I am going to get a dining conservatory built this summer and am finding it hard to find anyone with experience of a good builder to do the work. I'd like someone who can do the whole project, from foundations through to wiring, radiator and plastering.
Or any websites where I can find other's recommendations?
Thanks
I can recommend you have no dealings whatsoever with CR Smith.
They totally ****ed ours up from start to finish (about 5 years later). We had basically given up hope of getting a building control completion certificate when finally, out of the blue, Buildings Control sorted it off their own back with zero involvement from CR Smith.
They were late installing it, when they did it leaked, they couldn't find the leak for months, they didn't turn up on appointments or when they did they didn't have a clue what they were there to do. Then we found out that plans showed a drain rodding point that they had buried, they couldn't prove to buildings control that it didn't exist, they never returned calls and everyone we ever spoke to claimed to know nothing about our case and anyone who promised us anything "had left the company".
I could go on, but every time I think about it I get angry. Frankly it's hard to see how they could have done a worse job if they had been trying.
Sorry to hear that. I intend to use a small local company with a reputation to protect. I have heard awful things about companies like Everest; how they get to be big I will never know. Cheap materials and labour and low cost I guess. The Easyjet business plan!
Yes - with hindsight we should have got someone local in. It's the way to go.
I know a few average builders in the Glasgow area?
Is it just me or is anyone else getting a CR Smith advert on the right hand side of their screen on this page !
The Southern Yeti - Member
I know a few average builders in the Glasgow area?
Would you pay them 30% of your annual salary to build a conservatory for you?
Errrrm, no.
glasgowdan - Member
You can only surmise that the previous occupier was as big a geek as the average STW user (and they are [b]ALL average[/b]) and really wanted you and others to react like this when you find their student bit of fun.
I might be able to help you out? I'll be in touch tomorrow once I've made a couple of phone calls...
Don't believe everything you hear about Anglian and Everest, they certainly don't use the cheapest materials although their customer service has been known to be a bit lacking (especially Anglian historically, more a case of getting very big quickly than actively setting out to be poor people to deal with).
Some of the small independant firms are brilliant, some are appalling, so going local is no guarantee, there are a lot of cowboy installers out there. Ask some pointed questions of anyone who quotes for you. The most important part of any conservatory is the roof, it's the structural element that holds everything else together. Poor quality or badly installed roof and you're going to have problems, leaks, windows bulging out etc., worst case is the roof can collapse if not designed correctly. Ask your installer who's roof system they are going to use, if they are evasive don't use them as they will shop around for the cheapest option after you've signed up, not necessarily what they have shown you.
At the risk of being partisan the best main stream roof system is Ultraframe (I admit I work for the company but it is still the best roof in the market although not the cheapest). Anglian and Everest use our roof system as do many other installers. Most installers don't make the roof themselves even if they do make the frames, worth asking where they will buy the roof from, direct from the manufacturer or through a trade intermediary (fabricator). Ideally you want to deal with an installer who buys direct, less chance of cockups and more support from us if the installer gets it wrong.
Key thing to consider with the roof are things like glazing thickness, if you don't get a glass roof (best option for heat retention and sound insulation) then make sure you go for a 35mm polycarbonate roof so you have a chance of keeping it warm. You will need to retain external doors betweeen the house and conservatory due to building regs, any installer who says they will take them out is probably doing other dodgy things too.
Just for sake of fairness the other two main stream manufacturers are K2 and Synseal (Global roof system), they're roofs will do the job, ours is generally technically better. The key thing is to find a good installer, doesn't matter how good the roof is if it's installed badly. Installers using the Ultraframe roof tend to be a be a bit better, put it this way they aren't soley competing on price if they are buying one of our roofs.
Finally try and find out how long they been in business, Ultraframe roofs for example have a 10 year warranty, not much good though if your installer disappears in a year or two.
Stumpy that's a very politically-minded reply from someone aware that suppliers and clients may read this!
Cheers for the info though. I intend, by means of this post and speaking to people, to get a recommended builder to do the work. Someone local who can be vouched for, not a cowboy 🙂
As I say, due to various reasons I won't touch everest. I have heard stories of leaks, poor service and failure to fix problems for long after they were reported.
I tried my best, ironically I'm not known for being political at work 😆
My parents had one installed by CR smith with no problems at all - complete satisfactorily and on time and cheaper than the independents they asked.