Very annoyed (not 4x4 related)

[Daemo]

Plumber came and took bath/sink/radiator out last week, booked one of my last days holiday from work for plasterer to reskim today so up at 6am as he is starting at 7.30, emptied bathroom laid down sheets so he can walk through house, 8.30 arrives no show so at 9 i text him (on the same number we have already had text conversations on) "oh er yea sorry van brokedown" " couldnt find your number". " waiting for mechanic" so i offered to pick him up as he can put his gear in my truck and he is only a couple of miles down the road but no not keen on that one, maybe a bigger more profitable job came up... Well he has a facebook page is all i can say..
So a wasted days holiday, got up early for no reason, had to tidy everthing up again, now have to cancel plumber on friday to reinstall bath etc, do you have any idea how hard it is to get a plumber this time of year!!

Yes i am annoyed but rant over.... Going to turn the day around and get my xmas shopping done so its not wasted...

 

[emjaybee]

Plumber came and took bath/sink/radiator out last week, booked one of my last days holiday from work for plasterer to reskim today so up at 6am as he is starting at 7.30, emptied bathroom laid down sheets so he can walk through house, 8.30 arrives no show so at 9 i text him (on the same number we have already had text conversations on) "oh er yea sorry van brokedown" " couldnt find your number". " waiting for mechanic" so i offered to pick him up as he can put his gear in my truck and he is only a couple of miles down the road but no not keen on that one, maybe a bigger more profitable job came up... Well he has a facebook page is all i can say..
So a wasted days holiday, got up early for no reason, had to tidy everthing up again, now have to cancel plumber on friday to reinstall bath etc, do you have any idea how hard it is to get a plumber this time of year!!

Yes i am annoyed but rant over.... Going to turn the day around and get my xmas shopping done so its not wasted...

I feel your pain.



I do property maintenance, and am constantly being asked for recommendations for plumbers, plasterers and builders.

My response is always the same. You'd be better off going to evening classes, learning the stuff yourself, and then doing it yourself.

You wouldn't get it done any slower, you'd know when it would get done, it wouldn't cost you any more, you wouldn't get half as stressed, and you'd have the satisfaction of achieving something.

I've been let down by so many "tradespeople" it's no longer a surprise when it happens.

I'm sure there are good tradespeople out there, they just stay well hidden.

:nenau

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

The problem is, the good ones are so busy, they don't have to advertise, so you never get to find them unless you are in the right place at the right time.

The plumber who lives over the road, is so busy, out all times day and night, weekends... He even ended up doing a call the day after his wedding before going off on honeymoon.

Next door (attached, we live in a semi), we have the mother of a family of roofers, and they run their office from her house, again, they don't have time to even do their own mums house, with out booking her in. The good thing for us though is, if they do have a slack moment, from a job finished early, or suppler let down, they will use it to do what ever is needed here, so our roof is well maintained and moss free.

 

[Daemo]

Your right, i do most things myself but plumbing and plastering i am affraid not, i will do electrics then get checked by my electrician mate and he will change if required prior to connecting.. The amount of plastering ive needed doesnt make it worth learning.. Alot of the plasterers i know have given up due to neck/arm issues...

 

[macabethiel]

Finding a plumber !?

Up until now I have done all my own plumbing - wife bought me a book on D.I.Y. about 30 years ago one titled The Home Handyman Encyclopedia edited by Harold King and also The Complete Home Handywoman.

Between the two books I have managed to do all my house DIY - skills honed over the last 40 years. I have replaced my Consumer Unit twice putting the old one in my garage. I fitted a new Bathroom Suite 12 years ago and replaced my downstairs W.C. & Sink about 14 years ago. Fitted my own kitchen 10 years ago.

Repaired a broken outside drain 2 years ago extended my central heating into my conservatory earlier this year. Had my electrics tested when I did my last consumer unit and it passed OK.

Only disaster I have had is a water leak that developed earlier this year into a wet patch in my lounge. Traced it back to a leaking isolation valve I fitted 12 years ago. It was not the union or olives passing water but the turn screw itself. Replaced it with a better quality small tap instead.

I am pretty sure that when we need a new bath I will be too old and will have to find a plumber - not looking forward to that task !

 

[jims-terrano]

I think it appears to be standard crap from most people providing services in this country.

I try to do as much myself as I can and generally speaking me n mattsterrano hold our own.

Just out of interest, was the leaking isolation valve on your heating system? I was told a few years ago that they don't seem to last very long on a heating system.

 

[macabethiel]

I think it appears to be standard crap from most people providing services in this country.

I try to do as much myself as I can and generally speaking me n mattsterrano hold our own.

Just out of interest, was the leaking isolation valve on your heating system? I was told a few years ago that they don't seem to last very long on a heating system.

