My F**king Builder.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

He took all his tools last week, after receiving an agreed additional payment (from the final that we owe him) To clear the loft for the final lot of plastering he said. To be able to gain perspective he said. (he did not do this last time he plastered and there is only remedial plastering to do now up there, the rest is on the stairs, hallway etc). He talked to us about this and that, all nice.

After about 30 mins, I became a bit suspicious, again that he might have done a runner as he took everything apart from a yellow bucket. He took is ladder, why would you do this if you were plastering at height? Anyway, I am naturally suspicious. It is part of my job, it is part of my make-up. DH was a bit worried too, but we put it down to being nervous about this job. And I reminded myself of his reassuring conversation about him completing and DH and I agreed we were being unecessarily suspicious.

He was not coming in monday he said, bank holiday, out with the kids, he said.

This morning, he did not show. Did not answer his mobile. DH and I have been panicking. Eventually at 11am he phones.

And he said:

His younger brother has been rushed to hospital, is critical, collapsed lung (he only has one apparantly) and next 48 hours are critical. it had only just happened. He would try to get his plasterer mate to help him out.

Now. I am very cynical. DH said, initially, he appeared genuine. But DH is a very forgiving person and sees the best in everyone. I don't. DH started to doubt whether this was the truth or a blag. But, we are very nervous about whether this is true or not.

I actually want it to be true, so he that it means he has not done a runner with most of our money and left us in a hellhole. Does not make me a nice person I feel But then I also think he is very elaborate with his stories, has been so far and this smacks of some bullshit.

Either way, this week is dead for any work. and I am getting closer to my due date. And now, calm, chilled relaxed DH is starting to pull his hair out.

Sorry. Half of you probably won't even know what on earth I am banging on about but I needed to vent as I am so annoyed and upset and stressed and fed up it is unreal. I have no space. I am not sleeping as I am sharing with a toddler who talks in her sleep and a DH who is smoking too much and therefore snoring.

no masonry, all plasterboard due to excessive insulation!

So, 2 days. If he finishes the loft part itself tomorrow, which he states, then if we leave it til sunday, we should be fine to do the first prep coat. Lovely .

I have been so demoralised, I have not really thought about colours, and we are a bit stuck really!

Tell your DP thanks!

( we will do in sunday evening when dd is asleep).

Oh and can you ask if it will dry best with windows open for air, or closed for warmth? Builder said don't use dehumidifier as plaster could crack?

Hurrah for plasterboard!! Ok - you need the window open ....and a door too. Apparently the trick is to get a circuit of air travelling through - so it's a constant flow taking away the moisture. Closing the windows means the eascaping water vapour can't escape so settles back into the plaster.

Yeah - we're not big on using dehumidifiers...unless it's for a huge space like a floor during the winter.

Oh wow - it's getting close to D-day...go on, go on...get those colour charts out...indulge

Oh apparantly there is some brick to be plastered, downstairs, but that is ok to leave for a while, we are not in a rush to do that bit.

We are thinking of actually doing it simple off white, perhaps a hint soft moss, or a hint of soft blue, with darkish carpet and colour in the velux blinds and accessories. Then once we have been up there a while and settled in with our accessories we can think about what we might like.

Got nice breeze going through as we have 4 velux up there, and a little corridor between 2 of them so they are all open. All the upstairs is plastered and ready to paint once it has dried, although he has to put the skirting back on yet, its already cut from when it was put down before, before he had to lower the floor so its just a case of him putting it back on.

He appears to be quite mean with the plaster though. Is that normal? I know builders often 'skim' it, DH thinks that is normal with plasterboard, but he has used less than last time (it was an apprentice who put it up last time, did a great job, but no longer works for him), he has like scraped it on in places - I guess I am probably just picking holes now!

I guess i can't expect miracles. The loft room is apparantly 'done' as in it is plastered. Builder said it would be 'ours' by the weekend, as in can decorate, or start process. but there is no wood put up, on the cupboards, or the skirting. But I guess we can do the whitewash prep.

