15April2025 Diary
Ive finally managed to get a modest summer garden shed on the back of my plot in Harlow. I decided against calling a big construction firm; I thought all I needed was a bloke who knew the basics of carpentry.
A neighbour pointed me toward his mate, Andy Clarke, who does housebuild work and ought to be able to put together a simple shed. Fortunately Andy was free. He wasnt keen on the job at first, but I managed to persuade him.
He claimed he could have it done within a week, which suited me perfectly. He said he would pop over on Saturday to take a look, and the following day hed buy all the timber, nails and roofing felt required.
We also talked about the grunt work. Andy said he needed an extra pair of hands straight away and that he could call on a few of his mates, as he has a wide circle of fellow tradesmen.
The crucial point was that I would be in London for work all week, so I couldnt be onsite. I handed him the shed key and told him to finish by the next weekend.
Andy promised to sort everything because hes a reliable craftsman. He asked for a fair fee for his services, which was on the higher side £750 and I agreed.
By Saturday evening the shed was standing, exactly as Id pictured. Nothing was amiss, and Andy seemed content with the result.
The only thing that irked me was the state of my fridge afterwards. Andy had helped himself to everything: two kilos of pork loin, two dozen eggs, several cartons of milk, a jar of gravy and a bottle of red wine. I find that utterly unacceptable. It isnt about the food itself; its the fact that no one asked me whether they could indulge, they simply assumed it was alright.
I tallied the cost of the vanished groceries roughly £120 and deducted it from the amount Id agreed to pay him. It was only a drop in the bucket compared with the £750, but it mattered to me.
Andy didnt take kindly to that. He started arguing, insisting that builders are always fed on the job and that its standard practice. He added that during the more strenuous phases of the build hed needed extra sustenance, yet he refused to adjust the final bill.
Part of me wanted to see his point, but I remain convinced that I honoured every term we negotiated, and that any deviation should have been discussed beforehand.
Im left wondering whether I was too rigid or whether his expectations were simply out of line. The shed is beautiful, but the fallout has left a sour taste, much like that empty wine bottle.
EmilyIll keep the shed for now, but Ive decided never to let a contractor under my roof without a clear written agreement again.
