The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:43 pm**

Hi folks, I was hoping for a bit of advice you honest tradesmen and women who use this site. Over the years I've had a distant 'cousin' do wee building jobs for me, laid some slabs, fixed a fence etc. In return i've made him jewellery for his wife, son and daughter and had him quality letterheads, business cards etc. printed. (He def. came out tops if you work out the costs).
In January after a year of asking he started a small loft conversion for me. After 8 MONTHS of him and his workies turning up whenever they felt like it, I told him I was so fed up that i didnt want him to come back.
I gave him Â£600 cash at the start to cover the Velux windows and even though I asked EVERY time I saw him to let me know if he needed money for materials he always just said not to worry, we'd work something out.
He recently phoned and asked for Â£2,000. I told him no way as I've had to get most of the job re-done. He's now asking for Â£5,000!
I always pay on time and am a VERY good tipper (Â£200 extra to carpenter who did superb Â£500 job) so what can I do guys? Its not about the money but I'm not some idiot wee girl. The materials must have only been few hundred quid.

Posted: **Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:32 pm**

Its not about the money

well obviously it is about the money
Â£600 goes no where on materials for a loft conversion
one we just finished cost Â£22k +VAT
if he has been working for you for the last year on and off you will be surprised to know that you probably owe him holiday pay too
i know someone who this happened to and in court she was ordered to pay it,even though he was working for cash.
a loft conversion is major structural works and you should have had a written contract including a time frame
i dont know what work he has done so i cant comment on what its worth
hope this helps
LLL

Posted: **Thu Oct 05, 2006 6:00 pm**

It's always hard when family is involved.

Personally i'd say ok, provide me with a build up for your bill so i can quantify it and see if its exceptable/reason. Also remember if he does provide it check the rates he has given you by phoning up local builders merchants etc (ps ask for trade prices and i'm sure he won't get them at standard list price)

Posted: **Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:42 pm**

He wasn't working on and off for me for a year, he would show up maybe one afternoon then 4 or 5 weeks go by and when I chased him up he would put in another 4 hours then another few weeks or months would pass.........and so on.
I did all the flooring in the eves, all the insulation, provided a good lot of the wood, screws and most of the tools!
He used enough wood to put in 26 uprights (13 each side) about a dozen sheets of flooring, dozen sheets of gyprock (?)
few bags of plaster, nails, bolts and thats it.
I paid for all the electrics etc. (he had sheeted the room before the spark turned up, so what kind of tradesman does that?)
The wood for the stairs was given to him by a mate and is warped and cracked

Posted: **Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:45 pm**

Well a couple of Velux windows, some plaster, flooring, timber, bolts etc on top of his diesel and a bit of his time easily comes to Â£600.

The Brew Cabin

Advice please ? - Really crap job!