Well disserve 5 stars!!!!
The project
The idea was to bring a three bedroom two storey cottage house into a 5-bedroom with a lateral extension on both floors, changing the whole roof and extend back kitchen wall increasing its size and living room. House went from 90 m2 into 145 m2. The project was planned to last between 5 to 6 month. Due to the works, we were not living at the house. It involved structural engineer, architect, council approval, plumbing, electricity and building controls. It wasn’t conservation area.
Quoting process
We have around three reviews, it involved some optional items. All the quotes were presented on time and fast. They quote by item (e.g. toilet, family bathroom, master bedroom, structural work, roof, etc.) and there was a previous discussion of the finishing and amount of work required for the job for each item. We always brought a drawing for discussion and quotes were based on these drawings and the feedback given by us. They thoroughly check what you want and they cross check this. This was fundamental for the success of the project and the control of future unexpected additional.
Price Level
We asked 7 quotes. They ended up being within the two most competitive. We chose them because of availability they didn’t have parallel projects. The majority of the other quotes have many projects ongoing and you didn’t know which priority you are for them. Is a relief knowing you will have them on site all the time.
General Quality
From the start of the foundation work you noticed that they didn’t rush things. The materials they use were of expected quality but were always agreed and according to drawing. The approached the structural work with thorough execution, always according to structural engineering and with deep understanding of what they were doing.
I had the chance of visiting the site regularly and every answer denoted knowledge and reasoning behind.
Finishing
Everything in life is about the team you can join! The painter and the tiler are superb!!! Excellent!
Purchasing
The project was executed along the pandemic and many of the materials both sides had to supply were in shortage (i.e. windows). They offered me very good and on time alternatives which they were not necessarily entitled to do (e.g. windows, granite, etc.). In the case of their shortages we worked as a team and not as contractor and client. They were very flexible of assigning work in order to do not stop the works and searching literally everywhere what was missing (i.e. plaster).
They material requirement was advised with the necessary time I didn’t have to rush.
They even phoned my suppliers in order to confirm and get the material on time. They did thorough incoming inspection of everything I bought and cross check with me if I agreed with the quality.
10 points in this!!!
Additional work
In a project like this there will always be additional work. Mainly because you discover that you have chance to do things along the way or improve the original drawing (e.g. add a velux window where you didn’t plan, finish the roof with a slope which is nicer, etc.)
Even in things that I didn’t correctly planned and were evidently our mistake, they always quoted fast and at an affordable price; always trying to help. You didn’t feel they were taking advantage of the situation, all the prices were reasonable.
All the quotes were presented fast so we could take the best decision of go or no go to a possible solution (e.g. lowering 30 cm the roofs of two bedrooms).
Problem resolution
Excellent!
Everything that came down the road was thoroughly analysed and they didn’t hide anything. If they saw a possible problem they will tell you way in advance (e.g. beam length, which we solve by tossing some solutions with the structural eng. And playing with some dimensions)
Timing
Perfect! Even during the pandemic.
10 points in this!!!
Closing, contract and warranty
Everything according to plan and there was a contract signed. Nothing really major in the closing period and they came when we ask. Everything was correctly finished so not much outstanding.
8 lutego 2021
Opinia niezależna