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May 18, 2023

Peter Finn on how to spot a 'cowboy builder', keeping costs low and what to do when things go wrong

The RTÉ star shares what questions you need to ask your builder before the work

The RTÉ star shares what questions you need to ask your builder before the work begins, he explains why standard pricing doesn't exist and opens up about the trends you should avoid

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TV builder Peter Finn explains what to look out for before you begin construction, the questions you need to ask - and he reveals how to spot a "cowboy builder" before you part with your cash.

It's hard to get a builder on site these days.

We’re experiencing a roll over since the pandemic. People were looking at their walls for so long and they decided enough was enough so they wanted to get some work done. There was a huge rush for work to be done, so that led to a labour shortage. A lot of foreign workers went home in 2020 and 2021 and we haven't recovered from that. We still don't have the full work force but the demand is even bigger.

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The best advice to homeowners I can give is to be as prepared as you can be when you meet your builder.

You should have your project really thought through and you should be ready to do it. You need to consider your budget as well. When you contact a builder you should have a lot of the groundwork done so they know the project is genuine and you’re serious about it. If a builder sees you’re not ready you’ll go further down the queue, unfortunately. It's a two way relationship and you’re going to need to work with the builder and vice versa.

The timeline is a big thing.

You need to make sure the builder is available to meet the timeline you’re looking at. You need to ask how long the work will take so there are no surprises. Stay in close contact with them so you can work together.

If the work is taking place over an 18 month period there would be a contract in place.

An architect or a quantity surveyor will administer the contract. If the costs are going up, it's very important to have clear lines of communication. There could be delay in a certain product and delivery times might be pushed back. I remember people telling me that they went to buy a fridge or a washing machine and they were told that they could have them in 12 weeks, which is pretty much unheard of. There will always be products that have a lead in time so you need to make sure you get your order in early, especially windows and doors.

If someone says they’ll start on a certain date and they need a 50 percent deposit, you have to be wary of that.

If someone is not communicating with you or not turning up when they said they would or asking for a big deposit, they are big no no's. There are certain items that require deposits such as windows, high end sanitary and internal doors, and they’re understandable. The way that projects work is that you get paid for the work that you’ve completed. I would advise people not to give a deposit to a builder who hasn't started work.

The certification and handover process at the end of a build is a lot better now than it was.

If there are any new electrical, gas or plumbing works done, there has to be a cert handed over. Most products these days come with a warranty and windows and doors will come with a thermal value. Builders will give a homeowner a handover file so they can understand the process. I’m sure everyone has also heard of the BER rating and there are also air tightness tests done as well.

Having a huge amount of glass, whether it's on walls or overhead is an obvious way of getting natural light into your home.

Natural light is a huge thing and it can transform a space. We had a "fad" where conservatories and porches were being built onto the side of houses and it didn't really work. During cold weather, they were very cold and they were like a sauna during warm weather. Glass only has a certain thermal value and it meant that the spaces weren't really used. Having said that, if the work is done correctly it can be hugely successful and it can have a lot of benefits. If you’re doing this I would recommend using solar glass because it will prevent that huge glare and reduce overheating.

Construction is moving in a much more environmentally friendly direction.

There are more energy efficient heating systems and the thermal values and specifications that are being delivered are really high. When you buy or renovate a home, you’re creating something that's much more energy efficient than a house that was built 15, 20 or 40 years ago. There are also great initiatives that people are entitled to in order to ensure homes are energy efficient and sustainable.

Trends come and go, I’ve been doing construction for a long time.

I’m traditional in my tastes and I like modern clean lines internally but externally we keep trying to force minimal aesthetics. We’re getting more extreme weather in Ireland with hotter days and heavier downpours and our buildings are being tested by the weather a lot more as a result. When I see a building with very little overhang details and little protection just because it looks good, that worries me slightly. They’re the type of buildings that win awards when they’re first built because they look so well! [laughs]. I also think there's no point renovating an old building and trying to force it to look modern.

I would love to see prices coming down.

The increase in material costs over the last 18 months has been phenomenal. It's stark. It's too hard to sustain the cost of construction, it is 30 or 40 percent more expensive than it was 12 or 18 months ago. Some materials like timber and steel have settled down. There's been a huge amount of inflation and the cost of living has gone up right around the world and that's had a ripple effect. It's going to be a while before that stabilises. Supply and demand drive the cost of things and at this moment in time, we’ve a huge demand for construction. We’re not going to see a reduction in costs for a while. You submit your price at the beginning of the project and if the prices go up over the 18 month project, then you have to absorb some of those costs. You can't work at a loss, that's a no win situation for everybody.

There's no such thing as a standard price anymore.

There are rates people can get from quantity surveyors and industry watchdogs but I would be very wary of people trying to price work off a square metre rate in the current environment. Prices are fluctuating too much and it's very difficult for somebody to stand over a square price, especially when it comes to the fit out and if there are a lot of raw materials involved. In my opinion, that's a dangerous game to play.

Home Rescue: The Big Fix airs Thursday nights on RTÉ2 at 9.30pm

Read the full interview in RSVP Home - on shelves now

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