The builders are coming in!

[Pebbs]

I have the builders coming in tomorrow, I want the bathroom ripped out,(except the mosaic) the kitchen ripped out, in fact its fair to say, most of the house ripped out. The funny thing is, its kind of scaring me, letting one company do everything, its going to be funny sitting on the other side of the fence and watching the going on's. I dont like dealing with the public, with their can you just do this, do that....and now Im thinking my God I might turn out like that!

What if they send along a team of dum dums and a big tub of pva? I think I will have a freak out! Do I make them tea? or show them the kettle and let them get on with it. I dont want to scare them! but I dont suffer fools easily.

Lynn

 

[Time's Ran Out]

You are NOT letting them do any tiling though are you?
Leave the kettle and cups etc out and they can make tea when they want!
Its your house - you are in charge - they are still working for you.

 

[Andy Allen]

tea, biscuits every hour, lunch at one (just a round of sarnies should do). cake and tea at three and more tea just before knocking off at five........ok

 

[tfs]

Tell them exactly what you want and if you feel confident in them leave them to it, checking in on development regularly. If you see them doing something that makes you curious just ask.

Just treat it like it was one of your jobs at work!

 

[tfs]

a good supply of choc biscuits always goes down well though:drool5:

 

[user123]

Re Timelss John - couldn't have said it better myself Pebbs, just enjoy having it all done new and nice! I am sure you have done your homework in deciding who you want to do this, if they passed your research scrutiny all will be fine. Then again you might enjoy being a proper Bodicea and woe those who put a foot wrong!! Either way I think you'll be alright :lol:

 

[Aston]

hi pebbs
despite their bad press, theirs lots of good builders out there.

a pro builder is like any other pro.they will be very organised, working to a time scale, and ensuring all their subbies ( joke ;0) workers and doing a good thorough job..

My big advice is - dont get to friendly with a builder. its easy to do when they are on your property for 4-6 weeks but its the worst thing that you can do. treat them like one of your own workers. be polite but dont get to chatty, they are working for you and the last thing you need is another friend! one whos costing you money and time through long and happy chats lol

anyway, you dont appear to be a soft touch so i am sure you'll have them in line!

cheers
ed

 

[Brinkley]

andy tea every hour surely your joking half hour more like but on the window sill work and drink no breaks.
seriously pebbs if it were my company we dont expect tea .tea is a bonus

 

[Spud]

good luck with it Lynn, hope it all goes well for you

 

[hillhead]

Think of the finished product Lynn and hopefully all else will run smoothly.
I had a dream builder build my whole house nine years ago, no probs then and stiil none .
Plenty of good men about.

 

[White Room]

As already said there some good builders about, hope everything works out for you.

 

[CJ]

Word of warning.

Leave plenty of loo roll, and the lavvy brush.

 

[Andy Allen]

Word of warning.

Leave plenty of loo roll, and the lavvy brush.

yeh and hope they didnt have a curry the night before.

 

[Dan]

Sounds like they're be ripping it out so it's not a problem for Pebbs. lol

 

[Pebbs]

Ok I loaded the bathroom up with loo roll, I'll get some McVities in the morning, the Abel and Cole deliver tomorrow so if they behave theirselves they can have some scones, and I'll let them get on with it. Ive cleared the first two rooms because I remember you all saying about customers leaving stuff around, and naffing you off. John they have to re-grout some of the mosaic in the area under the roof...that should be a good un! the rest is going to be lovely smooth plaster (I hope). I just thought of something I cant go to the loo with them in the house! Id die of embrassment.

Lynn

 

[DHTiling]

Use a bucket..:lol:

 

[hillhead]

Or do what i do Lynn, set your timer for early morning and late evening,lol.

 

[Brinkley]

enjoy the experience lynn your only gonna do this once and knowing what your like it will be perfect.

 

[Scott]

Use a bucket..:lol:

And a bin liner just in case......

 

[cornish_crofter]

I have the builders coming in tomorrow, I want the bathroom ripped out,(except the mosaic) the kitchen ripped out, in fact its fair to say, most of the house ripped out. The funny thing is, its kind of scaring me, letting one company do everything, its going to be funny sitting on the other side of the fence and watching the going on's. I dont like dealing with the public, with their can you just do this, do that....and now Im thinking my God I might turn out like that!

What if they send along a team of dum dums and a big tub of pva? I think I will have a freak out! Do I make them tea? or show them the kettle and let them get on with it. I dont want to scare them! but I dont suffer fools easily.

Lynn

There's no harm letting them know about your extensive knowledge of the trade and asking them to explain how they would approach certain parts of the job. After all it's your money and you would want to make sure it's well spent.

After all you'd kick yourself if it later turned out that they missed something that you could have discussed with the foreman over a cup of tea. If they then go and miss something you have little or no knowledge about then that is unfortunate, but not as gauling as if one guy had done something like used PVA prior to fitting some nice expensive travertine, and you then had upwards of £1000 damage to your worksurfaces as a result.

I must be fairly unusual with customers. I actually quite enjoy explaining in every detail how the job will be done. I actually quite like customers getting involved and would prefer being asked to do something slightly differently to the customer's preference - whilst I still can. For example, setting out tiles is something I like to get the customer involved in at an early stage.

 

[Pebbs]

Heres their day, scaffold arrives at 8.00am they turn up at 9.00am, cup of tea, look around, put some protection down. They go to the cafe, I go to the loo! They return, they strip a bit of paper of the walls, their project manager arrives, they trot of to get some bits from the yard....End of day.

No wonder people hate site work, residential so far is the life of riley!

Lynn

 

[mikethetile]

not a lot to show for day one, I like to make a good show on the first day as I know the client will be assessing time taken, I trust they are on price. keep a diary in case they start looking for extra money

Ps have they met your mate Dave

 

[Pebbs]

Yep they are on price, if it was day works, I would have blown a fuse by mid-day. LMAO...Big Dave! i think the word is intimidation...as if I would ever resort to that! (not half!).

Lynn

 

[mikethetile]

all joking aside, see what tommorow brings and if its not a lot tell their guvnor you expect the job finished to schedule and budget and wont wear over runs on either

much the same as your clients do to you LOL

 

[Scott]

Heres their day, scaffold arrives at 8.00am they turn up at 9.00am, cup of tea, look around, put some protection down. They go to the cafe, I go to the loo! They return, they strip a bit of paper of the walls, their project manager arrives, they trot of to get some bits from the yard....End of day.

No wonder people hate site work, residential so far is the life of riley!

Lynn

:lol::lol::lol:

Friendly scaffolders lynn?

 

[cornish_crofter]

They have either had an assessment to decide exactly in what order to do the job and get materials etc, or they are finishing another job where they may have penalty clauses . If it's the latter they have just sent a few guys over there to show intent for now.

As has been said, if this is the pace for the next few days, then time to have a word.

 

[Pebbs]

Friendly scaffolders...I dont know what your talking about Scott! :blush5:

That clear plastic stuff they put over the carpet is good stuff, never seen it before only use corex ourselves for fire hazard reasons.

See what tomorrow brings, I discovered some time ago my life is never straight forward.

Lynn

 

[Colour Republic]

Self adhesive one Lynn??

 

[Andy Allen]

can we have a 'pebbs builders update' every day please.

 

[doug boardley]

stroll on a roll?