It has been said that household renovation and repair is the area where London residents must use the most caution when dealing with the people who provide services. Londoners are not alone in this; in fact, it is something of a universal truth. Yet work done to a poor standard, or far behind schedule, or not at all, even after money has been paid, is enough of a problem that a term has arisen to describe its practitioners - cowboy builders.
To help insure that cowboy builders don't ride away with your money, you would be wise to take precautions - asking for references, and determining if they are members of any trade groups that will hold them to certain standards.
In part to protect their reputation from these few unscrupulous characters, many of the trades listed here have formed organizations aimed at setting standards for their members. Where appropriate, we have mentioned them.
Having said all that, you can take comfort from the fact that London, too, is home to some of the world's most outstanding craftsmen, and that if you have to wait months for the inlaid leather surface of your antique writing table to be brought back to mint condition, in the end you have - an antique writing table brought back to mint condition.
If you have to wait months for the inlaid leather surface of your antique writing table to be brought back to mint condition, in the end you have - an antique writing table brought back to mint condition.
