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Posted in General Building on Apr 30
 Even if only performing simple tasks when working at your home, a general builder needs to have a clear understanding of all of the home construction processes. This must include the basic building structure through the laying on of electrical, plumbing and even heating and ventilation systems too. Moreover, your general builder must be able to read and interpret blueprints, and should be able to calculate dimensions for each room t00.
The scope of the work could include building your home from scratch, but a skilled general builder should easily be able to assist with renovation work and smaller projects as well. So if you are looking to find a general builder, there is no better place to start than right here on Mr-Skill.
Things to Watch For 
When requesting a general builder quote, don’t be shy to ask these important questions, and make sure they get properly answered too:
- Does the person you are considering have the all-round skills that they will need? If they don’t, they may end up sub-contracting certain tasks, and this could be dangerous as you would be dealing with unknown people.
- Do he or she have a thorough understanding of all interior and exterior building materials?
- Are they at ease with kitchen and bathroom fittings, including lights and switches?
- Do they have a comprehensive set of equipment including power tools, and do they know how to use them correctly?
Sign a Contract
Be sure to draw up a contract with your general builder. This agreement needs to cover the specifics such as start date and time, agreed costs, supply of tools and materials, and so on. Ask too about penalties, should the builder run over the agreed time schedule – this prevents unfair delays due to things beyond your control that could include deliberate time wasting too. Remember to add an arbitration clause to cover disputes and disagreements. Any good builder will be quite willing to sign a fair contractagreement
Accreditation
One of our expert London general builders is very proud of his workmanship, which has come at the cost of extensive training and apprenticeships too. He advises that you should check that your builder is properly trained and has the experience to finish the assignment satisfactorily. Don’t be shy to ask for certificates of registration – the last thing you want is to become some cowboy builder’s training ground!
Tags: accreditation, apprenticeship, arbitration, blueprints, building materials, contract, equipment, exterior, fair, find a general builder, general builder quote, interior, London general builder, penalty, plans, power tool, registration, training
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Posted in General Building on Mar 26
Apart from looking very nice, a new bathroom can play a significant role when it comes to selling your home and achieving a good price. Bathrooms are not that difficult to spruce up either, so long as you plan carefully, and have all your ducks in a row.
First, decide if you need to find a general builder to do the job for you. Then, you should set a budget by listing everything that you have to buy. This should include all the sanitary ware such as new toilet and cistern, hand basin and cabinet, bath and shower cubicle, tiles, and a wall cabinet with mirror. Don’t forget tap fittings, extractor fans and a new combination light and ceiling heater. Towel rails, as well as other finishing touches can come later once everything else is finished.
Planning
- Draw up a copy of your new bathroom layout, and work out a budget too.
- Choose your new bathroom fittings from your preferred dealer. Remember to agree a delivery date before paying.
- Decide when you are going to start the job and warn the general household.
- Unless you have two bathrooms, allow for the time your bathroom will be out of commission.
Project Advice
- Make sure you have everything you need, including tools and safety gear.
- Isolate the water supply to the bathroom under renovation.
- Remove old bathroom tiles and fittings.
- Make good with any repairs needed to the subfloor and walls – fill plaster cracks for example and attend to any damp. If you discover things you did not expect, consider getting a general building quote instead.
- Prepare and repaint any wall area that you are not planning to tile, making sure the paint is suitable for bathroom use.
- You’re now ready to install your new tiles and fittings – imagine your new bathroom looking like this!
Oswald is a wild old sage – he’s one of our favourite London general builders. He has been refitting bathrooms for longer than most of us would guess, and he says that provided you are reasonably handy, renovating your bathroom yourself is possible. One word of caution though…once you have started it’s all about commitment. So plan the event carefully before starting!
Tags: add value, bath, bathroom refit, bathrrom renovation, cabinet, ceiling heater, ceiling light, damp, equipment, extractor fan, find a general builder, fittings, floor, general building quote, handbasin, London general builder, new bathroom, Plumbing, renovate bathroom, sanitary ware, shower, subfloor, tiles, toilet, tools
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Posted in General Building on Feb 20
Before you even think about removing an interior brick wall, you first need to determine whether or not it’s load bearing. This is especially important when working with an older building. Sometimes homes were extended in the past, in a way that outside walls ended up inside houses.