And he has clearly felt he has worked hard this week and awarded himself a half day. Of course, we do not need to be notified as to what has been done/not done/still to do. He has, by the look of it, plastered one wall.

And, again, for some reason, taken all his tools, bucket, plastering materials etc with him. Everything. All gone. I fully anticipate his brother taking a turn for the worse next week and him not being able to come in again .

But, we are moving forward, slowly, painfully, so so painfully, but its moving.

On monday, we will be entering the 16th week of this project , you can build a house in not much longer than that

Hang in there it will get done!

it does look a lot more like a room, and the the walls around the stairs are mostly plastered now which make a huge difference as it looks more like they have always been there, rather than just put there.

I am about to sack the builder. Last straw. Won't go into details as I have things to do now to get this loft finished, but spoke to the building inspector as has a humungous argument with builder as he failed to turn up again today, and inspector said he knew about the mistakes, had been waiting for a call from builder for him to come and check it was done properly, which he still has not received and that it was entirely the builder's fault, from start to finish. the inspector advised we would be better to cut out losses and get some-one else to do it. He was very sympathetic and said he hated hearing things like this - I had not even told him much as he already knew from the architect. Inspector is coming out tomorrow to check the work done and give us a tick box of what has been done/what still needs doing for building regs.

We are getting quotes from a bloke the architect has recommended to finish off for us, plus some plasterers and chippies seperately, and then we are going to tell the builder to sling his hook. So far we have told him not to come in tomorrow. Architect said he is contractually obliged to finish the work, but that we can sack him if we want to.

I am so looking forward to phoning him and telling him to send the keys back and never darken our door. I do not want to see, or talk to him again.

So, Ooggs if you read this, can you get in touch love so I can get the number of that plasterer you recommended please? I have another one too, but want to get 2 quotes or more. Thanks !

My sister had all this and she had to allow them to put it right by law and even then they didn't really finish it..It really is so stressful your dh should intervene now as you are pregnant.Hope it gets sorted the planning and building control guys can be helpful if you appeal to them to help.Tears helped my sister but they were real mind!

How did they make her? Who made her?

Both the building inspector and the architect said we can get someone else in to do the work .

What will happen if we just over-ride what we are told and get some-one else in to do it? We will get sued for the amount owed? For more?

DH has tried to intervene, this morning, he called him and he just gave him some line about electricians being here. Then the electricians asked us to pay them as he has not paid them a penny and he told them we would pay direct so as he can avoid paying tax? Something like that. I said, I would love to help and pay their wages but the price is a fixed price and the builder already has had additional money from us, so we cannot do that.

It is not just stressful. it is now starting to destroy our family. The pressure this has put on me, my health, my DH and most importantly my 3year old girl who is living in a building site while starting a new nursery and preparing for a little brother is crippling.

I cannot do it any more. I do not care about the money any more. I will take all my savings out, and pay someone to do it, let him sue me. I will sue the fucker back.

She dealt with trading standards.They told her that they ahd to by law be given the opportunity to finish it.She let them and after the 2 weeks asked them to go even though it was not a good standard at all.She owed them 4k I think and am not sure what happened.I know she got a surveyor independent to look it over and log all teh errors and estimate cost of finishing. I will ask her tonight and let you know.

If I send you my sisters email you could mail her it sounds an identical scenario If you get into any more difficulties let me know and i'll ask her x

noddy that would be very helpful. We have given him the opportunity to finish it and he said to me today 'i have lost money and continue to lose money on this job now. I don't see why I have to take the financial hit of this mistake as it was not my fault, why should I have to lose out?' and in response to 'are you going to finish the job?' 'i should think so...eventually' .

He then blamed my DH for not moving some things from under the stairs. Even though there is nowhere to put it as he has trashed our garden and there is no space left. DH asked him to clear it. And even though there was plenty of other work to do if he could not be bothered to move a couple of shelves and a fireplace.

