Builder stalling on kitchen completion
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking for some advice on how to move forwards with my builder. Short story: he's been exceptionally slow, taken 7 months so far to do a single storey extension that required removal of the back wall. Now taken more than 8 weeks to fit a kitchen. Neither is complete yet, but now seems to have switched back to finishing the extension side of the job.
Units are in but I've been waiting for him to deliver the sink and taps so that I can get my quartz templating done but he doesn't return any calls. That's over a week now. Sent around the electrician and subby to do some work over the weekend though. We've been without a working kitchen for 5 months now. I've got the impression that he wants the final payment for the extension and then will give me my sink and taps for the kitchen (final payment left on that). But he hasn't actually said that.
Very angry at this moment as we don't have a working kitchen and he doesn't communicate until he wants another payment. We've always paid on time, but it's never been reciprocated. Not sure how to move ahead.
I could let him finish the extension and then we'll need to wait for building control to sign off (no idea how long that would take). Meanwhile no working kitchen. Or not pay any more until he finishes everything (kitchen and extension). But then we could end up in a dispute as he could claim the extension is finished as it's two separate contracts. Feels like he's playing games holding back the sinks and taps.
We've always been very fair and flexible but it's keeping me up at night tyring to figure out how to move forwards. I was thinking of getting him to put in writing now when the whole project will be complete, but I suspect builders don't do that.
Any advice much appreciated.
Looking for some advice on how to move forwards with my builder. Short story: he's been exceptionally slow, taken 7 months so far to do a single storey extension that required removal of the back wall. Now taken more than 8 weeks to fit a kitchen. Neither is complete yet, but now seems to have switched back to finishing the extension side of the job.
Units are in but I've been waiting for him to deliver the sink and taps so that I can get my quartz templating done but he doesn't return any calls. That's over a week now. Sent around the electrician and subby to do some work over the weekend though. We've been without a working kitchen for 5 months now. I've got the impression that he wants the final payment for the extension and then will give me my sink and taps for the kitchen (final payment left on that). But he hasn't actually said that.
Very angry at this moment as we don't have a working kitchen and he doesn't communicate until he wants another payment. We've always paid on time, but it's never been reciprocated. Not sure how to move ahead.
I could let him finish the extension and then we'll need to wait for building control to sign off (no idea how long that would take). Meanwhile no working kitchen. Or not pay any more until he finishes everything (kitchen and extension). But then we could end up in a dispute as he could claim the extension is finished as it's two separate contracts. Feels like he's playing games holding back the sinks and taps.
We've always been very fair and flexible but it's keeping me up at night tyring to figure out how to move forwards. I was thinking of getting him to put in writing now when the whole project will be complete, but I suspect builders don't do that.
Any advice much appreciated.
Can't really help as I don't known (and suspect there isn't) of any contract between you and the Builder. However, what might be of comfort is that Building Control are generally very reactive and should be over to carry out a completion inspection fairly swiftly after you request it.
He's either not well, or has a more profitable job on the go.
Course of action depends if you want to bin him or not?
My last building work bar one the guy turned up once a week (for a job he said would take two weeks). I quickly learnt he was doing a much bigger job elsewhere. Wouldn't take my calls and would occasionally reply to messages. Once he started ignoring my calls I started making alternative plans.
Once my back up plan was ready I simply called him (ignored) then messaged him laying out the outstanding items and giving him sensible timelines. If he was unable to meet them then we would be parting ways. He replied within 30 mins apologising and said he'd call me that evening to discuss. I never heard from him again.
Course of action depends if you want to bin him or not?
My last building work bar one the guy turned up once a week (for a job he said would take two weeks). I quickly learnt he was doing a much bigger job elsewhere. Wouldn't take my calls and would occasionally reply to messages. Once he started ignoring my calls I started making alternative plans.
Once my back up plan was ready I simply called him (ignored) then messaged him laying out the outstanding items and giving him sensible timelines. If he was unable to meet them then we would be parting ways. He replied within 30 mins apologising and said he'd call me that evening to discuss. I never heard from him again.
Been there, got the very expensive T-shirt. Bin him off now is my advice - my 'builder' strung me along for a year or so partly because I wanted to believe his bullshed, but also because I was worried about the financial implications of chucking him off the job. It cost me 30k to get his crap work rectified in any case and had I have waited for him I'd probably still not have a kitchen..
