Strange turn of events...

It turns out that Rihoys (our builders) are watching this blog... Yes we know you're there! So now we'll be playing strange games of passing subliminal messages regarding the build and how we really feel about it...

When the building company boss shows up at a regular site meeting you know something's not right. Call me a pessimist but I just knew he wasn't showing up to say hello. That's what happened today. Why you ask... well a few things have slipped to the point where we're all rather worried. List as follows:

1. Underfloor heating: The local suppliers have delivered plans VERY late and to an insufficient level of detail for the builders to work from. We now have an emergency site meeting with them tomorrow morning to get things moving.
2. Heat Recovery Ventilation system: Having promised a 7 day turn around on delivering the necessary parts it now looking like it'll be 3 going on 4 weeks. Needless to say noone's happy at all about this - it seriously holds the build up (I belive the term is that it's "critical path").
3. Chimney: We paid extra for a fast delivery of flue parts to enable them to get on with the chimney. Parts duly arrived a week ago. Instructions were left to call our contact at Robeys if help was needed making sense of what arrived (they have been very knowledgable and helpful to us). No call was made and the excuse for lack of progress was confusion regarding the way it worked. Slap wrists.
4. Additional items (Variations): We're waiting for quotes from various items which have been requested for a while (Aluminium guttering, external works, various joinery items, pointing on existing house, bespoke front door). Slow progress which doesn't help with our financial planning.
5. Ironmongery: Late delivery of schedule - however some action does seem to be happening now after a visit from us to the firm concerned and several emails from others.
   
6. Budgets: Needless to say we've changed our mind a few times and have learned that we're not very good at doing things on the cheap. "We're only going to do this once...". We have however been keeping a close watch on this so things are OK.
   
7. Plumbing & Electrics: Earlier concerns regarding plumbing and electrics seem to be nearly sorted now from a combination of us taking control of sanitaryware procurement (which also saved some money btw) and a new electrician coming on board who has made some genuinely useful suggestions and found a way to order in the long lead time stuff in time. Hurrah!

It's mostly the case that these problems are not the direct fault of the building firm - they are mostly to do with 3rd parties (subbies). I've learned one lesson which I will remember if I ever attempt anything like this again - Stay on top of everything myself - don't be afraid to be a control freak. I might need to step on someone's toes but builders have big boots - they can handle it.

On the positive side - the house now has a water tight roof (felt & battens) and all the windows appear to be on schedule (old ones are gone and new ones arriving on site tomorrow). The glazed gable arrives on monday. We'll be wind and water tight by the end of next week. Substantial progress has been made on much of the internal carpentry.

What does all this mean? - As so many 'concerns' are regarding critical path items the new projected completion date is end July (2 months late). They have promised they'll throw everything they can at it to get it done earlier. What we care about most is that the job is done well. In the big scheme of things a couple of months is not a big deal. Where delays are not due to variations or extreme weather conditions (acts of god) there are penalty clauses which mean we'll get some financial help coping with the extended burden of additional living expenses during the delays. So that helps a bit.

Relations are still very good between the builders and ourselves (and i'm not just saying that becuase they are reading this) and we're still very excited about the house.