General Builder ...

[Old_Geezer]

... from the Yellow Pages / Thomson Local, or do I need some more specialist occupation ?

And how does one find one who is good, anyway ?

Not long after moving into my present home I noticed the wallpaper in the bathroom (in the fairly new extension) seemed not to be done particularly well. It looked as if someone had tried to hide adding a bit at the end by tearing the edge rather than cutting it, but it hadn't hidden the join that well.

But as time went on I became more convinced that it must be more than that. Since I have unfinished jobs already on the go (yeah I know) I have been reluctant to tear the paper off and start something else, but I'm fairly sure I'd find a crack underneath were I to do so.

I've been hoping this is just a bit of settlement and nothing to worry about but as time goes on I find it is a worrythat I ought to find out for sure about. Especially since now, to the side of the extension, some of the brick drive has sunk meaning it ought to be looked at too. (Dreading that, at a time I want to save up enough to get out of the rat race, I discover I have a massive bill or a massive reduction in house value, looming up on me.)

So, as per the title and bit at the top of the post. Do I need a specialist of some kind to look at it ? And if not, how to I avoid phoning a general builder only to be unaware it is someone who will draw a sharp breath and insist it is £50,000 worth of underpinning and stuff even if it is nothing to be concerned about ?

I'm particularly anxious about that as I had to get a plumber for a central heating issue not that long ago, tried the Trust a Trader site in order to get confidence, finally got someone to turn up, and his van showed he was a jack of all trades rather than a specialist plunber nly, and worse he was here for a bit, then gone again, then back again, then gone, needed a friend to look at the electrics, finally seemed to have sorted it, but a few days later the issue was back. I ended up writing the large cost of him off, and called in BG. I don’t need to go through that sort of stress again.

Advice gratefully received. TIA.

[woofgang]

I have found the Check a trade website has decent people, at least round where I live. I never look at anyone below a 9 and always read the reviews. Alternatively it might be worth asking your neighbours, there are a group of us here who share info about the good guys. Are you on facebook? Quite a few small local communities have pages on there that might be able to help.

[Old_Geezer]

I avoid Facebook, don't like to be part of the flock, much to the annoyance of most of my familiy, and yet to the approval of most of my friends oddly enough.

Aye, I looked at the ratings too on the trade site I mentioned, and the first few were too busy to look at the issue until the new year and I was desperate enough to go with the first one I found who could and did look at it. But I'm unimpressed with the result of that website and probably would not use it again.

(Maybe I could read only Facebook and see what is said, but this all seems a rather local issue.)

[sandyRoe]

Would it be worth getting a building surveyor to look at it?

[wiltsman]

If you subscribe to Which? magazine, you are automatically subscribed to Which? Local, a list of tradesmen and services that are personally rated by Which? members.

I normally head to this site first if I have a problem to sort.

[woofgang]

OG, when you are looking for a quality tradesman, busy=good. Anyone who doesn't know you who can come immediately is likely (not always) to be not worth asking, especially with all the terrible weather we've been having.
Facebook can be very local. Lots of villages and small areas have pages where they discuss local issues and can recommend local tradespeople.

[Old_Geezer]

That was part of the question I was asking sandy :-)

I don't presently subscribe to Which, maybe I should, pain being I'm presently trying to save the max to get out of the rat race slightly early, so adding subscriptions :-) I'll give it some thought.

Maybe I'll have a browse at Facebook. So long as I don't have to give out too much personal info.

[ummmm]

O_G...you can sign up to facebook with any information.

Open a new email account with a made up name and join facebook using that account.

[dunnitall]

OG Facebook... Make it up, use any old name and don't give any personal info just fill in what you like, easy.

[dunnitall]

Lol our posts crossed ummmm

[bookbinder]

Try the Federation of Master Builders:
http://www.fmb.org.uk/#
You can put details of your problem on this website, and, if a tradesman is interested, he will post a reply. I have used the FMB once, and I was very pleased with the result.

[The Builder]

Assuming the suspected crack is where the extension joins the original building ........... it is possible that the extension has settled.
When was it done, OG?

Also possible is that the masonry was not tied properly to the building.

Am I right about the location?

[boxtops]

Regarding the sharp intake of breath - I always get three quotes for any work we are having done in the house. Some intakes are sharper than others - and if I don't know the builders' work, I take references.

[smurfchops]

Walk around your area, if any of your neighbours are having work done and get a recommendation from them, or get three or four quotes and go for your gut feeling, remember cheapest is not,the best. Ak the builders who are giving you quotes, if can see some of their work. If they readily agree they are a good bet, as long as their work's good !

[Old_Geezer]

No not at the join between new & old, the crack is in the end wall. It is a completely new wall, but made of those horrible themo-block type breeze-blocks that one could push a pencil through if one had a mind to. The upstairs crack, which was described above is in the upstairs bathroom (or I assume it is there as, as mentioned, the wallpaper has been left up for now). Downstairs I see a crack in the same garage wall, although not all the way down, just a foot coming down from the ceiling level. It's isn't so clear there is an issue outside, although it concerns me that the worst of the sunken drive bricks are near to the down soil pipe.

[Old_Geezer]

I also get issues finding enough of whatever trade I want to be interested enough to come and look quote. Amazes me folk can get the number of quotes they want. And it's more a case of trusting the judgement of what, if anything, is needed, than it is the quality of the work once hired. Although, of course that would become important in due course.

[murraymints]

Local trading standards can advise on reputable tradesmen....phone council.
.

[The Builder]

If I have this right OG...... it's 2 storey... bedroom over garage?

The cracking you describe could be settlement. That, in itself, is not a great problem if it's been there a while, and is not worsening. Settlement only becomes threatening when it keeps on going.

It's quite a simple procedure to mechanically tie the end wall back to the side walls.

Because the evidence is mostly upstairs, I'd suspect "roof spreading". Could you describe the type of roof construction?

[Old_Geezer]

Yes you have a good picture as far as I can tell. The previous, or maybe the previous owners before them, added an extension or two. The main one being at the side, which was double story, downstairs in a long garage, upstairs an extra bedroom at the front and the bathroom at the back. To complete the picture a further single story extension hosing a kitchen and utility room goes right across the back, and effectively shares that new side wall to the property. I assume that was done at the same time.

The tiled roof was extended to the side to cover this double story side extension. Unsure what the vital parts you require are but it consists of new beams fixed into the original beams, layer of felt, and tiled on top. I think it's called a hip roof type ?

Thanks for the interest; and thanks to all who have made suggestions [i](not getting the hang of this facebook at all; all links seem to end up at part of my account ?)[i]

[Old_Geezer]

"...housing a kitchen..." as typed.

Not sure what happened to the italics.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah, the issue is not a crack between side and back, it is away from the corner about 6 foot from the back, in the side wall.

You suspect the sunken patio bricks might be unconnected to the crack issue ?