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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give up my job and set up as a painter decorator?

187 replies

sundayopening · 25/11/2018 19:41

I have a crappy job, and although the annual pay is ok, I have to work anti-social hours away from home (but also have a lot of downtime in-between shifts). The job has no prospects at all, and is low paid - but I get a shift allowance. I currently earn aprox £21,000 pa with this job (I do work in a different field in my 'downtime' so have additional income to live on).

Although I am pretty well educated, I have no real 'proper' work experience (I have always worked, but odd self-employed things - I have been lucky with some great jobs that I have loved) but none look good on my CV for a professional/office job..

I would like to adopt in the near future (I am single & no other children) so will 100% need to change my current job if I am to do this plus earn enough for us to live on.

I have been musing about becoming a self-employed painter/decorator/tiler. I haven't much experience (although I have done most of my home/every home I've ever lived in myself) but I am sure I can learn, I'm pretty handy/skilled in other areas of art/craft.
I can also do flooring/shelves/flat-packed furniture/wallpapering no problem.

I have a degree & masters which is in the visual arts, and lots of knowledge of design/colour etc which might help with client relations etc.
I work neat and tidy, reliable and like to crack on with a job and am personable, so hopefully those traits will earn me repeat custom/recommendations.

I live in the SE, but a comfortable bit rather than a posh bit, although there's plenty of older money around. I'm hoping the type that need their houses decorated!

I could start the business alongside my current job for a couple of years if needed to build up my experience & client base etc. I have been self-employed most of my adult life so keeping books, HMRC etc isn't an issue.

I will need an income of £25k min or £30K to be comfortable, and preferably be able to do some/most school pick-ups and some/most holidays.

I am thinking £150 - £200 pd could be achievable, with very little initial outlay or running costs.
Anyone got any thoughts on how realistic this is, and how difficult it might be to get started?

OP posts:
AtlasShrugged · 27/11/2018 09:46

Agree a price for the job and not per day. So if you need to leave early for school run it won’t be an issue. most people want the job doing as quickly as possible- not going to happen if you keep going in and out.

MarshaBradyo · 27/11/2018 09:49

You can do it op
But you need to plan how you’ll acquire the skills through a course etc

MarshaBradyo · 27/11/2018 09:50

Our P&D started at 8am and finished at 4pm which worked well as all the dc were back from school and we had the house back - they had three people to move things along though

SolidarityGdansk · 27/11/2018 09:52

But some people are more flexible.

And many trade people come and go as they please juggling a couple of jobs.

SolidarityGdansk · 27/11/2018 09:58

I am surprised how negative so many people are.

There is a huge untapped market for female tradespeople. The painter I use has a three month waiting period!

Why do we only hear about equality in the boardroom. What about equality in these other male dominated jobs?

AtlasShrugged · 27/11/2018 10:00

Why do we only hear about equality in the boardroom. What about equality in these other male dominated jobs? as with equality in the boardroom, the candidate has to be able to deliver just like anyone else. Nothing she's saying here shows she can.

AtlasShrugged · 27/11/2018 10:03

There is a huge untapped market for female tradespeople. The painter I use has a three month waiting period!

If she has a three month waiting list it's because she's very good. It would be insulting and sexist to suggest otherwise.

AtrociousCircumstance · 27/11/2018 10:07

The tirade of negativity from so many posters about your idea is a shame.

Go for it. Try it alongside your current job. Good luck.

SolidarityGdansk · 27/11/2018 10:13

Yes, she is very good.

But some people also book her because she is a woman. And they feel more comfortable with a woman painter in the house for a variety of different reasons. People can choose who to let into their homes.

And there is no reason why the OP cannot develop these skills.

AtlasShrugged · 27/11/2018 10:16

And there is no reason why the OP cannot develop these skills. you're right, but she has no intention of doing it properly.

empmalswa · 27/11/2018 10:17

I do think I have some of the skills required

That's not good enough.

You have to KNOW you have them ALL.

