What’s going on with the standard of plumbers?
- Thread starter Thomasthepiperson
- Start date
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Spot on everyone has got different overheads and also work at different speeds the fast good tradesman might be a lot cheaper than the slower shyte tradesmnanMy two penneth. Using a 'cheap' tradesman doesn't guarantee a lousy job, any more than using an expensive one guarantees a good job. And yes, some customers are just not worth working for.
Forget about the standard.
Here in London you'll be lucky to find someone to do the job!
I don't know what happened during the lockdown, but now a lot of traders don't even show up to have a look.
That includes plumbers, electricians, plasterers, kitchen fitters, carpenters and don't get me started on roofers: impossible to get one.
Everybody seems to have gone into decorating.
Then of course, the few who actually do the work, show up on time and do as you would expect, are free to charge whatever they want.
My friend is a gas safe plumber and I had an gas pipe blocked off because it was sticking out of the wall and the 22 pipe going to the boiler rerouted to be on a straight line.
£240 for 45 minutes work and no material apart from flux and solder for 2 joints.
And he's my friend!
He said that people are desperate so he's now recovering all he lost in 2 years covid and previously when he had to charge cheap because lots of cowboys were pricing him out.
I wonder: where are all these professionals working if it's so difficult even to contact them???
Ah, just as another example, my plumber friend after my job was going to replace a heat exchanger on a boiler: 1 and half hour labour and £100 part for £500 cash.
That's an astonishing hourly rate, even considering all expenses traders have.
Here in London you'll be lucky to find someone to do the job!
I don't know what happened during the lockdown, but now a lot of traders don't even show up to have a look.
That includes plumbers, electricians, plasterers, kitchen fitters, carpenters and don't get me started on roofers: impossible to get one.
Everybody seems to have gone into decorating.
Then of course, the few who actually do the work, show up on time and do as you would expect, are free to charge whatever they want.
My friend is a gas safe plumber and I had an gas pipe blocked off because it was sticking out of the wall and the 22 pipe going to the boiler rerouted to be on a straight line.
£240 for 45 minutes work and no material apart from flux and solder for 2 joints.
And he's my friend!
He said that people are desperate so he's now recovering all he lost in 2 years covid and previously when he had to charge cheap because lots of cowboys were pricing him out.
I wonder: where are all these professionals working if it's so difficult even to contact them???
Ah, just as another example, my plumber friend after my job was going to replace a heat exchanger on a boiler: 1 and half hour labour and £100 part for £500 cash.
That's an astonishing hourly rate, even considering all expenses traders have.
Johnny, your Plumber is no friend of yours. I had an emergency callout for my friends daughter, she was not charged. Even my mate wanted to pay me, I explained that's what friends are for.
Andy
Andy
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I thought of that because in previous years he used to charge me very little and sometimes for quick jobs he wouldn't charge at all.
They've now realised that there are very few professionals who bother to work and so they charge over the top.
What could i possibly do?
When this plumber was on holiday I tried to get an emergency plumber for my friend's flat (rented out, he lives in kent).
I made a dozen telephone calls and couldn't get anyone.
A couple of them promised to attend and they didn't.
I ended up with the only option to call one of the big firms and they charged £900 for a new pump which costs £450.
15 minutes labour.
This is where we are today in London.
Works the other way too though, mate calls in a panic, grandson pulled a rad off the wallin his daughters rented house, can I go right away, go round cap both pipes remove rad and plasterboard wall destroyed, go back next day with the lad, cut the plasterboard out and fit 3/4 ply, new TRV and L/S add inhibitor and refill system, she says how much , I said call it £60, she says I will get my dad to give it to you, a few weeks later he comes into the pub and throws the money on the bar, says you are a robbing barsteward, I told the barmaid to give all the old lads in the bar a drink from the £60 and told him never to speak to me again, he had the cheek to txt me to say he was sorry and could I service his boiler as its not working
True, I used a roofer who charged a very reasonable £150 to replace a few roof tiles then re point the roof, battered old van and a bit rough and ready but couldn’t fault him. I once used a electrician which was expensive and had a good reputation, and wasn’t impressed with his work at all, measured wrong and never stopped complaining.My two penneth. Using a 'cheap' tradesman doesn't guarantee a lousy job, any more than using an expensive one guarantees a good job. And yes, some customers are just not worth working for.
i am a big believer of you get what you pay for, but at the same time you have to be savvy. I got a quote from two joiners to fit 12 new doors, one quoted £800 and another £1,500. He has done work for neighbours and they were very picky and they were happy with the job
Went up in the loft and there was a low pressure came up on the system, he came back and they just topped it up and was fine after that
Some people are unreal.Works the other way too though, mate calls in a panic, grandson pulled a rad off the wallin his daughters rented house, can I go right away, go round cap both pipes remove rad and plasterboard wall destroyed, go back next day with the lad, cut the plasterboard out and fit 3/4 ply, new TRV and L/S add inhibitor and refill system, she says how much , I said call it £60, she says I will get my dad to give it to you, a few weeks later he comes into the pub and throws the money on the bar, says you are a robbing barsteward, I told the barmaid to give all the old lads in the bar a drink from the £60 and told him never to speak to me again, he had the cheek to txt me to say he was sorry and could I service his boiler as its not working
you barely charged the material cost, did non plumbing work and saved the guy maybe £400
I’m sure Pimlico Plumbers can sort out his boiler…..
that’s £400 typically - at least in the SE
I bet she was fit.
I seem to be the only mug who does work for free.
I would need friends to do them any freebies, have done them for family though. I’m not SE though.
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