 The only way to determine this is to get up in the ceiling and determine what is resting on the wall. Sometimes you’ll find rafters pressing down, and at other times planks supporting boilers. If you can’t run your finger all the way along the wall you must arrange a survey before proceeding.
While you’re up there, check for water pipes and electricity cables entering the wall through the ceiling, as these may travel a distance to reach their destination. Have an electrician isolate and terminate these (and any others that may reach a wall-switch from the floor below. You may legally disconnect a water supply pipe yourself.
Perhaps at this stage you have already decided that you need to Find a London Building Firm instead? No worries, simply click on this link to receive a Builder’s Quote. Here’s what you still need to do, to prepare in advance for the day the builder arrives.
 Remove everything from the surplus wall that you might conceivably use again
- Barricade off the immediate area with sheets of plastic
- Clear everything from inside the space, including semi-fixtures like draperies and light fittings.
- Invest in a heavy-duty drop-sheet to protect the floor.
- Resolve to be reasonable about the dust and dirt about to disturb you.
While any London Building Firm on Mr-Skill will do their best to contain the mess, the bottom line is that demolition is a dirty business. Ask yourself a simple question before you let the builders in – “Is this really necessary in the first place?” On the other hand, the results may be well worthwhile.
Tags: barricade, boiler, brick, builder’s quote, ceiling, demolish, dirt, disconnect, dropsheet, dust, electrician, electricity, find a builder, inside, interior, internal, isolate, load, load bearing, london building, masonry, mess, pipe, plank, plastic, rafter, remove, rest, sheet, solid, Survey, switch, truss, wall, water, waterpipe
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Posted in General Building on Nov 15
It’s tempting, when you get a builder in, to forget about what you agreed to in the original Builders Quote, and to let the job roll into all other kinds of minor detail. The builder will be inclined to be helpful in the beginning. Later though resentment may creep in,  with neither party inclined to broach the subject of a price increase.
At Mr-Skill we cannot emphasise enough that you need to have a budget and a specification behind your budget too. If you fail to do so, then the heat of disagreement could end up cooking up a real storm.
• No London Builder worth his salt will quote for any job without a specification, and in 99% of the time this will include a drawing too. If you are unable to provide at least a hand-drawn sketch with measurements, then with respect perhaps you have not yet decided what you want.
• The next step is to Find a Builder to provide an estimate against your sketch and supporting detail. We use the word estimate deliberately because a building job almost inevitably comes up against unexpected hassles.  When this happens you need to be flexible, because the thick concrete covering the drain is at your home, and not the builder’s after all.
• This is why professional developers and construction companies often add a contingency provision to a job. The percentage value of this varies from job-to-job, and the amount is expensed by mutual agreement as the work proceeds. It simply is not fair to do this any other way – and fair is the little word that makes such a huge difference.
Mr-Skill exists as a free service to UK residents who are hoping to Find a Reputable Builder. Builders pay a highly competitive rate to be listed on our website. Our contribution is to introduce the parties to each other. Shop with us, and enjoy the prospects of a Successful Building Job.
Tags: budget, builder, builders quote, Building, Construction, contingency, detail, developer, drawing, estimate, fair, find a builder, flexible, hassle, increase, London builder, measure, measurement, sketch, specification
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Posted in General Building on Sep 20
According to consumer group “Which”, as many as 2.6 million people may have had a dispute with a decorator or a builder in the UK in the past 2 years. While clients who Find a Builder on Mr-Skill seldom have a similar problem,  we thought the salient features in the Consumer Group were still well worth repeating.
o The most common disputes reported include late starts, delays and sites left untidy after completion.
o Another common complaint received was builders still expecting full payment up-front, and many consumers not even being given written Builders Quotes.
o In extreme cases there was not even a written agreement regarding what the customer might expect.
o  As a consequence of these glaring oversights, two out of every five UK consumers felt bad done by, with a quarter of these feeling short-changed by at least £500. These statistics were as common among the customers of London Builders, and those working in the countryside.
