
Friday they did come because van broke down
Today they didn't come because one of them had to go to a walk in centre today.

I actually, suspect he said he could fit me in last week to secure the work. But had other jobs on. So came started so I can't just tell him to piss off, then did work somewhere else on Friday and Saturday morning.

I am guessing today is because he wanted to go out for the Bank Holiday.

I have had 2 people in to measure up for fitted wardrobes. Should have had the quotes last week, haven't yet.

The only people who have been good are the people who fitted my new door and windows.

All that sounds pretty normal for pre Covid/Pre Brexit times unfortunately.

I work in construction (consultancy), and I'm currently advising clients that if they can, wait until next spring. We're starting to see a wee bit of levelling out of prices and delivery times, but it's really only green shoots, not a return to normal.

@HasaDigaEebowai

Honestly if I could go back to February and not start this renovation I would. It’s been completely ridiculous in terms of delays, unavailability of products and materials, shoddy supplies due to manufacturers trying to push stuff out etc.

I agree. We had our decking replaced in Spring. They only told us about the shortage of materials after they'd ripped up the old and had started putting shoddy "new" boards down, most of which where gouged or warped or had holes where knots had fallen out. Apparently they couldn't get new supplies and we were "lucky" they had enough boards in their yard to do ours. So basically we got all the stuff that had been rejected/returned by prior customers.

So a pretty unanimous WAIT then. Thank you for all your replies. I’m feeling very sorry for anyone trying to do renovations right now.

I’ll take the time to declutter and do projects which are just reliant on me. Then I’ll hope next spring summer to get the kitchen done.

Earlier in the year we did have some work on the garden and downstairs toilet which all went smoothly except for some timber supply issues but I think things have got worse over the summer!

We’re in mid-renovation, as it was stuff that couldn’t wait — ancient botched wiring etc — and while it’s true there were supply chain issues and spiralling costs for building basics (and the quote only ‘held good’ for three weeks, as we were warned by our excellent contractor in advance), he says his main issue recently was excellent weather causing labourers to report they were close contacts of a Covid positive and needed to test, while in fact going to the beach.

Agree with @sauvignonblue about lengthy lead-in times.

I was supposed to be having fitted wardrobes built. Had a quote in May, booked in for August. Joiner who was doing it phoned beginning of August to say he needed to requote due to timber prices. Came back 50% more expensive just for timber, and he is also struggling to get fixings, hinges etc. He advised to wait if I can or I may end up compromising on what I actually want.

Husband is also a commercial builder. Biggest issue is labour atm. Summer is generally difficult as holidays plus beer flu from weekend sunshine but this summer has been even more difficult. Plus prices are getting very high, it's good for us but not good for the main contractors.

Friend of mine has a shed company. The delay in getting timber supplies has played havoc. We ordered one in May and still dont have it. Anyone ordering now will get it next year!

It was the same re sheds last year as well. We were trying to buy one from May, finally had it delivered and assembled in October.

Hoping next year is better, need to do all 3 bedrooms when dd goes to uni!

We are in the midst of a 6 month extension. Add 3 months of lockdown and a month of other delays from supplier issues and bad weather etc and we are starting to feel like this will never end. I am however glad that we did start before last winter because over the process costs of materials have risen and some things have increased by 40%. The entire project would have cost far more if we had waited to start even though we had the awful experience of last winter in lockdown with the rear of the house removed. Fortunately for us we sourced the majority before prices started to rise but to finish off we will feel the extra costs. I have had to use my credit card company to get chargeback on around 5k of materials that never showed up or were shoddy. Other items have been fine, it seems random and changes each month. I don't think prices will go down, this is the Brexit sting biting and it will only get worse in the short term.
The major issue is lining up good workmen who are in shorter than ever supply because so many builders have returned to Europe. There are a lot of cowboys out there now so you are best waiting patiently for a good one. The good builders have jobs lined up and waiting for them so you have to join the queue.

I'm quite surprised by most of these replies, maybe we have just been lucky or it is the type of work we had done. We've just had a lot of work done over the summer, two new bathrooms, electrical work, plastering, movement of walls, new corridors formed, new rooms formed and doors fitted etc. It was a 3 week job, they started and finished on time, no delays in supplies, no disruption from covid (the company we went with had plans in place for this.)

