Associate
Don't worry, I've not approached the neighbours or builders. I am playing devils advocate to understand where they stand and why. We would all prefer to situation to have not happened in the first place.
I suppose the better analogy of the car is, if a garage owner rear ended you in traffic resulting in the need for a new bumper. Would you use their garage or your own? I would prefer to either use insurance or receive the funds to repair at my garage.
Yes but he's going to prefer to do it at his garage because it's cheaper for him to do the work then pay some one else.
At the end of the day, if the work is done to a standard you find acceptable does it matter who does it?