What is a sensible daily rate for trades?

[AbstractFlower]

I know everything's through the roof.

I've just had a quote from a carpenter. He says he'll need access to the building for 2 days (ie can't be more than 2 days' work). It definitely needs a skilled carpenter, but isn't a particularly difficult job for someone in the trade - it doesn't need any specialist skills or equipment. We're supplilying all materials so quote is just for labour.

The quote is from someone who offered us (a charity) a favour. I didn't really expect a special rate, but I didn't expect him to try and rip us off either. But maybe I'm just really out of touch on what things cost. Obviously I'll have to get another price, but wondering what's reasonable for 2 days' work, in SE, but not London.

He's quoted £900 plus VAT (which we will claim back).

Sensible is surely what you need to pay to get the job done? I may charge a lot, but I won’t work for less. Capitalism innit

Bloody hell. Poor junior doctors, with all those years loan and all that studying.

I guess that’s why it’s so helpful that everyone is born knowing how to do carpentry, with no training involved.

Yellowdays ok they’re not saving lives like junior doctors but they also put a lot of years in learning their trade and for most of them continuing to learn as technology evolves.

Doctor train full time for 5-6 years. Then they spend 2 years doing a foundation programme, followed by at least another 8-10 years in specialty training, paying for all of their exams out of their salaries and studying outside of their excessive work hours. The carpenters in my family work hard too, but they did not train that hard, or pay so much, and they don't have to pay back 10% of their salaries until they retire, or 30 years, at over 6% interest currently. So yes, they should earn more than carpenters , in my view. That's fair. That isn't to denigrate carpenters .

Not to mention the extra responsibility that doctors carry working with people rather than things.

Why on earth are we comparing doctors and self employed tradesmen on this thread? I get weary of doctors and teachers shoe-horning their complaints into every thread. Doctors and teachers get generous pensions for a start.

We had a joiner do some work for us the other day 10am - 7.30pm so he did work a long day so he could get the job finished which was great. £480. He's done a brilliant job though so worth it for us.

20% tax
5% NI
10% paid holidays
is 35% reduce
ovehead (travel, insurances, subcontractors/repair, hire, accountant, tools, sprays, etc) 15%
Total 50% reduction
£450 x 50% = £ 225 net payment
Real working hours up to 12/day (8.5 on site, plus travel, estimate, customer care, administration, preparation of tools, equipment, VAN etc.)
The trade person worktime is door to door + home work !!!!!
There is no overtime payment!

£ 225 : 12= £ 18.75/hour for the work gets in pocket.
Is it to much for a qualified man?
When I worked for £13.5 /hour as employee my boss told me, I cost him £32/hour
When he charged the customer for my work he asked £45/hour +VAT
It can be varied, but I hope you can see the full picture a little bit clearer now.

I'm looking to get a big living room wallpapered. Do they usually charge a flat daily rate then or does it depend on the job? How much roughly for Staffs area?

SE here. Our carpenter charges £250 a day.

We are rural East Mids and £250 is the a average going rate. £450 is high but probably not horrendously so for London.

We’re in the north and recently paid £150 a day for a decorator (not VAT registered and no big overheads). I’d expect to pay a fair bit more for a skilled trade like carpentry where they probably rent a workshop, have other staff to pay etc). Maybe £40-£45ph.

Even small jobs will incur a call out fee as they’ve got their travel time and fuel to consider (possibly picking up materials from suppliers).

£500 a day here SE

It seems as though some charge reasonable rates and others do not. Take a few quotes.