We are only having odd trades come in here and there and doing most work ourselves , but it has been a nightmare getting anyone to turn up when they say they will. Can't get a joiner for love nor money, plasterer has delayed 3 times (over 3 months) and finally cancelled, plumber similar.
We've just ended up learning how to do a lot of things ourselves. I think I'd be a lot more stressed if we were having building work done and am glad we decided against an extension...

I should have said - our renovation has been going on a little over 2 years, and we never had the difficulties with trades before that we are having now

In a word, yes.

We haven't had too many supply issues, but costs have spiralled and we never know if anyone will turn up to work each day. They seem to come in fits and bursts. We once had 4 weeks of absolutely nothing being done. Communication is poor too. Seems our builders, like lots I'm hearing of, have taken on more work than they could handle even if it wasn't for labour shortages because of positive tests etc. We started mid march and are still going. Had no kitchen for 8 weeks and counting so crammed into our tiny living room to cook and eat and live. It's really been a very stressful time and has taken its toll on us all

@Decorhate

It is horrendous for your neighbours if you are having extensive work done & they are still working from home.

Someone bought the house next door, told us they were doing it up to live in themselves, we had 5 months of noise, whilst they lived elsewhere, then they put it on the market as soon as the work was finished.

I just hope the new buyers like what they have done & don’t want to start more work!

We have the same problem. Builders so noisy and swearing when we are working from home.

The delays are wide and varied.
I'm an architect and I haven't had a job that's not been affected but it will depend on what you are having done.
For my jobs windows have been a real problem. Steel, timber and concrete prices have increased a lot.
Electrics seem to be ok but some electrical appliances are in short supply. Belfast sinks are really hard to get hold of atm.
Plaster, PB & insulation was really bad but now it seems to be back, not in stock but available within a few days.
It's been really hard to price jobs and give timelines because often we don't know something isn't coming until it doesn't turn up! Prices have been fluctuating on a daily basis. Apparently some regions are worse hit than others - NE particularly struggling with supply chain issues.

It's hitting smaller builders more than larger firms but larger firms who price on fixed price contracts are going bust because they cannot absorb the cost increases. It's a really shit time to be in construction.
High demand but no supplies. I'm advising new clients to wait a bit to see if things calm down in the new year.

@wonkylegs the information about windows is very helpful as we are moving window/doors and a new joist will need to go in!
I’m wondering if it will even be any better next year?

So far construction press is saying it should settle within 9-12months so 🤞
Products are available but it's very slow for example one of the builders merchants was telling me this week that their standard off the shelf range of windows is currently on a 12 week lead time.
Bespoke windows are taking longer and are more expensive. We are waiting for timber windows that we went on the books for in Jan, measured up in may and are still not in nor do we have a date for installation, oh and the price has gone up by £3k.

@wonkylegs that's hopeful at least.
I'm happy to wait as long as I know when it will be. We will have a massive hole in the back of our house and no kitchen and I'd rather be cautious!

Our work has been one long catalogue of delays. Our contract ( with contingency) was to finish early August... Still waiting on windows...

@MsAnnFrope

Thanks *@sauvignonblue* it’s the fear of having no kitchen for Christmas as we host!

I’m thinking it may be better to delay until spring as we are not rushing to do it, the old kitchen is perfectly serviceable just old!

Our friends have their own kitchen fitting business, they are booked up until next May, I wouldn’t count on getting one before Christmas from a quality provider, maybe look now and do your research and schedule in for the Spring now.

@speakingfranglais
yes that is my plan. i'm more worried about the fact that the kitchen fitting is dependent on windows and if they are delayed it will throw everything off!

Fencing
Nightmare trying to get anyone to actually return calls, or turn up when they’ve said they would.
Finally found someone who turned up when they said then took 3 weeks for an actual quote the. Radio silence for nearly 4 weeks when we said yes when can you start.
Finally started with 2 days notice.

Interesting one of the workers said they’ve had a lot of cancellations from people not happy with the 40% Prince increase in wood since the spring. Why the heck did they take so long to do the work then?

I then purchased wood myself from the same timber merchants they had used to repair another fence. Let’s just say you can tell the timber merchants are selling the best wood to the traders and the absolute crap quality wood to the public while charging them a fortune.

If you don't really need it now, and it sounds like you don't, I'd leave it until next year. I'm in the middle of our new kitchen, plasterers in on Monday (hopefully). And we have been working on it now for about 18 months....we've been doing a lot of things ourselves, like battening out for the plasterboard, because you just cannot get people- they are booked, they don't ring back.... Upside, I'm now getting to be a competent, though slow, bricklayer.