Good Builders in Bath/Bristol/somerset

[Esselle]

Hi all

We're new to this forum (although have been viewing it for a while) so firstly a big hello.

We've got an 1800's Farmhouse on the Bristol/Somerset edge that we're renovating.

At one end of the house, we've taken down the lath and plaster ceilings as we want to open the rooms up, taking the ceilings up to follow the rafters and expose our rafters and purlins which are stunning (lots of bark still on them). We will then have a collar above the second purlin to have a small flat ceiling that takes the point off. Originally, just about 1m of rafter was showing. We've also had to take the old plaster off as it had blown.

We've done all the worst parts (in our opinion after spending days in boiler suits, masks and goggles!) and want to employ builders to put it back together how we want it (ie, insulated, boarded, plastered - roof ceilings and walls). We've had one quote but want to get several as it seems expensive. The builders locally who look good at this sort of work are bigger companies and I'd like to speak to smaller individuals/companies to get a comparison.

Can anyone recommend such people in our area. I guess we could look in Bath, Bristol and Somerset areas.

And any advice would be gratefull received.

Thanks in advance.

 

[LadyArowana]

I sent you a PM. Don't forget that all builders work better with tea or coffee and biscuits.

 

[Carol]

I have pm'd you too.
Good luck with your project, in our experience with any building over fifty years old everything you want to do costs, but looks great afterwards.
Totally agree with Lady Arowana about regular refreshments, my stonemason appreciated Kit-Kats to keep his lime work lovely!

 

[Schoolmarm]

At one end of the house, we've taken down the lath and plaster ceilings as we want to open the rooms up, taking the ceilings up to follow the rafters and expose our rafters and purlins which are stunning (lots of bark still on them). We will then have a collar above the second purlin to have a small flat ceiling that takes the point off. Originally, just about 1m of rafter was showing. We've also had to take the old plaster off as it had blown.
.

It's an ickle joke, yes?

 

[Gareth Hughes]

At one end of the house, we've taken down the lath and plaster ceilings as we want to open the rooms up, taking the ceilings up to follow the rafters and expose our rafters and purlins which are stunning (lots of bark still on them). We will then have a collar above the second purlin to have a small flat ceiling that takes the point off. Originally, just about 1m of rafter was showing. We've also had to take the old plaster off as it had blown.
.

It's an ickle joke, yes?

I suspect it isn't, so I shouldn't even have posted this :twisted:

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol: When will the fashion for stripping off (probably historic) building materials and revealing innards end?

The sad thing is, it's only a tiny minority of people who would even give it so much as a thought- I bet most people who look at Esselle's new works will say she's added value to the property.

I pulled down a historic lath and plaster ceiling in our London property before I knew better. I'd never heard about lath and plaster ceilings or considered that such an untalked about thing might be worth saving. I feel sick when I think about that now.

 

[middi]

I sent you a PM. Don't forget that all builders work better with tea or coffee and biscuits.

Have you have tried to cut a piece of wood with a biscuit :wink:
I am sure they would work a lot better with trowels, chisels, saws, wheelbarrows and tape measures :wink:

 

[LadyArowana]

Have you have tried to cut a piece of wood with a biscuit :wink:
I am sure they would work a lot better with trowels, chisels, saws, wheelbarrows and tape measures :wink:

:lol: mine have always arrived with their own saws etc, but getting them to reappear and operate them seems to require me to flick the switch on the kettle and put some biscuits on a plate. Is there some special sort of builders esp that makes this work ?

 

[middi]

You are absolutely right of course, motivation is a virtue. We have to be carefull though, exess motivation in this case could lead to lazy builders :wink:

 

[Carol]

Our recent building work coincided with work at my neighbours and we were amused to discover the two sets of builders had been comparing notes as to the number of tea/biscuits offered. We were deemed to be the winners as 'our' chaps got coffee (were worried that they weren't real builders) mid morning and tea in the afternoon while my neighbour had "just given them a kettle and told them to get on with it".

Our work is having its last coat of paint today and my neighbour is not yet at first fix! Not very scientific, but does show speed implications of looking after your builders.

Hopefully a good builder will help Esselle sort out her house.....presume it is not listed?

 

[Gervase]

I always take my own kettle and tin mug - few people can make decent NATO standard tea these days (I mean, Earl Grey and fancy oolongs? So very wrong on site!), and it means I can time the tea-breaks.

 

[Esselle]

Thank you to those that PM'd me and have been very helpful.

I'm sorry if I've upset or offended any of you by my choice of interior. I love having a period home and actually have been quite sympathetic to it, particularly externally - we have removed cement mortar replacing with lime, want to replace plastic with wood, etc. You actually have no idea of the state our house was in in terms of inappropriate works already done, when we purchased it. Although I love period features and would not take out 'features', I also want to expose some of the stunning previous materials amongst our renovations. Everyone who has come in to our house says they are envious of what we are doing - that doesn't make it right or wrong, but surely we are entitled to chose our own choice of style in the house we live in.

If all homes were kept exactly as built, most wouldn't have a bathroom, would have a kitchen the size of my cloakroom and in fact my house would be 2 cottages and a barn, not one as it is now (before our time).

I do love the cosy cottage look too, but in this case, want to make the space seem bigger and more airy. I also envy those who can afford to buy such lovely properties and to renovate them traditionally, but unfortunately we can't and have to compromise somewhere.

