posted on 31 August 2006 16:06 by Harley

September 2006 Eeek!

Well, that's the school hols over with.  Now back to dealing with builders.  The Electrician has made a start putting in all the conduits for the cables and now the Plasterer is doing his thing.  Some of this has been done during July and August (they must really be fed up with me)!  We have windows and doors, oh, and a chimney.  However, they have put the wrong design of tile on the roof (not as the contract) and to make matters worse they look like seconds.  We have looked at new builds on our travels over the hols and not one of them has this terrible "mess" on the finish.  Yet another recorded delivery letter off to the builder then.  I really don't like the look of the tiles they have put on the roof at all and feel that we may be asking them to take them off and start again - jeepers!!!  That should be an interesting conversation.  Would any of you do the same?  I don't really like making a fuss (how English) but when you are paying for something as expensive as a new house then you want it how you want it and not how the builder thinks it should be. Neither do we want it built with cheaper quality materials so he can improve his profit margin.  Sadly that is what I am thinking at the moment with regard to the roof.  Wish me luck![:(]

UPDATE

Have just been back to the house as the plasterer is working.  Left a modified plan with them at the end of July as we needed to correct an error by the building company and move a couple of walls over by a few feet.  This was well before they started work.  No problem, they said.  But, have they worked to this plan, or the original one.  Yep, you guessed it, they are working to the original plan.  So three walls and one door are in totally the wrong positions.  Deep deep joy!!!

HOW DO I STILL HAVE A SMILE ON MY FACE?[:)] 

Comments

# re: September 2006 Eeek!

10 September 2006 19:26 by Monika
Hi Harley, it worked! Before I just did not get this box to post it in. I think I did not wait long enough for it to appear.
I just wanted to say that you must forget all your nice "britishness" and especially now keep going to the site and watch everything carefully, keep reminding them what you want, where you want it,how you want things done, nicely but firmly. Quite a few things have been "bodged" on our build because we were not there. The big water balloon for instance they put into the bathroom instead of in the loft, although we had told them and various other things. The spiral staircase resembles a childs climbing frame and some of the so called braced and ledged doors are already warped. It is your house and your money and the customer is king, but I know its not that easy and the fear is always to jeopardise the finishing date. But rather wait a month extra!

# re: September 2006 Eeek!

11 September 2006 08:32 by westland
Sounds like you are having an awful time and I thought we had problems with our small extension. I have taken the "laid back" attitude throughout and wish that I hadn't. Four months down the line having paid eighty per cent of the cost nothing has been done since early July. We have just the shell and roof with a new fosse with pump and trenches, balon, bathroom/tiling,windows, electrics etc outstanding. I really admire your guts in trying to keep everything to plan. We have used a company with a "project manager" but even he finds it impossible to bring all the artisans together in the right order.

Considering the fact that roofs seem to be one of the highest priced items here when building, I hope that you manage to get the tiles exchanged for those that you wanted.


Hopefully it won't be long before all the stress is a distant memory. (Moi aussi!).

# re: September 2006 Eeek!

11 September 2006 19:18 by Harley
Thanks both of you for your comments. Each time we have to deal with the constructeur I feel like I am going into battle, not asking him things about our future home, that we are paying for!!! I don't know if I am doing the right thing, being so stubborn about them getting it right and to schedule. But I have worked in a Customer Service environment and to me it was of the utmost importance that we did the very best for our clients at all times, were polite at all times, whatever the provocation and kept the client informed whether the news be good or bad. Only time will tell..........................