Kitchen Renovation
Posted by: Roz
19th Jun 2011 08:12pm
It took 15 years, but finally I saved the money. Couldn't get builder interested as it was a reno not a totally new building. Finally after 6 months of living with a tarp as a wall in my kitchen (we removed a wood stove and chinmey) a builder arrived and we were underway. Believe me after 15 years I knew what I wanted and where I wanted it. The builder definately thought he had better ideas. He became quite sulky if I was not thrilled with his ideas. After insisting this was my kitchen not his we managed to get it finished. It took 3 weeks longer than anticipated. I was very pleased with the end result. The builder often turned up in the morning then would leave the apprentices to work alone and would turn up late in the afternoon. There was 4 days when there was no one to work at all. Can anyone tell me why some tradesmen feel that they can do entirely as they wish on your time. A simple phone call to say they are unable to turn up. Instead I had to stay home in case someone turned up. It doesn't have to be like this good manners and communication are free.
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Comments 5
TJK
I owner build a house 3 years ago and I had the same thing happen to me, some of them even started the job and then left and never came back. But there are some good ones out there, it is jut hard to find them
littletoot
My mother has just renovated her laundry and kitchen. She got someone just as Roz described. She asked several tradies for quotes and some didnt bother to even turn up to the appointment to give the quote and one didnt send in the quote after viewing the house. I'm begining to think there should be some form of regulation.
Skuba
We recently did our kitchen too after a number of quotes. We also had a rude man who thought our ideas were silly. He quoted heaps more than anyone else and was quite surprised when we went with somebody else. The people that ended up installing our kitchen were great.
christi681
Roz My husband is a tradie and i can assure you that the courteous ones are out there. My dear husband does not leave unskilled or apprentices without supervison either himself or one of his qualified staff are there at all times.
knowing the industry well, sometimes the builder/business owner will have to leave the jobsite to do quotes, run errands, collect stock etc.
please don't hold this against them, they are only building and their business. if the Apprentices were of 4th year then it would be acceptable to leave them briefly, any less than that would be unresponsible.
As for not letting you know when they are not showing that is definately wrong. if for any reason my husband cannot be on the job on a given day if he doesnt get the chance to ring it is my job as his office assistant.
yes i do agree and so would my husband in regards to the good manners and communication.
We wish you well and hope that your future renovations are a lot more pleasant with the builders you use.
Roz
Hi christi681, I am so pleased your husband is a man of good work ethics and principal. Wish he had been my builder. Thank you for your comment.