MarshaBradyo · 27/11/2018 10:18

You do have to have them all
Decorating is expensive
No one wants a substandard job

empmalswa · 27/11/2018 10:20

A word of warning on the USP of being a female. I work in a male dominated industry, and I actively avoid using the fact that I am female to advertise. Imo it just makes me a target, also, I want to be treated the same, not differently.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/11/2018 10:22

And there is no reason why the OP cannot develop these skills

Of course there isn't, but it would take many many years whereas the OP seems to think she can start off on £150-£200 a day, bugger off for the school run and to be honest, it's a bit insulting to people who do this for a living and have years of experience. If OP really wants to do it, she should go back to college, get her NVQ or whatever it is these days, then look for an apprenticeship to get some experience and take it from there. But she won't, because she wants it all NOW. It's really not the fact that she's a woman people have an issue with!!

ScarletAnemone · 27/11/2018 10:36

There’s a great little film about women in trades here.
thebristolcable.org/2018/11/watch-the-women-working-on-the-tools-and-bucking-the-trend/

All these women talk about it being flexible, rewarding, positive, well paid, and with lots of demand.

ThisIsTheNational · 27/11/2018 10:39

I’m sure it depends hugely on location. I live in Greater London and would happily pay a premium for someone willing to work school hours. Honestly. In fact our handy man does exactly this. He does school drop off then works till pick up. It is fabulous because they are never in the way once the DC are home.

I did once employ a female decorator mainly because she was female. She subcontracted to a group of actually dodgy men. That was irritating.

Justaboy · 27/11/2018 10:57

You do have to have them all
Decorating is expensive
No one wants a substandard job

So here we have One woman wanting to try starting to work for herself and make a go of it and we see that her standards 'cos shes only a start up and not a pro are being criticised?.

See that bit on the BBC news re Bovis the house builder with a new home some 340 odd snags on one home caused by piss poor workmanship?.

empmalswa · 27/11/2018 11:01

So here we have One woman wanting to try starting to work for herself and make a go of it and we see that her standards 'cos shes only a start up and not a pro are being criticised?

What we have a person who wants more pay that they are worth. The fact that they are female is irrelevant. If I'm looking for a decorator I am going to look for one who is qualified and/or has the experience.

Someone who says 'I do think I have some of the skills required' is not the tradesperson for me.

MarshaBradyo · 27/11/2018 11:01

What Justaboy you’re talking absolute rubbish

I hired a female P&D for big jobs and chose her because she was female. I’d have been annoyed if the job was shoddy because she hadn’t learnt the trade

She had so the job was excellent

MarshaBradyo · 27/11/2018 11:02

I do think I have some of the skills - isn’t good enough for me but if that’s what you’re after go for it

AtlasShrugged · 27/11/2018 11:07

So here we have One woman wanting to try starting to work for herself and make a go of it and we see that her standards 'cos shes only a start up and not a pro are being criticised? if you're paying someone to do a job you expect them to be a pro though, otherwise you'd just save your money and do it yourself

MarshaBradyo · 27/11/2018 11:11

Missed the not a pro but. Of course I want a professional to do a £10k job, even better for me if it is a woman who can do it well and works within the best hours

So it could be a good path but you do have to be a pro and have the skills

It’s not that hard to take on board

lilybetsy · 27/11/2018 11:14

I live in the SE and would expect to pay £20 -£25 and hour of P&D, I would also jump at the opportunity to employ a woman.
As long as you are neat and tidy and clear up before the end of each day, the school ime finishes wouldn't bother me TOO much,
all i would say is you need to be able to strip liner paper and replace it as well as provide an excellent finish - tbh I think that's about attitude as much as experience - I've have very experienced P&D who were not great, and some less experienced who were very meticulous...

I say go for it

Original poster
sundayopening · 27/11/2018 11:17

Things have to be done in the right order and there's a lot of waiting around time whilst filler/undercoat/first coat dry. You can't be sanding down in the same room where you've just put on a coat of paint! That's the kind of thing that experience brings to the party.

Im sorry Kazzy you really don't need any experience to know very basic stuff like that....just more than one brain cell....I would be amazed if anyone on this thread didn't know basics like that.
If thats the sort of thing I would be learning on a college course I would be bored out of my skull. I'm not a 17 year old with no life experience.

I have already contacted (last week, before starting this thread) an experienced PD to ask about helping them out on a few jobs where they might need a hand. I obviously haven't made myself clear on this thread that I am prepared to learn and develop skills, I realise that its a trade.

I have lots of existing skills in this area, as compared to another other trade, so am not starting from scratch, which is why I am considering it.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 27/11/2018 11:19

In that case go for it op, you just need to learn from someone, as you are planning to