Given that this is such a common problem it is hardly surprising that Mr-Skill has such a growing customer base. We believe that this is largely because we insist that our builders provide a written quotes and agree a formal contract. As a result of these and other rigid standards that we apply, it has been a while since we received complaints along the lines of those reported by consumer group “Which”.
Find a Builder on Mr-Skill. The project partners you can trust. Get good value. Be fully satisfied.
Tags: agreement, build, Builders Quotes, Building, client, common, consumer, contract, customer, delay, dispute, expect, find a builder, formal, full payment, late, london builders, oversight, payment, problem, quote, standard, uk, untidy, writing, written
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Posted in General Building on Aug 01
In times past flat garage roofs were often covered with a layer of waterproofed felt that was protected in turn by a layer of gravel. The general idea was that these roofs would last for years, provided that they were not interfered with. Over-and-above the obvious hazards of small children  enjoying squishing on sharp stones, nothing lasts forever, leaks develop and drip onto whatever you use your garage for, and its time to Find a Builder fairly urgently, to effect repairs.
We have all kinds of rated general builders listed on Mr-Skill. You can Find Recommended London Builders here, as well as trusted building firms in the Home Counties, and as far afield as Wales and Scotland too. When you do, these are the procedures that they should follow after you accept their Building Quote, give or take the peculiarities of your particular flat roof.
o On a clear day with no sign of rain the next day either, clear the gravel off the roof. Sweep the area clean, and blow all the dust away with one of those clever gadgets gardeners use instead of rakes these days.
o Inspect the roof felting very carefully for any signs of damage. Don’t be shy to prod and probe as  dentists like to do – if there is a problem it must be found. Mark a circle around any dodgy points with bright paint.
o Obtain some asphalt plastic cement, and work this well into all the dodgy points you noted. Take your time here, as this could make or break the job. And do wear rubber gloves too. This stuff sticks to skin like you know what. As you go along, work pieces of roof patching fabric into the cement, remembering to cover it fully and to “feather” the edges.
When the patches are nice and dry inspect them carefully, adding a generous dollop of asphalt plastic cement if in any doubt at all. When you are completely satisfied that this cement is dry too, you can gently sweep the old gravel back over the roof again. Or spoil your roof with some brand new gravel, so you can enjoy looking down on your garage roof again from upstairs even more.
Tags: asphalt, asphalt plastic cement, blow, child, clear, damage, dodgy, drip, dust, feather, felting, find a builder, find recommended london builders, flat, garage, general builder quotes, glove, gravel, inspect, interfere, leak, mark, peculiarities, probe, procedure, prod, remove, repair, roof, roof patch, sweep, waterproof
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Posted in General Building on Jul 12
If you are planning to build a perimeter wall around your property then we recommend you Find a Builder who knows the ins and outs to help you make this happen. This is because the Council will have to approve the job, and  your neighbours will definitely become involved too.
If, on the other hand, you have something simpler in mind somewhere in the garden itself, perhaps a low retaining wall or a screen to hide the compost heap, then this may well be a job that you might like to attempt yourself – provided that you are not in a hurry, and are willing to accept a slightly rustic finish for the lack of a better word.
o Mark out the wall with pegs and string and have the inevitable family discussion. After the dust has settled, dig out the foundation trench which should be 300mm wide by 300mm deep, and backfill this with 150mm of concrete. Tamp this down carefully to ensure that it levels out.
o Start laying bricks at the easiest end first by putting up a vertical plank that will act as your guideline. Make sure the bottom course is absolutely level in both directions too, as this will affect the entire job as it goes along.  Do not be in a hurry to add more bricks. Concentrate on building a perfect end, stepping up until you reach wall height.
o Repeat the process at the other end, using string and spirit level to make sure that you will top out exactly level with the corner you already built. Using string again as your guideline, gradually fill in the space between the corners until the wall is complete.
