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Original poster

Shocked at the cost of tradesman

179 replies

Nooooooou · 08/06/2025 08:37

3 bedroom, average size.

Costs are for labor only... no materials

install laminate wood flooring across house £1.5k to £2.5k (3 quotes were above £2k).
strip wallpaper, skim and paint walls -£3k to £5k.

based in south east..
I think this is really excessive. I think it works out to more than £400 per day.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 08/06/2025 11:39

Barrenfieldoffucks · 08/06/2025 10:35

Based on an 8 hour day that is £50 p/hr. Which doesn't sound at all unreasonable as a self employed style rate, with insurances, tax, n/I etc etc

Exactly. I'm self employed and there are lots of costs to factor in.

Badbadbunny · 08/06/2025 11:35

Handyweatherstation · 08/06/2025 09:14

When I hear complaints like this I wonder what women pay their hairdresser or for other cosmetic treatments. They probably don't blink at the cost, yet when it comes to paying for work at home it's supposed to be cheap?

I agree. On an hour by hour basis, tradesmen are cheaper than hairdressers, nail technicians, botox/filler professionals, tattooists, personal trainers, etc.

MovingSwiftlyOn · 08/06/2025 11:15

Honestly OP why are you not doing these things yourself? I admit I wouldn’t attempt plastering, but I’ve managed everything else on your list including flooring. YouTube, middle of Lidl for tools, or tool hire are your friends.
Even if you have good reason, surely it doesn’t all have to be done at once?

UniqueRedSquid · 08/06/2025 10:51

Do you think they should subsidise you by doing the work for less than they could earn elsewhere?

CloverPyramid · 08/06/2025 10:51

I don’t think £400 a day is unreasonable for someone who is self employed. My husband is a contractor earning similar and while he obviously makes a good income, we’re hardly living the high life once you account for unpaid holidays and sick days.

Even if he only takes the minimum annual leave an employee would and worked every other day of the year (which they don’t, as few jobs line up that nicely and people cancel), that’s £92,000 a year. Great if you were an employee, but not when you’re paying a whole pension, taxes, NI, travel costs, tools, maybe rent on a workshop or storage etc. Plus putting money aside in case your body gives out and you can’t work anymore.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 08/06/2025 10:40

Trades people have to earn enough to live off the same as everyone else. That sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Orangeoranges42 · 08/06/2025 10:39

Im shocked at the price of everything these days.

Notimeforaname · 08/06/2025 10:38

Sounds about right to me.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 08/06/2025 10:35

Based on an 8 hour day that is £50 p/hr. Which doesn't sound at all unreasonable as a self employed style rate, with insurances, tax, n/I etc etc

bombastix · 08/06/2025 10:34

Not excessive. A good price!

PeapodMcgee · 08/06/2025 10:34

Get lino fitted, do the walls yourself for much cheaper option 👍

Fordian · 08/06/2025 10:30

Too many kids doing film studies not plumbing.

When was the last time you saw an apprentice with a tradie?

Sofiewoo · 08/06/2025 10:25

I think this is really excessive. I think it works out to more than £400 per day.

Seems reasonable.
Its a skilled job that you can’t do, why should they earn minimum wage?

Sofiewoo · 08/06/2025 10:24

I think this is really excessive. I think it works out to more than £400 per day.

Seems reasonable.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 08/06/2025 10:24

£400 a day is bargainous. If we are somewhere for a day it is a minimum of £750, assuming one guy and no plant.

TartanMammy · 08/06/2025 10:21

£400 a day for skilled labour is about right, and perhaps even the lower end. Trades are expensive but they've got overheads and insurances, not to mention the years of building experience and honing their trade.

To compare to other trades, for example hairdressing, my cut and colour is close to £200, she will see 2-3 clients a day for a similar service, so that's similar to what the tradesperson is earning.

babystarsandmoon · 08/06/2025 10:19

Do what you can yourself. The wallpaper stripping and painting is easy enough.

Londonrach1 · 08/06/2025 10:18

That's reasonable. Do it yourself if you worried re cost

BeEagerTurtle · 08/06/2025 10:17

Sounds about right, I’m always amazed at some people think trades should be cheap, just because they are trades

gamerchick · 08/06/2025 10:15

Most of that you could do yourself though OP. Skimming walls id probably get someone in.

Get a steamer and strip your own wallpaper. It's not an excessive task.

onthewineagain · 08/06/2025 10:09

Time is money.

those jobs are all time consuming. You have to pay for people’s time.

Plus the skill involved. Plus as pp said, tax, pensions, NI, insurances.

Try doing it yourself. See a) how long it takes you, b) how good a finish you get with your skill set.

Cakeandcheeseforever · 08/06/2025 10:00

Do you know what state the walls are in under the wallpaper? Rather than getting them skimmed could you strip and put up lining paper, then paint them over yourself?

Sw1989 · 08/06/2025 09:45

I think the flooring quote is reasonable but the plastering is very expensive. I had the back walls of a 3 storey terraced house (high ceilings and big rooms, so not a small job) all done recently following on from a damp issue, at a house in Leeds and it was just over £500.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 08/06/2025 09:39

It sounds a lot to me but I've been used to DH doing anything that needs doing. He's waiting for a hip replacement and can't do it now so we're waiting for a quote for some work and I'm dreading how expensive it'll be!

Anotheronelikeit · 08/06/2025 09:36

Another one who is the wife of a tradesman, your quote is fair unless it's for a dolls house.