Job overrun and builder trying to get extra money

[Flowerie]

Our job is overrunning by 3 months and now at every opportunity the builder is trying to get extra money from us claiming eg pocket doors was not in the original plan (it was) , we need a new boiler (not sure if we do or he can make money off us). This is really getting onto our nerves now - how do we stop him asking us for more money?? Has anyone else been asked to pay more money as the project has overrun? We are paying a fixed price and refuse to pay more.

thanks

We are also worried if we keep saying no he might walk off the job at some point, we really need him to finish the work off

If you do need a new boiler , first get a 2nd opinion , then I should think you need a plumber rather than a builder . Hope you get your work finished soon.

Just say you cannot afford any extras at the moment and only want doing what was quoted for. We’ve recently had a front porch fitted, prices for materials went up 1 April and we’ve paid a bit more than quoted. Builder has asked along the way do you want this and that doing, but we’ve said to just stick to original quote. Since then he’s stopped asking. If you are not having problems with your boiler, say you will not be getting a new one yet, you can say you pay monthly for boiler cover and will get them out to check it, even though you don’t.

I’m surprised that the builder quoted a fixed price, usually it’s an estimate because there is always unexpected work on any refurbishment.
Overruns are normal, especially this year with shortages of materials, if you dont want a new boiler say no, he might be correct but it’s your decision.
Builders can be very cheeky stick to your guns and pay him when the work is complete

Have you stuck exactly to what was quoted for?
For example the doors: what exactly did the quote say? Did it give a fixed cost for a specific type and style of door or did it give an estimate of the cost of the doors with a PC (provisional cost) sum?

Did you at any point say: "while you are here, can you just....replace those steps/ build these shelves/ relay those wonky flags in the garden "

Did the original quote have a time limit? Did it say sim like "the prices in this quotation are valid for x weeks from today's date"?

Has the building inspector insisted on deeper foundations or larger timber sizes for example that were not shown on the plans you supplied?

All these can push the initial price of a building job up, so go back to the quote and read it carefully.

Thanks, yes on the original building plan we had specified the pocket doors but the quote was quite high level rather than to the detail, however it did say it was based on the information provided. He had tried to make us pay for moving the boiler already however this was specified in the original building plan so he backed off.

We have had to pay for some additional work as the building control/structural engineer has requested once they started the build like you said, for deeper foundation and extra beams which wasn’t in the original quote and we were happy to pay. We have also been happy to pay for stuff which we have requested and resulted in some rework and also underfloor heating (which he quoted us a ridiculous amount and we managed to get it down to something more reasonable as he knew we weren’t going to do it if it was the original quote and he wasn’t going to make an additional cent from us)

i understand he still has to pay his staff and this being prolonged makes the job less profitable but it’s just saying no and then trying to keep a good relationship so he doesn’t leave us.

Just say you don't have a budget for any extras, so no need to keep raising additional points of work.