Conservatory/extension builder recommendations ...

[Squiggs]

.... I'm in Chelmsford and I'm having a bit of a problem getting some quotes together for our new conservatory/extension build (they seem to turn up, take measurements and disappear)
Any recommendations?

[sjc]

http://www.countrywideconservatories.co.uk/
Ask for Dave,and tell him Andy Martin passed you on.

[Roo]

I'm in Kent but the guy who built mine is called Dave and his number is 07815 932708.

Might be worth a try.

[m3jappa]

Try my mate Pete, he's in Chelmsford and you will not find a better builder IMO. He does a very very thorough job (bit slow, don't tell him I told you that

He's also IMO too cheap but there you go. Tell him jasper gave you the number, 07941 283248, he is always working so try a couple of times if he doesn't answer.

[jumpingjackdan]

Whoever you use, make sure you get a contract with agreed work completion and payment dates Don't budge, if they have not done what they were supposed to do by that date don't pay them. Get inspectors to check the work. Also, keep 5% back until you have had a good chance to look at all the work and make sure its all been done properly. Lastly, check them out online, have a look on companies house etc. If they have lots of old companies with different names, could be they just start up, screw people over, go out of business and repeat the process.

I say this as a grandson of a building surveyor who spent his entire life working on building projects and a son who's father decided to avoid the advice of his father-in-law and got shafted by a builder.

Lastly, don't give anything up-front, unless you want to meet Dom and Mel (fair point, she is still hot) from cowboy builders. You see people give £50k up front and the bloke fks off to Thailand.

Sorry, pretty negative but building work cost lots to do and lots to fix if they fk it up.