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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect just ONE tradesperson to do a good job?

64 replies

EtnaVesuvius · 30/08/2022 13:45

We’re having work done on our house at the moment so have employed various tradespeople - everything from carpenters to plumbers to garden services.

I’m not super fussy/difficult and haven’t always gone for the cheapest quote but almost without fail they have done a crap job - either spectacularly so or just with lack of attention to detail. I honestly wouldn’t recommend a single on of them.

What is happening?

OP posts:
Penguinfeather781 · 30/08/2022 13:47

My slightly flippant answer is that around here the Eastern European guys went home.

bellamountain · 30/08/2022 13:50

If you want a decent job, then you'll have to pay more. I know you've not gone for the cheapest quotes but still, you'll have to except to pay at the top end for proper skilled trades and not chancers.

velvetblanket · 30/08/2022 13:51

At least you’ve been able to book a trade to do the work. Impossible around here to get a quote even!

Thetribeofhiltons · 30/08/2022 13:51

I feel your pain. We have recently renovated a kitchen. We have fit the units and doors ourselves, however we employed a company to fit the worktop. The fitter, who was highly recommended and owns his own business, failed to measure it properly and made two errors with cutting length. So frustrating.

Could we have fitted the worktops without a professional? Probably not. Doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

DrGlenda · 30/08/2022 13:53

Ah I’m sorry OP! We’ve had this with the people who did our bathroom and the person who decorated our hall, stairs and landing.
the bathroom people couldn’t even attach a shower door to the tiles properly and the hallway guy said he couldn’t paint in straight lines between the wall and ceiling as the plaster (which he put on the walls with another person) wasn’t flush? I found both of these things were explained whilst I was at work and DH was doing the final inspections and he bloody well paid them and sent them on their way with the bathroom people dissolving their business. 🙄
We’re supposed to be having our kitchen-diner done soon but I keep putting it off as I can’t bear another person doing a shit job, and the people we hired had rave reviews and brilliant pictures!
My DF is a self-employed tradesman and he said he’s sick of the cowboys cutting corners and ripping people off and advised us to ask them to come and repair the problem or if they refuse to report them.

PeasOff · 30/08/2022 13:54

You've picked shit tradespeople.

IceCreamTime19 · 30/08/2022 13:57

If you want a decent job do not hire british tradesman. Easy as that. Best to stick to Europeans.

MishaBukvic · 30/08/2022 13:58

Same here. Total lack of care and attention to detail. I assume nearly all the trades are really busy at the moment so will get work even if theyre crap, because they're so busy they are getting away with poor workmanship. The impending recession might be a stark wake up call to them.

We've had an awful experience recently, the tradesperson came recommended but had problems with them. I put our concerns and complaint in writing But the tradesperson wasn't ever replying to messages or emails, so I was still getting no where.
I bet once work dries up, they'll be crawling back . maybe.

Cherrysherbet · 30/08/2022 14:04

We’ve had the same experience. Got someone booked in to re do our downstairs loo. Had it done this time last year, and he did a REALLY bad job. He took on another last minute job along side ours, and really cocked it up. He didn’t engage at all in a discussion about it, and certainly didn’t offer to put it right. It will now be ripped out and done again.

We also paid 3.5k to have a wardrobe made and fitted. No attention to detail and he didn’t stick to the original brief/ what was discussed.

I hate confrontation with them.

We’ve tried expensive people , cheaper people, people we know (who are in the trade) but they all do a slap dash job. So sick of it.

Im so anxious ow when we have anything done.

I just wish they would listen to what we want, and not go off on a tangent and do what’s best for them, with no discussion.

Original poster
EtnaVesuvius · 30/08/2022 14:04

PeasOff · 30/08/2022 13:54

You've picked shit tradespeople.

What, all of them?

And the other people on this thread?

I got several quotes and recommendations for all of them. I’m not sure what else I’m supposed to have done?

OP posts:
Worried74 · 30/08/2022 14:05

Same story here, did research, got recommendations, every trade has made at least 1 mistake ranging from minor to major causing several thousand pounds worth of damage. Wish we had never started and what we were looking forward to has been detrimental to our bank balance and our mental health. I am sorry that you have had to deal with this.

Original poster
EtnaVesuvius · 30/08/2022 14:06

IceCreamTime19 · 30/08/2022 13:57

If you want a decent job do not hire british tradesman. Easy as that. Best to stick to Europeans.

Do you know, I actually think you’re right.

The only one who did a decent job was the plasterer, who was Polish.

OP posts:
BuildersTeaMaker · 30/08/2022 14:13

By builders who are in at the moment are having all sorts of issues with contractors. Contractors they’ve used for years aren’t turning up to jobs they’ve booked. They’re apparently just going to one urgent job after another as they can earn mega bucks form desperate people . One contractor has my builders (well mine) money and even my builder who has known him for 5 years and where he lives can’t get his money back.

Im also hearing form my joiner, that loads of general trades are going it alone as they can see there’s a potential for a lot of money to be made. These guys don’t have experience or technical ability to do jobs required , so work is messed up and needs to be repeated causing more delays and more shortage of workers

its a shit show really- most of my team are working weekends to try to catch up on backlog or fix things that weren’t done well, or to flex around other contractors simply not showing up according to booked schedule. Project planning is impossible - like pinning jelly to a wall.

I will be very glad when my job is finished …when it gets there…14 weeks into a 8-10 week job and I’d say we’re only 60% of way in.

