New Build

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Customer reference for FJB Construction Ltd as told to pickapro by Martin Cosgrave from Milltown, Dublin 14 on 09-Mar-2007

When was the work done?
Between February and June of 2006.

What was involved?
To demolish part of an existing house and then to rebuild a new house. I did change some of the plans while he was building, for example we decided to add in an attic room. But FJB stuck to the original price.

How did you choose FJB Construction Ltd?
I was doing an extension in my home about five years ago; and five years ago it was very hard to get a builder. I was passing a house that was being worked on and I noticed that the builder was clean and tidy, and everything seemed to be going well. So I called in and literally it was Fintan who was doing the job; that's how I found him.

Had you definite ideas in mind before you talked to Fintan Brady?
When I got in touch with him for this particular house the plans were in-situ, but there were little things that I changed on site like the ensuites. I liaised with Fintan about that and took his advice on a lot of it.

Did Fintan introduce new ideas?
He did yes, like the placement of the ensuites, because I wanted to fit in an extra ensuite. And he was the one who came up with the idea to put a room in the attic. That was a great idea, it adds a whole extra room in the house.

How did the project run?
Everything came in on target and on time. Fintan said the project would last four months and it probably lasted an extra two weeks or something like that, but that wasn't his fault. That was down to ESB and water works, things that are outside his control. I was certainly very happy with the finished product.

For example, there was a problem with some tiles on the very front of the house that he spotted and came back in his own time and repaired. I didn't have to call him, he happened to be passing the house and he noticed some tiles were crooked, I never had to point out problems. Fintan is aware he has to keep a reputation, which is very good.

What was the biggest benefit to you of using FJB Construction Ltd?
From start to finish he looked after everything. He did the bit of demolition and he pulled the foundations. Everything, if you like, was his problem. It wasn't as though I had to go and find my own plasterers, carpenters, electricians or plumbers, which some builders will do; so their prices look great. Fintan looked after it all from start to finish, which was great.

What's your favourite part now?
I think the ease of it, to be able to literally hand him the plans and say, give me a price on that�, he went off and came back with the price after about ten days. There was a little bit of fine-tuning, just so as I understood exactly what he had priced me for. It was the ease of management and the transparency of it; that was the best part of it.

Would you recommend FJB Construction Ltd to others?
I would yes, I plan to do a similar project in the future and I would use Fintan straight away.

He is honest and he is upright, if he has a problem he will talk to you, he'll say, here's a problem and here's what we should do about it. A problem shared is a problem halved.