Project: Two storey/part single storey side and rear extensions

How are things progressing now @kai ?
SLOW

We currently have two carpenters on-site each day, both nice guys but we need plumbers and brick-layers. There are some key areas that still need attention (off the top of my head).
  1. Brickwork: The exterior brickwork remains incomplete. Plus we still have a full 3.5 lintel to be bricked (two sides)
  2. Flat Roof: A tarp is in place to prevent leaks, but the lead and trays need to be redone on the flat roof for a more permanent solution.
  3. Guttering: All guttering work is pending. It's on but not angled or put on correctly yet.
  4. Windows: The windows are still on packers, and yet to be sealed and finished
  5. Bathroom 1: The taps in the first bathroom still do not reach the bath, requiring adjustments and rad need moving
  6. Bathroom 2: The second bathroom has not been started or the old ripped out.
  7. Staircase: Pipes need to been boxed in on landing, and new pipes are running above head heigh to change over stairscase (big job)
  8. Underfloor Heating: Connections are yet to be made, and electrical work for underfloor heating is pending. Only pressure tested
  9. Painting: New painter is arriving on the 15th. We kicked out the last trade for poor workmanship. I am told by the trades here, the new guy is excellent and should have been here in the first place (developer tried to save money).

New brick layers are suppose to be here today completing all the outstanding jobs (not turned up yet - suprise). They also have to run a pillar or redo the brickwork on the connection of the old house to new as its well shocking. The previous brick layers said there is a "pig" in the brickwork. Either way, i am not accepting that as a finish and the developer has agreed its v. poor.

o8wZbR0.png


As you can also see the issues with the guttering, lead etc that need to be corrected.


SRXZXRH.png
 
Last edited:
Yesterday, there was a highly confrontational incident involving the developer. He agressively reqacted expressing frustration and an inability to meet the deadline of January 19, 2024. In his outburst, he began placing blame on us, the homeowners, for the project delays. He cited various reasons, including issues with the tap installation for picking a free-standing bath (the bath tap does not meet the bath), which he claimed caused delays, and problems with our boiler that resulted in a significant leak, damaging an bringing down an entire ceiling (British Gas confirmed it was not our boiler but the poor workmanship of removing the old pipes and capping from the old house). This was evident as the leak was nowhere near the boiler.

Despite causing these setbacks, he refused to acknowledge his role in them.

The situation escalated when I approached one of the self-employed carpenters, who is not directly employed by the developer, and inquired about the possibility of them doing extra work outside of regular hours. This request pertained to minor tasks that wouldn't interfere with the developer's schedule. The developer became furious upon discovering some wall panels had been installed over the weekend, even though I had paid the carpenters for the additional work. This led to a VERY heated confrontation in the street, with the developer claiming ownership of the carpenters and exhibiting aggressive behavior, clenching his fist in my face and pointing at me within nose distance. From what we can gather he does this with other clients (especially women, and they back down). I simply' just laugh in his face and told him his bully tactics are not going to work.

I am not to ask them to do any work until after he has finished. Monday, I think he is going have a heart-attack , because on the weekend they are building boxing seats :) it is my house and what I have done is my choice.

The developer is pressuring me for a physical confrontation, even though he is in his 60s, and I am in my 30s. My primary concern is getting the outstanding work completed, especially crucial elements necessary for the safety of our 2-year-old child. This includes installing a secure front door, as the current OSB setup is insufficient. Returning to the house without addressing these fundamental issues would also jeopardise my home insurance, as the building is not currently secure.

On the plus side; the wall panel looks great :)
uZFf4jD.png



nvYytVA.png
 
Last edited:
Its still getting there the kai, just keep biting that tongue :)

I mean its looking really nice.
As I said before time will heal a lot, whilst right now I am sure it all feels raw, give it a year and I am sure you will chill a lot about it.
You may never want to undertake something like this again, but the pain is unlikely to reduce your enjoyment of what you achieve!

It almost sounds like (I think your alluding to this) hes looking for an excuse to have to drop you as a client.

Just a note on subs etc. What you will find even with pretty reasonable contractors/developers is that they try to avoid your extras as it highlights their poor planning. Even though they are subbing in, they rely on those trades to be available, even if its different to what they have already requested from the subbie.
When the subs start doing extras for clients they are less flexible for the contractor/developer.
Even though they are not their employees the contractors in effect like to think of them that way.
 
