period builders

[plasticpigeon]

Hello. My luck with builders so far has not been good, but I'd really like to find some that are reputable. What do people think of the look of this firm? I think the lads are quite young, but I spoke to one of them today and he sounded educated and clued up about old properties. They are coming over tomorrow to quote for a limecrete floor. To be honest they are the only place within 20 miles that know what it is so unless I think they are clueless I may have to go with them as my father is now very ill, and juggling that and a 4 month old means I am trying to take on less in the house.

http://www.rbheatley.co.uk/index.html

 

[jocelyn plummer]

They do look promising--- hopefully they will be prepared to talk you through a comprehnsive portfolio of some of their work, some Builders will be pleased for a new Client to contact previous clients--- and of course you should ask around the area where they have worked--- bit of sleuthing would not go amiss.
I am so sorry to hear about your Father.Take care and good luck with the Builders, I am sure it will work out for you. xx

 

[tobydog]

The website certainly looks as though they know what they are doing. My only concern would be that they do "watal and dorb" rather than 'wattle and daub' :? . I'm sure someone is now going to tell me that this is how it used to be spelt years ago :roll: .

 

[LadyArowana]

The website certainly looks as though they know what they are doing. My only concern would be that they do "watal and dorb" rather than 'wattle and daub' :? . I'm sure someone is now going to tell me that this is how it used to be spelt years ago :roll: .

The website does show promising signs of them knowing a bit about old buildings. I wouldn't worry at all about the "Watal and Dorb" I'm sure David Beckham never had a clue about the very difficult aerodynamics behind spinning a spherical object in a curve and hitting a particular target. Didn't stop him being a very good foosballer.

 

[plasticpigeon]

The guys came round. They seemed like nice people and seemed to say all the right things. As access is really bad and foundations pretty shallow (only 1 ft or 4 bricks) they suggested a a slab with insulating aggregate rather than insulation underneath. They said they had laid such a floor for Marianne Suhr. Apparently she is an old building expert but I hadn't heard of her before they mentioned her. Does anyone know what a reasonable quote would be for an area roughly 5 metres by 2.5 metres? I have an idea of what I think is reasonable but would like to know what others think. Many thanks.

 

[TheForge]

Marianne Suhr co wrote the popular Old House Handbook, was on the TV series Restoration and does a lot of work with SPAB.

If you're looking to use LECA or similar insulating aggregate (pumice, crushed glass etc) I would guess that's at least £2k of materials with the lime and membranes. Add in 2 people's labour for a week or two and you're going to be struggling to get much change from £3500 I would think!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Marianne Suhr is a very well respected conservator. Together with 'The Old House Book' , Period Living Magazine featured a monthly diary of work on her own cottage, and later, her guidance for client's cottages. If they did indeed gain some work from her then they should know what they are doing. Good Luck.

 

[88v8]

Dig out, 4" LECA, membrane, 4" limecrete, labour, I would think £3,000 - £3,500.
One can lay slabs direct on the limecrete, no need for a lime screed.

Ivor