Question for tradespeople

[Dahnsouff]

30 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

Interesting. As per my post above, for gas and electric, we use local guys in our village.

 

But I put in the ‘houses’ thread about getting an extension recently and mentioned in passing that the preferred builder I have found was sourced from CheckaTrade and a couple of people picked up on that and warned against. As far as I was concerned, they have been very helpful and responsive, and have provided a very detailed quote, itemised down to everything you could think of. It has almost made me doubt them even though my own gut instinct is good. I think the best think, which is good practice anyway, is that I will just ask the guy I am in touch with to direct me to any similar jobs done locally.

 

What sort of level jobs have you sourced via there?

I think yes, check a trade is a start point or a directory, but you have to go with your gut to some degree on meeting them. Also, different people have different expectations.

 

Job sourced:

• Large extension overhaul + new kitchen + downstairs bathroom add
  • Was acting as main contractors, lots of trades involved
• Chimney sweep - repeat business
• Garden office built
• Fitting extra radiators in a roof room
• Removing broken driveway and reworking
• Tree feeling

 

Would be lost without them tbh

[JonnyBoy]

Whilst we are on the topic, looking at getting a ceiling rose and need a new lounge light fitting.. will an electrician fit the rose? I think it is quite simple 

[danny.]

On 21/11/2025 at 18:52, JonnyBoy said:

Whilst we are on the topic, looking at getting a ceiling rose and need a new lounge light fitting.. will an electrician fit the rose? I think it is quite simple 

Depends what type. If it’s plaster probably not, although lightweight maybe they will. Best to ask the electrician. 

[CUJimmy]

So much depends on scale, budget and how much you are capable of doing yourselves.

 

We had the kitchen refurbed a few years ago.  We stripped out the old one ourselves but after that pretty much left the fitter to coordinate the other trades.

 

This year we have refurbed the lounge including installing electric underfloor heating.  This time we did more ourselves, would it have been easier to employ a project manager and would the finish have been better using trades throughout?  Possibly but the reality is we couldn’t have afforded it.

 

One thing we did find is that for a big job you get lots of interest on check-a-trade but less so if it’s only a day or twos worth of work so is mostly going to be the Sole Traders.  My only non-negotiable is that I won’t employ someone who isn’t prepared to come out and see the job so I can talk through exactly what I want, discuss what I can realistically do and get a feel for whether I trust them.  I know I am paying for this in the quote but that is a price worth paying.

[grth2004]

Has anyone had any experience with getting a Modular Extension. 
would like a small extension where we already have a small old fashioned falling down conservatory and want a cheap option for some kind of pre fab extension. 
looked at proper brick one but because of location of house up some steps we’ve been advised to look at pre fab one to keep cost down.