It's a shame you haven't been recording your interactions with this bullyboy old fogy, it would make for great youtube content.

... exhibiting aggressive behavior, clenching his fist in my face and pointing at me within nose distance. From what we can gather he does this with other clients (especially women, and they back down). I simply' just laugh in his face and told him his bully tactics are not going to work.

Keep it this way. As tempting as it would be to floor this muppet keep the moral high ground that you're on. After the project is done give him a sandwich with crushed viagra in it and once he's eaten tell him to go **** himself. It might possibly be the best erection he's built in years.
 
It's a shame you haven't been recording your interactions with this bullyboy old fogy, it would make for great youtube content.



Keep it this way. As tempting as it would be to floor this muppet keep the moral high ground that you're on. After the project is done give him a sandwich with crushed viagra in it and once he's eaten tell him to go **** himself. It might possibly be the best erection he's built in years.
Is it not illegal to record conversations without the permission of the other attendees ?



This evening's conversation was quite amusing. Howden’s called to inquire about the scratched oven, as they had provided a replacement. Keep in mind that this oven is valued at £850. They were chasing us because we were supposed to place the lightly scratched oven, get the new one fitted, and then return the scratched one to the delivery guys. This incident occurred about two months ago.

I explained that the developer had taken the oven, loaded it onto the back of his van, and it was gone. I would likely have CCTV footage capturing him leaving with it. Howden’s contacted him, and initially, he tried to deny it. As the conversation progressed, it became clear that we had informed Howden’s about having proof that the oven was not in our possession. He eventually admitted to using the oven on another job and expected it for "free" due to the hassle he experienced with our kitchen. It's important to note that the developer did not arrange or handle anything other than us using his account.
 
I'd hand him a list of anger management courses along with the final payment
It will go down like a lead balloon but I am (unless things change) unlikely to pay the final bill

We have more than enough evidence and documenation whereby he has not met the conditions of the quote. For example 3 windows in the property are significantly smaller than the architectural plan; he had an excuse why for each one. Damage to property by leaving our house exposed to the elements for months with no roof or securing access etc.
 
It will go down like a lead balloon but I am (unless things change) unlikely to pay the final bill

We have more than enough evidence and documenation whereby he has not met the conditions of the quote. For example 3 windows in the property are significantly smaller than the architectural plan; he had an excuse why for each one. Damage to property by leaving our house exposed to the elements for months with no roof or securing access etc.
Good, he deserves as little money as you can now get away with based on his attitude if nothing else.
 
Is it not illegal to record conversations without the permission of the other attendees ?

Not sure of the legalities but something for others to consider putting in to futures contracts. If they have nothing to hide etc.

He eventually admitted to using the oven on another job and expected it for "free" due to the hassle he experienced with our kitchen. It's important to note that the developer did not arrange or handle anything other than us using his account.

Incredulous the cheek of this guy. Does it not make you wonder how many items you've paid for but received knock-offs and surplus from his other jobs?
 
Sorry this is dragging on, but it would seem that you’re doing closer. Keep the numbers of the decent trades for sure! The pictures are looking really great.

Are they on websites like mybuilder and check a trade? They’re usually quite helpful in these situations. Had ours come back quite apologetic (initially) when we had him removed from mybuilder.com. I dread to think how he had left other clients!
 
I'm about to start a new build with limited budget/experience and reading through your whole thread about the problems you've encountered with various trades is starting to give me nightmares :eek:. Hope it all works out well for you in the end, it's starting to look really nice
 
Good, he deserves as little money as you can now get away with based on his attitude if nothing else.

We are currently facing an issue with several outstanding physical items, each of significant value, not accounting for additional fitting costs. Some examples include:
  • Julet Balcony (£1,200)
  • Bathroom (£4-6k)
  • Glass balustrade (£500-700)
  • Two Composite doors (£1250 each)
These figures do not encompass all pending tasks, such as completing brickwork, addressing lead work and trays that need redoing, and painting the entire house from top to bottom.

Regarding costs, we aim to have as much work completed by the developer as possible. Currently, we are trying to avoid costing discussions, as he is still on-site carrying out works (we have paid him like 95% anyway). This approach is intended to narrow the gap between what has been paid and what he believes he is owed, in case he decides to walk away from the project.

