Kitchen/Diner how much?

[Bluemukka]

Right how much do you reckon this lot would cost, me and Dh both have wildly different estimates.

Knock down interior wall and install RSJ

Remove and brick up outside doorway

Install a new kitchen (not including cost of kitchen)

Install new flooring (possibly with underfloor heating)

Plaster walls

Part tile some walls

Overall the room would be about 20 foot long and 10 foot wide.

We are knocking through to make a large kitchen/diner as the dining room is rarely used at the moment. I was also wondering whether it would be cheaper to employ a kitchen planner to oversee eveything or whether to be project manager myself and try to co-ordinate plasterers tilers etc (cold sweat just thinking about it). If so, what order do jobs have to be done in? Thanks for reading.

TIA

[raysparx]

If you don't know much about building don't even think about being a project manager yourself, ask around locally for a good builder,don't just pick somebody from local paper or yellow pages, a good builder will co-ordinate the whole job,but we do like a start and finish date,but be realistic, if you say theres no hurry, (fatal error) and also remember if you are going to call in the trades yourself it isn't easy tying it all together and as for electrics in Kitchen or bathroom any additions or alterations MUST be done by a part p registered sparky or if not, notified to local council BEFORE work starts,

very hard for anybody to give a price without even looking at the job, tiles etc can be cheap or expensive you might as well ask how long is a piece of string, you can have the kitchen planned at MFI or B&Q or any large diy store, Good luck there are lots of good builders and lots of *******,so just be careful remember word of mouth, I haven't advertised for work in the last 26 years, Tradesman don't have to!

[smurfchops]

Get three recommendations if possible, as raysparx says, it is always better to get a good builder recommended that a complete stranger. On saying that, my hubbie is a builder and gets lots of work from local newspaper ads as well as recommendations. I think it is also a case of liking the person and getting good vibes, feeling you can trust them with the work. Anyhow, get three prices, usually go for the middle one. You might need to get planning permission or building regulations so phone your local council. Have drawings and a specification done so everyone is pricing for exactly the same thing. They will charge you for any extra work you need doing, make sure it is all on the drawing and spec. Allow yourself a couple of months roughly, try to have the work done when the weather is warmer and expect a lot of mess... and don't give them any money up front, pay them in stages when the works are being done, and never never pay the last payment until the job is finished to your satisfaction. Plenty of tea and biscuits goes without saying.. Good luck !

[markja]

this isn't answering your question but is relevent.

if you are going to buy the kitchen from b&q, homebase, etc make sure that all the pieces are there before paying for it. if it's all there then pay and have a local 'man with a van' deliver it to your place. this would eliminate the problem you hear about getting half a kitchen and then waiting six months for the rest or worse still not getting it at all coz they went bust.

[raysparx]

As judie says 3 quotes great idea,and you might well get a gut feeling,and nearly always best to stay local,also good advice on the money side, and last but not least . CHOCCIE BISCUITS, and TEA are a must Thanks judie,fancy me fogetting the tea!!