Tradesmen working day, how long?

[Knitmyshickers10]

Have a plumber in refitting a shower cubicle at the moment, he charges £150 a days labour. He said originally that it would take 3 days but now due to an small unexpected problem where he had to replace some plasterboard that had broken down he now thinks it will take 4 days.

I've not been here so have given him a key, my neighbour says he been turning up between 10.30 and 11am each day and leaves between 4 - 5 pm.

He's doing a good job, very clean and tidy but I am a bit about it going into the fourth day, especially as he doesn't appear to be doing long days at all.

How normal is this? I've left him tea, coffee and biscuits but none of it is taken and he said today he doesn't stop for lunch.

Don't know whether to say something or accept the extra day. Any idea if this is normal for tradesmen?

I wish I could tell you. I've waited in the last two days for the plumber to show up to fit my shower. Next its Saturday and Sunday. IDK what will happen Monday.

Sounds about right to me for a tradesman tbh.

Also, he's probably factoring in any travel time.

My dh is a joiner,he works from 7.30 till 4.30

They often have to go to builders merchant etc first thing to pick up materials.

I had builders, plumbers, electricians and roofers in for 5 weeks. Most days they started at 8am and left at 4pm.

When my DH was an electrician his day was approx 9am to 3pm. This was so that he could cover the school run. However he didnt spend time on his mobile phone or stop for a break during the day.

Did you agree a price for the job or per day.

I've always had quotes and jobs done for a set price to start with. I don't like that idea of per day price.

Mine do 8am to 5/5.30pm

I also pay on a 'job' basis rather than day

Same as Snowman

This is exactly why you agree a price and not a day rate.

My DH is a tradesman and very rarely does day rate work. A priced job is often preferable for both parties.

I wouldn't be happy about a day by day price. Always get a quote. When I had builders in for months on end they generally worked 8-4.

I don't think travel time should factor into it, unless you live in the sticks. I choose to work far from my home - it's my responsibility to get there on time.

My DH is a painter & Decorator and he works from 7 til 4.30. Not all tradesman take the piss

My dh mostly works for a day rate,he's never had a problem,always has loads of work

He didn't offer a price for the total job, just said it would be 'about' 3 days @ £150 a day

They don't have to offer, you can ask for a price. Some won't do it (sometimes because they want to take their sweet time and make an extra few hundred quid).

A standard working day is 8 hours.

£150 for a plumber seems very cheap.

Per "day" that is.

I start at 7am and finish usually about 7pm I take an hour for lunch and an hour for a dog walk ! But I'm not in people's homes ! ( I'd love it if someone brought me biscuits !!! )

I always ask and every tradesman has said a day is eight hours. Pretty much every one did 8-4.

A working day can vary massively depending on the trade. My DH's work means he often can only do a couple of hours work in someone's home and then has to return to finish the next day. This is why he will almost always agree a price for the job rather than a day rate.

Our builder does 8 until dark. He sometimes goes to get supplies at 8am then comes on to us.
Our decorators do 9-4 but we don't pay them a day rate.

I work for a tradesman. His normal working hours are 8 til 5 with an hour for lunch. If he works that he will charge you a full day, if he works anything less than that he will charge per hour. He is totally honest and straightforward.