Help! How do I find a good builder?

[John Touhig]

I'm planning on have a new kitchen fitted along with some minor (beyond my skills) building work down. When I say having a kitchen fitted I mean that I want all of the tiling done as well (floor and walls).

How do I go about finding a good builder? Please don't tell me to look in the Yellow Pages as there's good and bad in there.


Any pointers?


Thanks


John

[MATTBIN]

personal recommendation helps, as you can have a look and se what they have done. In my experience builders dont make good plasterers or tilers, may be worth getting two guys in to do each bit. Bear in mind electrics and gas are specialised items now too. Certs have to be issued if there is any electrical/gas work taking place, such as new piping, sockets and wiring, so they need to be registered (certainly the gas man does if he's fitting a boiler - Corgi registered), it will come to light (excuse the pun) if/when you come to sell the house, solicitores now ask if anything was done such as what you are having done post 2005 (I think) as that is when the new regs came in. You might also see if you need building regs from the local council, just to be safe.

Matt

[Adrian Kelland]

Word of mouth from seeing other good work first hand.

Adrian

[IanDennis]

Howard - Diving Dude - might know somebody- worth a PM.

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by IanDennis

Howard - Diving Dude - might know somebody- worth a PM.

Yeah, Howard might know a good builder.

Personal recommendation is what I would go for. In the past I have been disappointed when cheap quotes really were too good to be true. At the time money was tight, so cheapness mattered. Now I'd go for personal recommendation and competitive, though not necessarily cheapest, price.

[Jill]

Check the Federation of Master Builders website - stick in your postcode and they'll give you a list of who (apparently) covers your area. I'd still get references or speak to previous customers though

[Diving Dude]

John.

When you've worked out the formula of 'how to find a good builder' can l use it for 'how to find a good client'.

Hampshire's a little far for me, well actually anything that's not in a five mile radius is to far.

[wilbo]

Originally Posted by Diving Dude

John.

When you've worked out the formula of 'how to find a good builder' can l use it for 'how to find a good client'.

Hampshire's a little far for me, well actually anything that's not in a five mile radius is to far.

plus (with reference to the 'what would you do/dive boat' thread) with the dude you could ask for a kitchen installed and get an 3 story MDF aviary painted in bitumen with ensuite gravel driveway and plastic cladded porchway.

or similar. couldn't promise anything.

[nw.]

John,
I've just had an 80m2 extension including a new kitchen. The builder I used was excellent but he's booked up for eighteen months. He's a Farnborough chap so if you're localish I can furnish you with his details.
The kitchen was fitted by a Camberley man who can also do all the tiling for you. Did a great job, very professional and polite. His website is at; In - Home Installations - 01276 25554
Nick

[John Touhig]

Thanks all, good advice as always. I'll let you know what happens.


John


Saying that I could always forget the kitchen and buy a 'breather. I'll have to work out if I would enough money left over to pay for the divorce.