 

[JoceAndChris]

That's great you've worked so hard with the lime repair, and "upset" or "offended" are too strong for my feelings about what you've done.

surely we are entitled to chose our own choice of style in the house we live in.

Of course you are! But don't expect to talk about pulling down lath and plaster ceilings on a forum that's fundamentally conservationist in its ethos and not ruffle a few feathers. :wink:

If all homes were kept exactly as built, most wouldn't have a bathroom, would have a kitchen the size of my cloakroom and in fact my house would be 2 cottages and a barn, not one as it is now (before our time).

Apart from being untrue (my Georgian "kitchen" in a modest sized house is disproportionately large, as divided into different areas for different tasks) that argument, though oft cited, is unsound. We can't return our houses to what they were, of course not, but does that mean we should remove even more of their original characteristics? You can make a beautiful home by adding to it, rather than taking away, and does it not grieve at all that such treatment would be appalling to the eyes of the original owners?

 

[Schoolmarm]

.......particularly externally - we have removed cement mortar replacing with lime,

......Although I love period features and would not take out 'features',

.......would have a kitchen the size of my cloakroom

Excuse me snipping your post.
If you have removed cement and replaced with lime you already could afford to "renovate" traditionally.
Your plaster and lath ceiling WAS a feature.
My kitchen is large.


Next threads will be, "how can I insulate my freezing cold roof" and "how can I make my horrid beams look nice"

I don't think anyone who treats building sympathetically PM'd you. So it must have been Jill then. Or builders touting for work.

 

[Esselle]

If all homes were kept exactly as built, most wouldn't have a bathroom, would have a kitchen the size of my cloakroom and in fact my house would be 2 cottages and a barn, not one as it is now (before our time).

Apart from being untrue (my Georgian "kitchen" in a modest sized house is disproportionately large, as divided into different areas for different tasks) that argument, though oft cited, is unsound. We can't return our houses to what they were, of course not, but does that mean we should remove even more of their original characteristics? You can make a beautiful home by adding to it, rather than taking away, and does it not grieve at all that such treatment would be appalling to the eyes of the original owners?

That original statement was applying to my house and similar others, but I changed the wording and missed some. The orignal kitchen on my house was tiny, but then most of the rooms seem to have been small (the cottages were knocked through other than the loft space before our time. We get an idea on some of it but there must've been so many changes made that it's difficult to work out).

I'm aware that we've taken away the lath and plaster ceilings in one part of the house, and the joists (which we're planning to re-use), but in our opinion, the timbers in the loft are so stunning, they deserve their own opportunity to shine, even if that wasn't the original intention. They are original timbers.

 

[LadyArowana]

......... while my neighbour had "just given them a kettle and told them to get on with it".

Our work is having its last coat of paint today and my neighbour is not yet at first fix! Not very scientific, but does show speed implications of looking after your builder

I found that giving them the kettle wasn't the best plan, the plumber would fill it with water and forget to turn it on, the electrican did the reverse, which of course I teased them about. Much better for me to project manage that area. I even had the kitchen installer turn up unexpectedly one day at our usual break time because his other job wasn't in a fit state to work on and he knew there would be a welcome brew happening. Perfect for getting those odd little fixes done that take 2 minutes once the guy is there, but usually 3 weeks to get them to show up.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I'm aware that we've taken away the lath and plaster ceilings in one part of the house, and the joists (which we're planning to re-use), but in our opinion, the timbers in the loft are so stunning, they deserve their own opportunity to shine, even if that wasn't the original intention. They are original timbers.

I've already said that I'm sure most of the population would agree you've enhanced your home. But just bear in mind that for the Georgian architect who designed it that's a bit like declaring your underwear is every bit as nice and acceptable as your outerwear and so you'll show that instead- oh, I forgot, we do that too in 2010.

It's a very curious state of affairs that many who profess to love period properties and period "features" actually take off the things that are really old and interesting, in the name of a modern notion that exposed timbers, rafters, bricks and stones are what the crux of period property ownership is about.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Indeed.

 

[LadyArowana]

declaring your underwear is every bit as nice and acceptable as your outerwear and so you'll show that instead- oh, I forgot, we do that too in 2010.

I thought LadyG did it rather well

Amy Winehouse rather less so ( since people may be having supper I won't inflict that particular image ). Doesn't make me want to do it, but I don't really mind if someone else does...............................well apart from the fat guy in the speedos walking down the street in Barcelona while I was having dinner, but that's another story entirely :lol:

 

[Esselle]

.......particularly externally - we have removed cement mortar replacing with lime,

......Although I love period features and would not take out 'features',

.......would have a kitchen the size of my cloakroom

Excuse me snipping your post.
If you have removed cement and replaced with lime you already could afford to "renovate" traditionally.
Your plaster and lath ceiling WAS a feature.
My kitchen is large.


Next threads will be, "how can I insulate my freezing cold roof" and "how can I make my horrid beams look nice"

I don't think anyone who treats building sympathetically PM'd you. So it must have been Jill then. Or builders touting for work.

Thanks for a warm welcome!

I'm not going to justify such lack of respect for others with responses to your points. But please, the people who have PM'd me have been very helpful so please do not be so rude and criticise them.

By all means, express an opinion, but please realise that you need to respect that other people have opinions too, that may differ to yours, but that's ok.