kitchen makeover

[nextqueen]

wanting to put an island in our kitchen, a pantry wall to come down, its a new build so only board i think. we are keeping the cupboards and fronts but want to change the wall tiles, change wood floor to tiles and change the worksurface to granite instead of formica with a new inset sink. so, what do we have done first and so on? im asking this as trying to price things with different people instead of having it all done with one company, dont know though it that will be more trouble than its worth. we dont have any quotes for labour yet, just have ideas for island shape and have seen some lovely wall and floor tiles in the sale, ive also seen the granite online where i think the company comes to measure up, takes measurements away, cuts granite the comes back and fits. again im not sure what order that could be done if all separate, any advice welcome.

[brihamilton1]

best thing to do is get different quotes---tell the other builders after they give you thier quote--they will always try to undercut that one--then use this quote for the next builder----eventually you will get it half the original price---builders are desperate for work-make sure you get overall price in writing---they will add things if you dont e.g." we will have to move that tap"" £60 love"--"oh no--we measured 6foot you actually need 7 foot"- so they will get want they quoted in the 1st place

[nextqueen]

we have originally seen worktop in a kitchen shop where the lady said we could get our own tiles, they could also get cupboards for island to match ones we already have. she said that they could knock the wall down and do the labour for tiles etc. im just a bit concerned if we are bitting and bobbing with different labourers the shop may not like it.

[The Builder]

I woldn't go for a biggish company, even if they do have all the trades you need. It would be much cheaper to use a carpenter/kitchen fitter, or a carpenter/builder.
Let him quote for all the initial "ripping out" of cabinets, taking down walls, and generally preparing what I always call a "blank canvas" from where you can begin to put the new layout together.
He will know suitable plumbers, electricians, that he can call on to quote. He'll be able to talk their language, and translate your wishes. There should be NO misunderstandings.
All that's left then is to find a tiler. Have your new tiles ready for him. He'll be looking at a properly prepared area where he can quote easily..... again, with no room for misunderstandings.
Sounds easy doesn't it? .............. actually ......... it is!

[Old_Geezer]

Just my experience, it may not be typical, but I was getting a replacement single story extension on my old place, and moving a few rooms around, which included putting the new kitchen into what had previously been a downstairs bathroom: so it was all new in that sense.

I had trouble finding a builder who was free and willing to do the work, they always seem so busy that they only want to cherry pick jobs. Finally got one. He suggested I use his discount to select kitchen units for the new kitchen on top of the building work I had been quoted for; and have him do the work for that too. which I agreed to. He chose the other tradesmen, plumbers, electrician, etc.

I wasn't that impressed. Afterwards I had to rip out a lot of the electrics as it was hopeless. Sockets that would never be openable as they were tiled and grouted into place between the tiles. I couldn't find the cooker switch, all were mains sockets on the wall, until I looked under the units to find it wired and loose on the floor. Too much to detail here, and I still do not know why I missed it on the final inspection. It took me a year of weekends (I had other things to do) to correct the idiocies.

IMO employ your own tradesmen to do whatever the initial job was, and don't trust them to call in their incompetent mates to knock together some bodge that wasn't part of you initial enquiry with them.