Sounds easy, does it not? Actually building even a simple wall is no easy task and things can literally go pear-shaped before your eyes. There are two ways to avoid this happening. The first is to have the courage to partly take down the wall and start again. The second way, of course, is to Get a Building Quote from Mr-Skill. You will be so glad you did!
Tags: approval, approve, brick, build, builder london, building quote, concrete, corner, council, course, dig, end, fill, find a builder, foundation, Garden, lay, level, mark, neighbour, peg, perimeter, retain, screen, simple, spirit level, string, trench, vertical, wall
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Posted in General Building on Jun 30
Bathroom design seems to go around every few years and then eventually finish off where it started, at least in terms of colours. Not so many years ago black  sanitary ware was all the rage before designers returned to white again. I was at a home decorating show last week where once again black bathroom fittings seemed back in vogue. I wonder why.
o Could it be that manufacturers are trying new tactics to get us to start all over again in our bathrooms? I’ve heard that sales are down all over Britain because of the recession. I sometimes wonder what happens to the old fittings that were once the source of so much pride and joy. Perhaps next time I get a Building Quote I should insist on a trade-in on my old bath? Knowing builders like I do, I suspect I already know the answer.
o I believe I may have already mentioned a Builder in London that I know well. His theory is that we have become restless in our materialistic world and are forever searching for new kicks. I know that car  designers tweak shapes to make last year’s model dated. Do they cause the need for change, or do we already want it, I wonder.
o My personal opinion is that if as a species we do not keep moving forward then we shall stagnate. We know this intuitively and that is why we keep reinventing things and looking up new recipes. This may be all fine and dandy, but to be honest, I am not a fan of black bathrooms. So I shall sit this round out at least, and right now have no need to Find a Builder.
Are you thinking of a new bathroom though? At Mr-Skill we list builders that we recommend in just about every United Kingdom town. Our service costs the consumer nothing and we do not mark prices up. A perfect bathroom of any colour that you choose depends upon a competent builder. Find yours here.
Tags: bath, bathroom, black, builder, builder london, building quote, change, colour, competent, date, design, fashion, find, find a builder, fitter, fitting, manufacturer, rage, recession, recommend, sale, tactic, trick, vogue, white
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Posted in General Building on May 30
We choose our Builders on Mr-Skill with great care and are proud of the reputation they enjoy. It may however happen from time to time (but thankfully very seldom) that things  do not work out quite as well as everybody hoped. When this happens, we investigate circumstances very carefully to continually improve the quality of our service, and to make sure our customers Find a Builder who suits them.
Almost inevitably we find that the root cause of the problem is a natural misunderstanding that developed between a Builder and their Customer, often as a result of one of the following classic problems:
o The Customer did not explain requirements sufficiently or the Builder did not understand them. In our experience there is only one way to avoid this, and that is a written specification signed off by both parties.
o The job took longer than the Customer expected. There are usually two reasons for this, namely unexpected snags and inclement weather. Unfortunately these are both beyond the control of either party. The best way to avoid a problem escalating is to agree a strategy when negotiating Building Quotes.
o  There is disagreement about the final price charged after the work is completed. Again co-operation is the only way to really avoid conflicts, and that means agreeing all escalations before they apply.
o I may have mentioned the Builder in London I know before, but I must say that I always find his advice well-worthwhile repeating. He reckons that marriages and building contracts have at least one thing in common, and that it to beware of bad body chemistry (but not the way you could be thinking).
He believes that the secret to avoiding building disputes is to avoid doing business with anybody who does not feel quite right as he puts it. When he finds a client with whom he knows he really can work well, he approaches everything thereafter as if they were both business partners and friends.
This is why we always say team up with your builder too, for the simple reason that this really does make the difference.
Tags: agree, builder, builder london, builder quote, building job london, building quotes, choose, customer, dispute, escalation, explain, feel right, find a builder, find a tradesman, friend, hope, misunderstanding, partner, price, problem, reputation, requirement, sign, snag, specification, team, tradesman london, tradesman quote, weather, work
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