Doors

[atlasfever]

Hello,

I have to replace all of my doors in my flat: 3 external doors (external to flat, but opens to common area) and another 4 internal doors. All of the previous doors did not pass fire safety, and none where original sadly. They were all rather cheap, actually.

Anyway, I came across Todd Doors, but are there any other sources? They were rather pricey, and my builder says that my unique size doors (georgian), means that they have to be cut on site.

Any feedback? Thanks

 

[Zebra]

Perhaps try a local joiner? I had all my windows made by a local joiner, to my design, and because he wasn't VAT registered, it was actually cheaper than buying off-the-shelf..

 

[Moo]

We've just had immaculate victorian-style bookshelves fitted in two rooms by a splendid carpenter who was recommended by a friend.
He arrived on Tuesday, did all the work on-site, finished the job by lunch-time on Friday, left absolutely no mess, and was one of the cheapest quotes.
We're in SE London. but I expect he'd be prepared to travel. If you like, I'll look out his website and contact details.

 

[plasticpigeon]

We've just had immaculate victorian-style bookshelves fitted in two rooms by a splendid carpenter who was recommended by a friend.
He arrived on Tuesday, did all the work on-site, finished the job by lunch-time on Friday, left absolutely no mess, and was one of the cheapest quotes.
We're in SE London. but I expect he'd be prepared to travel. If you like, I'll look out his website and contact details.

This sounds like fantasy to me. How come I can't find people like this?

 

[Zebra]

But Moo didn't know he'd be splendid until after taking him on. He could have been awful. I suspect plasticpigeon that like many on this forum, you're unwilling to take a chance with your beloved home and let a tradesperson loose in there unless you absolutely have to, and consequently end up doing it all yourself....

 

[Moo]

I knew he'd be good, because our friends raved about him and showed us what he'd done in their house.
I just hadn't anticipated quite how good he'd be.

 

[discobarry]

I'm confused, how can somebody be a joiner and work as a joiner...but not be VAT registered? Sorry if i'm missing something obvious here! lol

Our internal doors will be from Howden's timber but due to there odd size our joiner will adapt them appropriately, our external doors were made bespoke again due to there size and our spec and cost a bomb, great looking doors though!

 

[plasticpigeon]

I think that if someone's turnover is less than a threshold (60k last time I looked) then they don't need to be vat registered.

 

[LadyArowana]

Broadly speaking if the business has turnover of or exceeding 79K ( per year ) then it will fall under VAT legislation, below 77K it won't. It has to be dealing with things that are vatable, like building work. Whilst it means that the business has to charge VAT on the things it sells, it does have the advantage that VAT paid on incoming supplies can be reclaimed by the business.

 

[discobarry]

Ahhh thats why i was confused then, thanks for clearing that up....back to the thread now lol.

 

[Svenedin]

We've just had immaculate victorian-style bookshelves fitted in two rooms by a splendid carpenter who was recommended by a friend.
He arrived on Tuesday, did all the work on-site, finished the job by lunch-time on Friday, left absolutely no mess, and was one of the cheapest quotes.
We're in SE London. but I expect he'd be prepared to travel. If you like, I'll look out his website and contact details.

Moo, I'm interested in your fitted shelves. I am also in South London. Could you post some pictures please?

 

[Moo]

Better still, why not come and see them for yourself?
I'll pm you contact details.

 

[plasticpigeon]

But Moo didn't know he'd be splendid until after taking him on. He could have been awful. I suspect plasticpigeon that like many on this forum, you're unwilling to take a chance with your beloved home and let a tradesperson loose in there unless you absolutely have to, and consequently end up doing it all yourself....

I have taken a chance and got bitten, by both builders and a plasterer. Tradespeople have now been banned by my girlfriend as she says the messy house is more tolerable than my rage when tradespeople bodge things up. I fear that one of the guys that came to quote for building work may have been good, but I chose to use another guy as he claimed to be a stonemason so could restore the stonework but ended up ruining everything he touched. I just phoned another guy tonight recommended by friends as I want the chimneys at the back of my house capping off. I have the caps, it is a very easy job, I just don't want to hire ladders and get on the roof particularly. I probably spent half an hour on the phone listening to how it was a really hard job as the houses are quite tall compared to new houses and that he is so good that he is booked up for a year and hasn't got five minutes, bla bla bla. Maybe it is just round here, but if tradespeople could do their job as well as they can talk they would all be amazing. As an aside this fella put a combination fireplace into my mates' house. It is neat, but he screwed it to the wall on top of the plaster rather than onto brick and then plastering around. I think seeing the mounting lugs is a bit unsightly. It is stuff like this that makes me think that knowledge and attention to detail are lacking in most builders, even good ones since this guy was "so good" that he was booked up for a year. Yes yes, maybe this isn't a forum to spout bile, but nobody I know seems to understand.

 

[Zebra]

I understand plasticpigeon, I understand completely. It's awful when people just don't care, and don't understand about old houses. I'm glad your girlfriend is behind the DIY attitude, if only for a peaceful atmosphere. I agree that care and attention to detail are lacking in most builders. They just want an easy life, and to do things the way they're used to without the customer breathing down their neck. We're probably the worst type of customer, because we know how we want it done, we are particular, and won't be happy with any corner-cutting. I've been lucky with some trades and others have been horrendous. Generally I've found it best to trust my instict with choosing tradespeople, so I hope you don't use that guy for capping your chimney.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Thanks Zebra, I live in hope that I can find a competent person who makes the minimum of fuss.

 

[discobarry]

I know exactly what you mean too, My wife is fortunately very good at working out who is a good tradesman/woman so we usually do OK. The thing we are fed up of is big bills, but we are getting what we pay for....real quality.

 

[plasticpigeon]

where do you live disco?

 

[JoceAndChris]

I understand where you're coming from as well PP, it can be so galling to see a bodged job you've paid for that you could have done better. Or a job done without understanding design, I've lost count of how many door handles and even wallpapers I've seen hung upside down.
I'd now never use a small independent tradesman, and only go for the companies with the glossy website and shop, and van with logo, and polite manager explaining the service - hence the price of the floor in the other thread. I just think it's too risky otherwise. And too too many cases of them saying they'll do it and then disappearing - even my lovely joiner, who was a small independent guy, and whose work I was very pleased with, has disappeared that way. Clearly he has other more

Atlas - have you looked at antique doors on Ebay? There are some good deals!

 

[plasticpigeon]

Joce, that quote sounds ok for all the work involved. You're fortunate to have that kind of money and a house that makes the spend worthwhile!

 

[Nigel Watts]

I agree - that quotation seems OK given the scope of works. I ended up paying quite a bit more than that for getting the outside of my house done (something which my wife won't let me forget) and to a standard that left something to be desired. In my case most of the original render was retained and restored but the new work was not very precise, although it blends in reasonably well, given the age and condition of the rest. Having all the render replaced is often an easier and cheaper job than trying to restore what is there - it is certainly easier to price and less likely to give rise to overruns. I have learned a great deal from the process, but quite how useful this knowledge is I am not sure.