Custom construction

5Dale, E14

Verified

Plaster Skimming

The quality of the work done at my property was very good. Frank turned up when he said he would and got the work done, not on time, but there were other things to do along the way that delayed finishing somewhat. I was generally happy with the whole job, but felt the 'clean-up' at the end could have been done better. I would use Frank again and would recommend him to others. The job at my house included plastering, painting, laying a timber floor (which is a magnificent job), new lights which Frank chose for me and are really nice (thank you Frank, you have good decorating taste), repairing a kitchen plumbing problem, organising replacement of radiators and the boiler, organising new carpets and vinyl flooring. The list goes on.

• HOMEOWNER, 12/02/2009 16:39

  The quality of the work done at my property was very good. Frank turned up when he said he would and got the work done, not on time, but there were other things to do along the way that delayed finishing somewhat. I was generally happy with the whole job, but felt the 'clean-up' at the end could have been done better. I would use Frank again and would recommend him to others. The job at my house included plastering, painting, laying a timber floor (which is a magnificent job), new lights which Frank chose for me and are really nice (thank you Frank, you have good decorating taste), repairing a kitchen plumbing problem, organising replacement of radiators and the boiler, organising new carpets and vinyl flooring. The list goes on. UPDATE: Since I posted the original review I have had a couple of friends contact Frank but he either didn't return their calls or failed to turn up.

3Miriam, E17

Verified

Plaster Skimming

Frank was the most expensive quote I received, but I chose him because of the way he described tackling the job. Overall he did a good job of the plastering. I would have expected him to bring more dust sheets to cover floors as well as areas being worked over. He arrived over an hour late on the second day, which some people may not mind but I did.

0Maija, E15

Verified

Complete Bathroom Refurbishment

I'm going to be scrupulously fair about this. Frank and his team did do a nice job in terms of the tiling of the bathroom. I have no problems with the quality of the finish. But I had two problems with the project. First, it was more expensive than I had anticipated. Despite being very clear with Frank that there was no room to expand the budget, things kept creeping up. Every time I wanted to specify anything - even colour - this seemed to raise the price. I didn't, in the end, get the style of bath taps I wanted because I couldn't afford for Frank to keep telling me this was going to cost more. I didn't get the pop-up waste that was promised, or the recessed loo. All the little extras that were added more than 15 per cent to the budget. The bigger problem was that, a week after the work was finished, there was a huge leak underneath the bathtub which destroyed the ceiling of the flat below. Frank did respond quickly to my anguished phone call, but then claimed the problem was not due to his team. It is difficult to prove this one way or the other, but it seems rather a coincidence that this happened just after the team had been working on the piping under the tub. At the very least, it is a bit sloppy of them not to have noticed there was a potential problem, when part of their brief had been to check that there would be no more leaks around the bathtub. I had to pay Frank another ?100 to fix the leak, and another builder ?150 to fix the ceiling. In the end, I was left out of pocket and pretty stressed by all of it. The bathroom is nice now, so that is a positive. Frank does do nice work, but should try to curb his tendency to milk clients for extra money, as this did not sit well with me.

• HOMEOWNER, 9/12/2008 18:02

  Aaargh. I can't believe I have to write a post-script to this saga. I feel like I am living some version of groundhog day as the leaks in the bathroom just continue. Now its the toilet that is leaking I can't believe the team didn't pick up on this. I can't get the company to come sort out the problem as the builder has been attacked by a dog and can't use his hands. I feel very sorry for him, but also totally frustrated. I have now had to get another builder in to change the toilet, and regrout the tiles that have popped up because of damp on the floor due to the leaking toilet. That is another £220! I might as well just have flushed all that money I paid down the loo. If I could flush it without i causing a big leak, that is. Next time I get any work done on the bathroom I am just going to get a random member of the public in and give him the pin number to my bank account. The results would be much the same.

1Steve, N1

Verified

Laminate / Wooden Kitchen Worktops

Unreliable - always late with increasingly bizzare excuses - everything from his mum falling over to his employee being evicted. Rarely did a full day's work and yet always wanted ���� Job unfinished and i ended up doing a lot myself. Worktop joints so pathetically poor that I employed Mr Worktops to install new worktops at a cost of �800!!! A guy to avoid!!

4Katie, N22

Verified

Wooden Staircases

Frank and Jason did a very good job and I would use them again. Frank reconstructed a Victorian balcony that was in a state of disrepair in the style that it would have been originally, keeping the original features that were able to be saved. It looks great. The cost was more than originally quoted due to unforeseen extras but Frank kept me informed of any additional materials etc. needed as he went along and OK'd the costs with me. No mess left behind and Frank and Jason were prompt and courteous. Recommended.