Forum Topic

rear extension

We're thinking of doing rear extension. Can anyone recommend a good reliable builder? Thank you.

Ann Long ● 6757d19 Comments

I had a kitchen extension built by Ealing Building Services two years ago. The work was to the highest quality. The builders arrived at 8am every day and generally left when it got dark. When the weather was bad they worked at weekends to 'catch-up'. The work was completed within the agreed timescale and to a very high standard. I cannot fault the service they provided. Mark (the owner) can be contacted on 020 8998 0035 See also http://www.ealingbuild.co.uk

Lawrence Tan ● 6756d

I would recommend not a builder as such but a project management company called Visionstream Developments, they manage a team of builders who will carry out the work. It was the level of service and efficiency that we got from them which we found so refreshing in this day and age with all the 'cowboys' around; They emailed us regular progress reports and gve us a week by week work schedule to follow which I  thought was a good idea. Anyway, if you want to get some info from them then I would suggest sending them an email to info@visionstreamdevelopments.com, I got their details from a friend who had a kitchen extension and bathroom refurb. Hope this is useful.

Richard Brown ● 6756d

RoughtlyHow much & long?

Stephen Farmer ● 6756d

RoughtlyHow much & long?

Stephen Farmer ● 6756d

Ummmm are you the same Richard Brown who works for visionstream and posted the following on the Chiswick site?"I work for a project managment company called Visionstream Developments and we do anything from bathroom/kitchen refurbs to full house refurbs and extensions. We manage the builders for you (our own team), email you progress reports and also give you a week by week schedule to follow until the job is completed.All work is carried out to current building regulations, including relevant certifications, and we can of course provide excellent references.Please email me at richard@visionstreamdevelopments.com and I can arrange for a free estimate. "

D Moore ● 6755d

Looks like Richard is rumbled...If this is one and the same it says a lot about the kind of approach made - deception.Wonder if this firm is registered with the FSA as it talks a lot about investment adviceOne I would avoid for sure

Colin Izzard ● 6755d

Wow you guys are pretty tough! Ok, well the truth is I am only 25 and have just started working for this company, who by the way are extremely reputable (accounts and references can prove it) and I thought that an innocent (although devious) reply to some inquiries on the local forum was a good idea. I wanted to make a good impression on my Director, by thinking on my feet and generating new inquiries and securing business. I offered our details merely as a suggestion, but ultimately it is up to the inividual to contact us and be happy with what we can offer. So, what I did was morally wrong, yes, but fundamentally bad....no. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I don't think I need the book thrown at me. One other thing, I was born and bred in Chiswick, I only moved last year.

Richard Brown ● 6754d

Jamie,The extension's about 8'x12' and built of brick. It cost in the region of £40,000 including VAT. This work included a new central heating boiler and under-floor heating, removing a chimney breast, installing numerous steel supporting beams and lowering the original kitchen floor by over a foot. One of the biggest issues was the fact that as we have no rear access, over 20 skips full of soil had to be wheel-barrowed through the house. The builders worked like Trojans and were always polite.

Lawrence Tan ● 6754d

At least you are man enough to apologise and resilient enough to move forward

Colin Izzard ● 6754d

No need to apologise Richard. A poster asked for a recommendation and you simply replied – no big devious production in my opinion – just a straightforward reply to a sincere question.Anyway, i for one admire your enterprise(and cheek!) for pushing the company with which you’re associated.  You show promising signs of the Bransons, Ecclestones and Alan Sugars of this world and good luck to you young sir! If I were sir Alan Sugar, I’d say “You’re hired Mr brown”. And i’d say to the two carping posters on this thread “you’re fired”. You'll go far sir!  ;-)

Gerry Tan ● 6753d

Mr Tan you are a gent and a scholar, thank you. To quote Henry David Thoreau 'Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much of life. Aim above morality. Be not simly good; be good for something'.

Richard Brown ● 6751d

Except that he did lie recommending the company by saying:-"I got their details from a friend who had a kitchen extension and bathroom refurb. Hope this is useful."If someone asks for recommendations they want a personal recommendation not a misrepresentation.  I have no problem with him being up front,  he was honest in one post saying he woked for the company which is obviosuly fine,  but on the other site he lied.

D Moore ● 6751d

Yes I lied about the 'recommendation', but there are no victims here. If I use an underhand tactic to get a new customer to make an inquiry, who would ONLY use us if they felt that we can offer a high standard of work at good prices, after viewing our portfolio and references respectively, then I have made two winners; us as a company and the customer.

Richard Brown ● 6751d

Excuse me but you lied and are bang to rights. Age and where you were brought up irrelevant.  You have no credibility or integrity and should be turfed off this website.

Raymond Bradbury ● 6751d

Richard I think you miss the point you say:-"who would ONLY use us if they felt that we can offer a high standard of work"No,  they would also be INFLUENECED by the recommendation from this site. It's hard enough to get decent workmen without people posing as satisfied customers or friends of satisfied customers.  Also you have only just started working at the company so are not really in a postion to comment on their work.  I appreciate you put your hands up and accepted you lied but I hope in future you will not use  such tactics to get work.

D Moore ● 6751d

That was the point, to influence them to contact us, then when they do their due diligence as anyone would before using a company they weren't familiar with, they would be happy to go ahead and use us. In the end they would be glad of the results and pleased to have found us. As for being 'turfed' off the website, well I think that I have created an interesting discussion on the 'discussion forum', so should therefore remain.

Richard Brown ● 6750d

Yes indeed Richard whether to misrepresent,  lie,  falsify and be proud of your "initiative" is such an interesting discussion.

D Moore ● 6750d

Frankly I am appalled that an employee of (I assume) a reputable company not only lies in public in order to promote the company, but then tries to excuse his actions and doesn't appear to see anything wrong about them (despite earlier apologies).If your standard of business ethics and integrity is typical of Visionstream Developments' employees, then they won't get any business from me.  "There are no victims here" ... except for your company perhaps?

Richard Jennings ● 6750d

Meanwhile Ann is probably still looking for recommendations

Colin Izzard ● 6750d