Yup. Accidentally rented a lazy and dumb toddler to build a garage. I should kick myself really as it was his partner who walked him around introducing him. Mud got along with the partner and I thought just how badly could a builder mess up a very basic garage build. Bloke had to be supervised endlessly, could only work to primary school hours along with mid morning nap and spent half the time banging on about how great he was while f
king up even the simplest of tasks. Absolute tard.
General advice would be to not let your care in the community charity case so the kitchen. It's very obviously going to be a disaster which you have to live with while they just move on to another carer and day care location. Start looking for someone else and once water tight on the extension just give the waste of space some going away money and be done.
king up even the simplest of tasks. Absolute tard. General advice would be to not let your care in the community charity case so the kitchen. It's very obviously going to be a disaster which you have to live with while they just move on to another carer and day care location. Start looking for someone else and once water tight on the extension just give the waste of space some going away money and be done.
There's probably only a few days of work left. That's what gets me. The extension is pretty much done: plastered, painted, LVT down, kitchen units in, all electrics done (except the electrician forgot to connect some of the spots). There's really not much left to do. But for some reason he's stalled on getting the sinks and taps to me. As I say I think he wants the money for the extension first. Just wish he'd say that and we can move onwards.
I thought builders would want to move to the next job quick, maybe he does have other more profitable jobs. It's not just one guy, they have quite a few people. Strange as I'm still currently holding 10% of the total of the extension and kitchen as final payments.
Getting someone else at this stage will be tough. It was tough finding anyone decent in the first place. Would probably need to hire individual trades and how long that will take. I might just need to sit tight for a few weeks and see how things go. But Christmas fast approaching.
This has been the worst experience. No wonder the UK economy is stagnant. Even when you want to spend, you're too scared after this fiasco.
I thought builders would want to move to the next job quick, maybe he does have other more profitable jobs. It's not just one guy, they have quite a few people. Strange as I'm still currently holding 10% of the total of the extension and kitchen as final payments.
Getting someone else at this stage will be tough. It was tough finding anyone decent in the first place. Would probably need to hire individual trades and how long that will take. I might just need to sit tight for a few weeks and see how things go. But Christmas fast approaching.
This has been the worst experience. No wonder the UK economy is stagnant. Even when you want to spend, you're too scared after this fiasco.
LooneyTunes said:
Why not just buy a new sink and taps, get it the worktop templated and find a plumber to finish the associated installation?
Take the costs of above from final payment.
Yep, that's my final option. As with most builders, there's always a few snags and tidy ups remaining that I need him to sort first before I go down that road. There is also the concern that we might then not get our completion certificate if I do that. Not sure what that then means...Take the costs of above from final payment.
Edited by g-man-76 on Monday 28th October 17:18
Simpo Two said:
LooneyTunes said:
Why not just buy a new sink and taps, get it the worktop templated and find a plumber to finish the associated installation?
Take the costs of above from final payment.
That was my idea too. Maybe give him 7 days notice just so he can't say you didn't tell him.Take the costs of above from final payment.
g-man-76 said:
Simpo Two said:
LooneyTunes said:
Why not just buy a new sink and taps, get it the worktop templated and find a plumber to finish the associated installation?
Take the costs of above from final payment.
That was my idea too. Maybe give him 7 days notice just so he can't say you didn't tell him.Take the costs of above from final payment.
miniman said:
g-man-76 said:
Simpo Two said:
LooneyTunes said:
Why not just buy a new sink and taps, get it the worktop templated and find a plumber to finish the associated installation?
Take the costs of above from final payment.
That was my idea too. Maybe give him 7 days notice just so he can't say you didn't tell him.Take the costs of above from final payment.
I would personally start now to get individual trades in to finish the parts off. I reckon he’s lost interest in it too and moved onto the next exciting job. I reckon if you look for the trades now you could get it all done by Christmas.
Also but do you feel comfortable doing some yourself? Appreciate time could be an issue for you but plenty of YouTube videos out there and a vast array of knowledge on here that I’ve used in the past too.
Also but do you feel comfortable doing some yourself? Appreciate time could be an issue for you but plenty of YouTube videos out there and a vast array of knowledge on here that I’ve used in the past too.
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