How do I bathroom / kitchen / extension? etc.

They'd likely have charged extra for the additional beam so think of it as you are paying their hourly rate no matter what and saving on material cost that would have "appeared"

Err, looks like a load bearing*wall to me! Picks up the floor joists at least (and the wall offset wall over if that is sitting on those joists?). Even if you aren't going down the Building Control route now, when you come to sell, questions will be asked and you will likely need some paperwork justifying it.

but need a wood one

Who's designing that?

*retaining walls retail soil.

Yeah I know. It's just there is a very different level of work between fucking around with a big beam (be it concrete or wood) and nailing some hangers in.

It's a good point on selling that we hadn't considered.

Oh well it's done now (hopefully).

Can't you get a local structural engineer to pop in and give you some comfort on the design of this? Nobody on the internet is going to be able to diagnose it properly for you, but from what you've described it sounds as if @leggy_blonde is right that the wall used to be supporting the floor and wall above, and now the load path is being changed so someone needs to take ownership of that design.

Is a local structural engineer someone you can just call up and get to swing by?

Sorry if I seem reticent, I'm just surprised non of the people we've spoke to about it have had any hesitation about it.

Some structural engineering practices do have a service where they do a site visit and verbal advice or a written report. Probably more the smaller practices (hence 'local') rather than big international firms for obvious reasons.

I'd imagine if you have building control sign off you'd be ok. At least to the point the buyer contacts the BBC about the 850k flat they bought.

Velfac alternatives? 30k supply only currently… ouch.

Yep!

https://www.istructe.org/find-an-engineer/structural-engineers-near-me/search/

or call up the local authority building control.

And bollock your builder.

Rationel, but roughly the same price.
Do it, you’re worth it.

@Sparky

https://www.freecycle.org/posts/92468286

Thanks! Messaging now. What sort of sand do people put below slabs for a shed base, and how do you gauge how much you'll need?

Another day, another dispute with a tradesman.

The guy who was doing our kitchen has done a poor job + it has taken him six weeks to do a straight kitchen swap (and it's still only like 65% done) + he has said he's not going to finish the job, but he wants to be paid the full amount. He has become quite aggressive and is refusing to give back our keys.

I honestly don't think I'm ever going to hire anyone to do anything again. :(

Change the locks, leave a bad review and tell them to fuck off

I dont get what goes through these folks heads. Change locks and try get someone decent to fix the mess and tell him to fuck off.

We've another customer we done a full heating for that asked us to do a bathroom and we could, got another guy (who's not a tradesman but pretends to be) that took 3k off her and done a bump.

Absolute cunts

Probably worth filing small claims to get the cost of the lock change and someone to finish the job.

Is there a reason for the delay? Was he waiting on appliances or units etc and the delay had a knock on effect with other trades?

Certainly asking for full payment is mad but delays do happen. (Currently 18 months into our kitchen and have finally put up the last wall hanging cabinet this weekend...)

From what @Marron has written it doesn’t seem like a reasonable level of service nor one which has been impacted by unforeseen delays or circumstances.
Could be wrong. Also still stewing about the plumber who’s now totally ghosting us

@dbr got some nice windows straight from a supplier I think for maybe a better price. I’m dead happy with our rationel ones but as @chrisbmx116 says, similar price

Changing the locks today. The whole thing just feels horrible.

No, everything arrived well before he started. We weren't happy with the state of the walls so there was a delay of a few days while he got the plasterer back in and the plaster dried, but apart from that it's mostly the fact that he seems to be pretty bad at his job. He's been working on other projects too, so has only been showing up sporadically. Initially I was taking photos of daily progress, but I gave that up as it dragged on. Wish I'd stuck with it, now.

18 months, wow! Hopefully it's been worth it + congrats on being on the home stretch!!

I'd call 101 and report them to police. Just to have a record of it. That they have your keys and won't return them, aggressive etc.

Our timber sliding doors and door came from Viking Windows in Estonia via Oakmont Joinery. Think Oakmont do various window systems too. Our windows are Velfac, though I’m sure there are other better systems, just that I’m used to them and like how they work.

Back in the day one of my dad's colleagues had a rear extension. Builder took of the back of the house, took the money, pre-pac'd the company, then demanded the same money again to finish the job.