To ask why some contractors are so thoughtless

[lordofthemings]

When I recently got my walls plastered following a repair, the workmen got plaster on all of the surrounding woodwork, the ceiling and the floors in several rooms (they were only working in one but walked through to get to the bathroom). I cleaned for hours and hours and three weeks later I've still not managed to get it all off. The floor was polished wood and now just looks dull.

When I had some work done to the roof, the roofers disappeared in the middle of the job for two weeks, leaving me with a poorly covered hole in the roof. It rained, water came in and there was water damage. They denied water had got in, even though everything was wet. I had damp and mould problems for years afterwards, as it went into the walls. The next roofer I got in told me my dry-ridge roof was in desperate need of re-pointing and then became aggressive when I said it was dry ridge so hadn't been pointed in the first place.

I've had carpet fitters come in and leave bits of carpet and underlay everywhere, an electrician install a socket at a 20 degree angle and make a fuss when I asked for it to be straightened, another electrician leave my boiler in a dangerous state, horrifying the gas man. I've had a plumber install a tap that was incompatible with the mixed pressure water system in my house and then say it was my fault for not telling him it was a mixed pressure system (I didn't know at the time).

Only a small percentage seem to show up on the agreed day at the agreed time. I've had one person turn up three hours early as a 'favour' and then kick off when I couldn't come to the door (I was delivering a presentation to the senior leadership team in work at the time - I'd told him I wouldn't be available before 5pm), and I've had others just not turn up, often without notice so I sit in all day, sometimes having taken the day off as annual leave.

I know there are some decent tradespeople out there who are hardworking, competent and clean, but where the hell are they!? I can count the number I'd gladly get back on one hand.

And why is this behaviour so typical of this sector? I can't imagine walking into the office three hours late, splashing mud and paint everywhere, carrying out my job incorrectly and then arguing with my employer.

Why is this a thing!?

@Biscoffaddict

RedHotChilliChips well as the old saying goes you can tell a lot about people from how they treat ‘the help’..🙄 Seriously, it’s just basic good manners to offer someone a hot drink, and yes most do bring their own in a flask, but still it’s basic good manners to offer. Something you obviously lack.

I wonder if some of you are having such a poor experiences due to your attitudes? You obviously look down on tradespeople and see yourselves as better and quite frankly have very unrealistic expectations. When you renovate a house or have work done there will some mess, if it bothers you that much well then move out or go and stay elsewhere. As for the whinging about why you have to wait weeks for them do your job, well that’s because they are busy and have other jobs that need finishing first. Why do you think your job is more important?

The only person who has referred to tradesman as "the help" and make any reference to them being beneath homeowners is you

You're clearly projecting.

I live in a small town and the local trades people are great. Boiler packed in last year, (on Friday afternoon) called local heating engineer. He arrived at 5pm that day, confirmed boiler knackered (14 years old). I asked when he could replace and got told next Tuesday.

He and apprentice arrived 0730 Tuesday. Replaced boiler, signed sealed and away by noon.

Very happy indeed.

OP, not all tradesmen are evil.

YABU "to ask why some contractors are so thoughtless" but you would not be unreasonable to ask why all contractors are so thoughtless.

Definitely ask for recommendations. I agree with PP that good tradesmen don’t need to advertise, word of mouth is enough. Also agree that lots of trades have been devalued by the university pathway, despite the fact they’re often skilled jobs.

I did have carpet fitters when I first moved in from a big chain, who kindly left used Stanley knife blades and off cuts everywhere They said they didn’t dispose of the waste but did happily help themselves to all my leftover gripper rods which was nice of them. The chain had said the room would be left tidy and hoovered The same people also left mucky handprints and glue all over my brand new walls. Complained and got a small bit of compensation for that to buy paint to patch up.

All of the tradespeople I know are also ‘homeowners’ *BloodyPunkRockers’. It’s not only the people that employ them who are, so I’m not sure why you felt the need to point that out?

I’m not projecting. There is a lot of snobberry and very unrealistic expectations on this thread. Renovating a house is messy, decorating is messy. And yes whilst there are ‘cowboys’ you generally get what you pay for, pay more and you’ll get a better service like anything else.

They do still have to go through an apprenticeship as well. They can’t get a place at a college if they don’t have an apprenticeship lined up first, unless of course you join the forces who have their own plumbers, sparkies, joiners etc and train them up themselves. They’ll still be qualified though.

Well, it is very dangerous to be related to a tradesperson. When we had lived in Britain for 3 years we'd already had 5 tradespeople cancel on us due to death in the nearest family. That's more than half of the tradespeople we had been in contact with.

I nearly wept with relief when NHBC decided our leaky roof was covered - not because of the money but because we weren't going to have to find a roofer. I'd already tried, and 2 didn't reply, one didn't show for a quote and the last one had no availability for almost 5 months! I sometimes wish I'd trained as a plumber or electrician...

And yes whilst there are ‘cowboys’ you generally get what you pay for, pay more and you’ll get a better service like anything else.

I would always choose to pay more and get the job done properly than cut costs and end up with crappy work done.

But right now, to be honest, I'd settle for someone who'll call us back.

@HearMeSnore

And yes whilst there are ‘cowboys’ you generally get what you pay for, pay more and you’ll get a better service like anything else.

I would always choose to pay more and get the job done properly than cut costs and end up with crappy work done.

But right now, to be honest, I'd settle for someone who'll call us back.

Price isn't an indicator of quality when it comes to the trades.

We've finally found a brilliant joiner and can't believe how cheap he is. He never advertises, plain van without signage, but always busy, which isn't surprising. His work is absolutely top class and brings his own vacuum to tidy up afterwards. He also turns up on time which is an added bonus.

@Kazzyhoward

Can you send him my way? When we've finished sorting the plumbing we need a cupboard building.