Its interesting that trading standards say he needs to be given the opportunity to finish it. Is there like a time frame do you think? Like he has x weeks or else we can go elsewhere?

I just feel so fucking helpless. My baby is due in 9 weeks and it is a countdown, there is so much to do.

I just want to go away and leave this place and never come back.

I have sent her a text.She had this scenario for weeks and I can't remember the full details and who did what.I know her extension still has no floor and a few wonky units though but she just nearly cracked with the stress so will know how you feel.She has already text me back and said fine!She said the tet gave her a flash back and she doesn't know how she did it she is still not over it all xxWill cat you now x

This man sounds horrible the way he has treated you & your family. Do you have an online forum where you live for your town/city? We have one where people can post about anything that has happened in town or ask for recommendations & the like. I would be naming & shaming him on there if it happened to me. You should tell him the BI said it was the builders fault. I feel for you hun, I am not surprised it is compromising your health & that of your family. Get him out of your life asap.
(((hugs)))

Oh Pavlov, I saw the thread title & thought it might be you. I'm so sorry that you've been going through all this awfulness & really saddened by your comments on it spoiling your pregnancy & it being damaging to your family life. I will ask my DP about plasterers tonight if this helps? The offer of a coffee & biscuit time out still applies. We have room enough to store some stuff for you if needed. Anyway that we may be able to help post on here, o.k.?

So sorry you're still going through this Pavlov Kids are tough though, I'm sure your dd will be fine.

Well I say good ridense to him tbh. He's treated you and your family horrendously and clearly doesn't give a damned about the affect he is having on you all. I don't understand how he can have any come back on you what so ever. As for not paying the electrician, it sounds to me like he's in financial difficulties and he's totally blaming you and to tell the sparky to ask you for his pay is just another example of how low this terrible man will stoope. Please get your dh to take some of the strain now and let you rest and him start playing the bad cop role and let him sort this out for you. I just hope that in a year or so's time you can be in your new room and relax in it and know it was the right thing to do in the 1st place.

Fran - thank you so so much. I will definitely take you up on your offer of coffee and biscuit! I go on maternity leave in a week {yipee} but if you are about this week, would be great to meet. We have managed to store some more stuff at a friends house and reclaimed back our eaves, albeit dusty as! AND, it has given me the chance to be more ruthless and throw more things away . But coffee and biccies, sound fab, and yes, if your dp knows some good plasterers that would be great, also if you know chippies that would be handy too!

Not decided if we are going to use builder for all of it (have a couple of recommendations) or split the role, depends on price I guess. Main cost will be fire doors, and the rest is doable I think, although we will likely need some of the plastering re-done as he has done an appalling job on the last few walls, so goodbye carpets for now, but hey nevermind. Thank god we waited until the electricians had finished their work as DH was contemplating chasing him at the weekend and we might well have told him where to go before the electrics were done, at least we have light and fire alarms now.

rebl he is blaming every single person other than himself, its the architect, the stair company, me, the building inspector, DH, his apprentice, some stranger who tried to take a job from him, his brother who was sick the electrician who tried to blame him for cutting a wire. He is a child who needs to grow up. But, as it happens, while I sit here plotting my revenge I know I don't have to do much at all, he has done it himself. He has pissed off the building control team, they are appalled at his work and behaviour, the architect/structural engineer who recommended him and whose reputation has been damaged by this, the electrician who has not been, and probably now realises he won't be paid, the businesses he has accounts with who he has not paid. That is a LOT of people to annnoy when you are a builder.

Pavlov, if you want to CAT me, I'll give you the name of the loft conversion company we used, if it's any help.

So sorry this is happening to you

omg Report him to Trading Standards as he is effectively trading insolvently if he cannot pay the electricians and meet his outgoings.

I am about this week except for Thursday DP will get in touch with the plasterer he knows to see how busy he is. We may rustle up some chippie contacts via DPs dad who project manages building shenanigans & such. Do you still have my no?