No it was the water feed to a toilet and I never actually turned it off after it was fitted so it is not use that has made it fail. I bought a bag of them from Screwfix so they would have not been high quality when new. I now use small valves with a tap head instead like the old washing machine taps used to be. Cost a lot more but on high pressure cold water I play safe now.

I guess if you used them on a modern central heating system they might be prone to fail I only have two on my heating system but it's a fairly old fashioned fully pumped system with a hot water tank. It replaced my Primatic system last year. The Baxi Bermuda boiler lasted 27 years ! I will be surprised if the replacement last half that time.

 

[johnb5177]

Much the same over here.......:nenau

You have to sift out the P&O qualified Brit tradesmen, and find a local artisan, who may or may not turn up, sometime in the month you sort of agreed......

 

[carpy33]

Plumber came and took bath/sink/radiator out last week, booked one of my last days holiday from work for plasterer to reskim today so up at 6am as he is starting at 7.30, emptied bathroom laid down sheets so he can walk through house, 8.30 arrives no show so at 9 i text him (on the same number we have already had text conversations on) "oh er yea sorry van brokedown" " couldnt find your number". " waiting for mechanic" so i offered to pick him up as he can put his gear in my truck and he is only a couple of miles down the road but no not keen on that one, maybe a bigger more profitable job came up... Well he has a facebook page is all i can say..
So a wasted days holiday, got up early for no reason, had to tidy everthing up again, now have to cancel plumber on friday to reinstall bath etc, do you have any idea how hard it is to get a plumber this time of year!!

Yes i am annoyed but rant over.... Going to turn the day around and get my xmas shopping done so its not wasted...

If you were closer i would pop over and offer my plastering skills for a cup of tea and a couple of beers. Hope you get it sorted, i am sure there are tradesman out there that could fit you in if its just a re skim.

 

[Daemo]

If you were closer i would pop over and offer my plastering skills for a cup of tea and a couple of beers. Hope you get it sorted, i am sure there are tradesman out there that could fit you in if its just a re skim.

that would have been great....

now believe it or not after calling 9 different plasterers today some said too busy, some didn't ring back, some don't want small jobs (bet they didn't say that during the recession) one guy called back and asked how I got the number, as he stopped plastering a while ago and took a full time job as a health and safety advisor but would come and have a look at the job as he likes to keep his hand in.
He turned up and within 10 mins said I will get my stuff from the car and get it done if you like... happy as, he is half way through the job lucky I didn't cancel the plumber for Friday...fingers crossed..

 

[emjaybee]

Reeeeeeee-sult! !!!!!!

:thumb2

 

[solarman216]

All the sort of stuff I do, and yes very much in demand but try to limit the hours a bit now, have to say as I do all trades I get great variety, which kills boredom, today for example on harlowmavs motor, tomorrow fitting stainless shelves with 1200 watts heater lights to keep food hot on plates, Wed looking at boilers and garage door hinges, Thurs if dry replacing natural slate on a small roof, might have Friday off as got to work Sunday grinding out old floor grout then apply two part epoxy grout that sets in 4 to 5 hours, but as they do not open on Mondays it will have extra time to cure, this is for a potato processing area in a chip shop so is jet washed daily, potato starch is horrible, Rick

 

[jims-terrano]

Rick give up teasing with your life style:lol

 

[solarman216]

Rick give up teasing with your life style:lol

Good init, I love it, get out of bed around 9.30, after having a cuddle, cup of tea and a cup of coffee, then set to work with whatever is planed but nothing is hard and fast, I might just decide to sit down and drink wine, but of course if something important requires my attention like old person got no heating then I go and fix it, just life for me, Rick

 

[makeitfit]

Epoxy grout , euw, my favourite
Good luck with that one Rick as every time I do it the stuff goes off in 20 minutes

 

[solarman216]

Epoxy grout , euw, my favourite
Good luck with that one Rick as every time I do it the stuff goes off in 20 minutes

The trick Pete I found is as soon as it is mixed pour it on the floor, leave it in the bucket and it gets warm which speeds setting, Rick

 

[rustic]

The trick Pete I found is as soon as it is mixed pour it on the floor, leave it in the bucket and it gets warm which speeds setting, Rick

The other thing is.. use new plaster, that bag you had left over from a job last year will appear to be mixed well, but will set before you get it on the wall, and it will peel off the back of the float as you do it. :doh

I can plaster small areas less than a square yard lol, but it might need sanding down when it's dry lol...:lol:lol

These one coat plasters that they sell in well known DIY stores are OK for filling small areas, but you have to keep going back due to slumping and shrinkage.
Aimed at the real basic amateur DIY'er I guess.
They take quite a while to dry too, but they have their place.:thumb2