CallmeMrsPricklepants · 30/08/2022 14:18

It's very very difficult to find a tradesman who is good, listens to women and isn't intimidating to have in the house.

billyt · 30/08/2022 14:21

As a fully qualified Electrician I disagree about British Trades, to a point. Maybe it's because I'm an old git but I always did my utmost to do the best job I could.

I'm not in that business anymore but I do see a lot of shit installations. When I ask why it was accepted I was often told the 'Trades' weren't bothered if he customer was happy or not. My bigger concern is if the bits you can see are shit what about the bits you can't see??

A lot of Eastern European workers are keen to work and work hard. Unfortunately, we as country have shot ourselves in the foot.

entropynow · 30/08/2022 14:22

IceCreamTime19 · 30/08/2022 13:57

If you want a decent job do not hire british tradesman. Easy as that. Best to stick to Europeans.

Oh don't be stupid. We've had really good work done by Brits and a mix of good and poor by Europeans.

Isitsixoclockalready · 30/08/2022 14:24

PeasOff · 30/08/2022 13:54

You've picked shit tradespeople.

I think that was the point of the thread.

entropynow · 30/08/2022 14:25

EtnaVesuvius · 30/08/2022 14:06

Do you know, I actually think you’re right.

The only one who did a decent job was the plasterer, who was Polish.

Show quote history

They're not.

mommybear1 · 30/08/2022 14:30

I disagree with the pp who say you have paid low so not got good trades in. Or that is your fault you have hired poor trades. We did a house renovation and paid a good price to our trades - without exception they were all shit. We have had to have a lot of work redone, in some cases more than twice (tiling/plastering/roofing), all the trades were recommended - in some cases they were friends of DH (note the were). The key thing I can say is if you can do it yourself do - trades don't care about your home as you do. By trial and error we have now found some decent trades but it is not easy at all.

HannahSternDefoe · 30/08/2022 14:30

You're expecting a lot...

We've had all kinds of trades (door fitters, plumbers, joiner, plasterer, spark) and all, bar one fantabulous plumber, were complete jokes or a liability.

Damage to the house (water leak needing a new ceiling - joiner) fused the electrics, couldn't hang a door properly - and when they did manage it, ballsed up the lock and had to break in to/ruin a brand new 2k door (it took them quite a whileGrin) not to mention having to listen to the fucking moaning about other trades.

I don't care any more.

I pay you money - you fix my problem (preferably in silence) then bugger off...got it???

I'll hire anyone non-british from now on.

Original poster
EtnaVesuvius · 30/08/2022 14:37

Just to clarify - I haven’t paid low! I made that clear in my OP.

OP posts:
BrianWankum · 30/08/2022 14:42

It just feels like a gamble every time, doesn't it? Had so much hassle trying to get a tree cut down this year - took ages to get quotes, arranged a date with one company, they cancelled on the day and have ghosted me ever since.

If anyone's in Berkshire/Hampshire area, I do know a good bricklayer, passionate about his work, listens to women and isn't intimidating! (Not related to me either 😁 )

nonevernotever · 30/08/2022 14:45

We've obviously just been really lucky then. Just before lockdown we replaced our kitchen which also involved moving the kitchen into a different room with a knock on impact on two other rooms, and we've just had the bathroom done. The kitchen was arranged through IKEA originally but we really liked the guy who came out to measure, and he was one of IKEA recommended fitters. He project managed the whole thing for us including arranging the electrician, plumber and plasterer and they were all uniformly excellent, as well as a pleasure to do business with. For the bathroom we went through a company linked to a local housing association because they were the only company even available to quote. Again the plumber, joiner and electrician were excellent and finished the job on time and under budget. I had to ask for one piece of work to be redone and there was an issue with the plans both of which were the fault of the man who did the original quote. Both were rectified immediately by the tradesmen and the finished result is wonderful. (And I do all the conversations with tradesmen rather than DH. They were always entirely respectful, understanding of the problems and just keen for us to be happy with the end result.)

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 30/08/2022 14:47

It’s a total gamble. I admit we’ve got to the point where we know, we cannot do any worse - so diy as much as possible. 🤷‍♀️
Tbh, the very few trades we’ve had to rely on have been excellent, the exception being the electric board, who are needed to put in a new earth, but apparently they aren’t qualified to connect it to our fuse and mains box - that has to be a separate electrician, all the local electricians say it has to the electric board who connect this earth. We’ve gone round in circles for 3 months, we may just give up and live with the electrics as they are.

catwomando · 30/08/2022 14:50

Agreed. We've had bad experiences with
floor fitters - used wrong screed and had to take it all up and do it again at huge inconvenience and additional expense
carpenters - poor finish, things not fitting together
painters - emulsion peeling off after a few weeks showing that no proper prep. Painting the bannisters with emulsion not eggshell so it all rubbed off.

general builders - building our extension the wrong size and then blaming us , having to re do the roof covering 3 times and it still leaked. Chimney breast taken out but not supported, rear wall not propped correctly during extension so back wall sagged. Brickwork so bad that it ended up having to be rendered to cover it,
plumber - plumbed in new hot cold sink pipes but both ran cold on,u. By then the floor had been screeded so they had tore lay pipes above ground.
Garden people - did patio and all the cement came straight out

The only people any good were the sparkies.

And they always blame each other and criticise the previous trades' work.

If I had my time all over again I'd train as a builder and have an all female crew, delivering quality jobs on time. With decent tea. 😬