However, feedback from various trades indicates that he is very unlikely to walk. Instead, he tends to push clients to terminate the contract, allowing him to avoid being perceived as breaching his contractual obligations
Sorry this is dragging on, but it would seem that you’re doing closer. Keep the numbers of the decent trades for sure! The pictures are looking really great.

Are they on websites like mybuilder and check a trade? They’re usually quite helpful in these situations. Had ours come back quite apologetic (initially) when we had him removed from mybuilder.com. I dread to think how he had left other clients!

Once again, the developer has postponed the completion date. The revised practical completion date for interior work is set for the 26th. My wife and I are steadfast in our decision not to relocate our 2-year-old to what essentially remains a construction site, especially without essential items like a secure door, staircase rail/balustrade, and even a Juliet balcony.

Yesterday, the developer issued an apology, acknowledging that he is currently under a great deal of stress because he is moving home and regrettably taking it out on clients. Despite his admission, he seemed to be in a relatively good mood during our interaction. However, he noticed my wife taking notes, a practice she maintains in every meeting. What caught his attention was her use of shorthand, a skill she developed as a former journalist for a major newspaper and media outlet.
Upon his inquiry, my wife clarified her background in journalism, hoping that the recognition of her media connections might prompt a positive change in the working relationship. It remains to be seen or the penny has not dropped yet.

The developer is not listed on any website or trade review platform, which poses its own challenges. However, this absence from public platforms can work to our advantage when we eventually leave reviews. Our review will likely stand out at the top of the list, providing an impactful platform to share our experiences and concerns

I'm about to start a new build with limited budget/experience and reading through your whole thread about the problems you've encountered with various trades is starting to give me nightmares :eek:. Hope it all works out well for you in the end, it's starting to look really nice

I highly recommend conducting thorough due diligence before engaging with any developer. Despite our efforts to research and even consult with a previous client, our experience has been far from satisfactory. It's crucial to go beyond surface-level inquiries and ensure that the developer possesses accredited certifications from reputable organisations such as Master Builders.

While our experience has been challenging, it's important to note that the majority of the trades involved in the project have been good. Our cautionary tale emphasises the significance of scrutinising a developer's credentials and track record, even when recommendations seem positive. Don't let our unfortunate experience put you off , but rather let it serve as a reminder to assess all aspects before entering into any agreement.

I would also recommend a QS and architect meet with your developer before signing anything (check the relationship) and see if the QS or architect get any bad vibes.




As a side note, this seemingly basic photo represents a significant milestone. The numerous arguments (actual physical and verbal abuse) and negotiations required to reach this point are quite astonishing and might be hard to believe. Despite its apparent simplicity, the journey to achieving this visual outcome has been anything but straightforward.

A bath tap that goes into the bath
A towel radaitor up high enough you can actually use (yet to be plummed)

dJTsfZx.png
 
Last edited:
Haha oh god imagine plastic push fit there.

Don't mention pushfit here after yesterday. The plumber yesterday put an outside tap on as a hobble. I knew i should have asked someone competent as he has been a nightmare.

This is a main wall' that you will see and wanted £60, HA. I now have to pay someone to do a proper job and bury the cable in the wall.

MFg5r4E.png
 
Reminds me of when the letting agency sent their handymen round to replace the radiator in our bathroom.

Wife was downstairs with our daughter who was about 6 weeks old at the time so when the guy came down and said it was done she just thanked him and let him go.

She went up to use the bathroom a little later on and not only had they fitted a smaller radiator (because apparently they couldn't find a standard size replacement which took me about 2 minutes on the Wickes website to find in stock 5 minutes down the road) which obviously left chunks of unpainted patches on the wall, along with some really crap looking extra pipework so it reached the smaller rad and while soldering the pipework the guy hadn't used any heat shielding so the skirting board was burnt black and the lino was scorched.

How the guy though he was going to get away with that I have no idea. Apparently he was the new boy that the boss had left alone, boss came back later that day and slapped some paint over the skirting board and they ended up needing to replace the flooring which again they did a crap job with (the sealant is around the edges to stop any water getting in, it was actually there to fill the gaps where they'd cut the lino 10-15mm short of the wall).
 
Back
Top Bottom