Ergo_mark

We used Plusrooms for our wrap around extension. We are very pleased with the extension. But we wouldn’t use them again. Our Project Manager was a chocolate tea pot and quickly lost our trust. Plusrooms use contractors to do the work so you don’t actually know what builder you will get - just luck of the draw. Essentially you pay for Plusrooms and they just get others to do the work. We knew this, and were happy to do this - paying for a PM essentially. However when your PM is useless, what are you paying for?? All the issues are for you to resolve - and you end up managing all contractors and the PM. Not much went right for us - from the simple architectural drawings, to putting in windows, poorly secured building, to how long it took, builders regularly not turning up. We agreed at the beginning to having work done on Saturdays thinking it would speed up the build. What this actually meant was our project was deprioritised during the week as some builders work on other projects. You have to use the contractors they state - electrician, plumber, glass company etc. and they are not part of the ‘plusrooms’ costs. They provide ‘estimates, but they are wildly wrong. We ended up paying 7k for bifold doors. When we questioned the cost (as they admitted you can get the same doors for 2k) they said it’s because of the ‘service’ they provide AND I had signed a contract agreeing to use the suppliers that they have selected so have to pay whatever they charge. We were taken aback by just the size of their ‘cut’, and the lack of flexibility. And when I pointed out things that we had agreed in writing and had paid for that were not done we had weeks of delay and internal conflict. They have a ‘finishing team’ they use with appalling reviews (decorators). They offered an additional PM at an extra 20% for this work so that the standard would be good - why would you offer a finishing team that would not do a good job. We were very pleased with the final result. But super expensive, super stressful. Years on, the pain fades as we love what we have - but it’s really as a result of the kitchen and the internal finishes we put in afterwards. The build (a box at the end of the house) is really pretty simple. But it’s water tight so shouldn’t complain. The one thing I will say is that all the various things that have gone wrong with the build since finishing 4 years ago - they have come out and put right.

Big recommendation for Stephen Viccary who has created a magnificent bathroom for us. Quality of work is absolutely top notch. We couldn't be happier - see pics. Stephen is considerate and tidy meaning working from home during the work was fine (some noise - obviously, it is a demo and installation after all. He does not work on multiple jobs, does a full days work and does ALL the work himself - Tiling, plumbing, lighting (including lighting on a motion sensor under the vanity and in the shower niche - for night time visits 😉), he even changed the door architraves, sorted the badly cracked ceiling and did all the paint work. A full end to end service. Stephen's number - 07941 266 145

Jon Relph from JKA Damp Proofing has sorted out our damp issue in your front bay window. I would thoroughly recommend him, the attention to detail and the focus on keeping things tidy was really important to us, in fact we had just put new carpets down in the front room. The way he works meant they were completely protected. The new plaster its well blended in and he even carefully replaces all skirting boards that have to be removed when doing the damp proofing - so there its none of that fear you will have to struggle to get other trades people out after. Thoroughly recommend - 07713187226

Has anyone suffered with a musty smell coming from underneath the floorboards in a typical terrace house. It seems to have got much worse now the weather is a little warmer / dryer. Anybody had any success in getting rid of the smell? Thanks

I agree if you can't get your rubbish in the bin, take it home! But this is not helped by the increasing number of dog bins (and other bins) that have been removed over the last year or so. The council have a tendency to REMOVE bins which end up overflowing, rather than empty them!

we were getting joint credit cards. We got a call from the Issuer saying fraudulent activity had taken place on BOTH cards before we even new that they hadn't arrived. Used in the Orpington area in places such as Nando's and Sainsbury's. Would also like to know whether any REAL action is being taken.