To say tradesman are a bit useless?

[onesign]

Ok, that’s probably harsh but AIBU?

I’ve recently had an extractor fan fitted, and it seems to be doing its job well, so no complaints there. But this is the first time it’s been windy since the fan went in, and all I’ve heard this morning is constant banging. I thought there might be a bird or something stuck in the loft, but when I checked outside, I realised it’s the vent cover flapping in the wind! It’s so bloody annoying!! It’s not even that windy here, so I can only imagine how loud it’ll get when we have some really bad weather.

I’ll talk to the electrician and see if it can be replaced, probably at my own expense (which is frustrating having to pay for something twice). AIBU to be annoyed that he didn’t mention this? He installs these all the time, so he must know they can be a bit flimsy. I’d be surprised if none of his other customers mentioned it. I would have happily paid for a sturdier one. First world problem I know, but it really bugs me having to get things done / pay twice!

Sadly, yes, a lot of them are. Since living with a tradie I’m acutely more away of the shoddy jobs, cut corners and lack of care from many tradespeople, as DP points it out to me - from things in my own house to jobs other folk are doing/have done. And you’ve no way of knowing which type of person you’ve got until it’s too late a lot of the time. The other issue is that as a layperson you don’t know the art of the possible, so they can easily fob you off saying something “can’t be done” when it can, they’re just lazy or lack skills.

Some are definitely although I've had some fabulous ones down through the years, including a decorator who sanded and varnished my stair railing for free because it would look nicer and a plumber who did absolutely painstaking work, to the extent it got a bit annoying and I wanted him to speed up! His work is still good ten years on. It's best to get recommendations, but that's not always possible. It's the lack of attention to detail that annoys me - doing the bare minimum and not taking any pride in the work.

I think the electricians who did my kitchen (before I bought the flat) must have got the apprentice to do the work. On his first day at work. Unsupervised.

We had this issue with the external vent on our bathroom extractor fan. It had three slats and one had fallen off so it would flap in the wind. My husband replaced it with a different design, louvres instead of slats and they are fixed so the wind doesn’t blow them open/close

I have had a few good ones
Many useless ones

Bit of a sweeping statement there OP!

Struggling to see how this is a trade's fault for a poorly designed fan?

Most customers want the cheapest price possible, and if a trade started pricing up the best hardware, he'd soon find himself out of work. Not saying you fall into this category, but I've seen it hundreds of times.

Three or four quotes, all with different prices, as expected, some are widely cheap and I couldn't even supply for the same price, never mind supply and fit. You then start to find out why, when they had a £40 contract tap fitted on a 3k granit worktop when you're called back 6 months later to fit an actual decent tap.

Just stick a bit of felt or something similar to where it bangs. No need to buy a new one, just a tiny bit of something soft added

The amount of banging will surely depend upon the direction of the wind and the strength of said wind. How was he to know that you would want a sturdier cover or that the wind would hit in the correct direction with sufficient force to make it rattle???

Have to agree with this. Also there are lots of videos on You Tube about how to reduce the noise depending on the design - I would just do it myself.

How is the wind blowing a flap open the tradesman's fault, exactly?

I suppose it would only be fair to say SOME are a bit useless but you’re absolutely correct.

I find they just cannot be bothered doing things properly - eg wanting to put trunking all over the walls instead of chasing in a cable (and this is actually a very well respected local electrician), plastering walls so awfully it looks like a toddler has done them with his plastic tool kit etc.

We need quite a big job done in our house, have the money sitting there to do it but the thought of a man fucking up my house is just too much and they are never happy when you raise it with them.

@40YearOldDad@Arlanymor@TheSwarm

I understand your point, but he never brought it up. If he had said, "this is the price, but the vent cover will be sturdier and won’t make any noise” or "I can do it for less, but the cover might not be as good” then I would have had a choice and could have picked the better option. I’m not blaming him for the poor quality of the cover, they just clearly shouldn’t be supplying them. However, he’s supposed to be the expert and could have at least given me some advice and options. Now, I’ll likely have to pay again to get it replaced.

I'm 50/50 with this.

A lot of trades are absolute crap. I have a patched up garage ceiling from a leaky not-finished-fitting-it replacement ensuite to prove it.
He also killed my dyson, as it got water in the motor and went BOOM when DH plugged it in. 🤬

But.

We have an extract fan with external flaps in the kitchen and it rattles like nobodys business. We also have them in the bathroom and ensuites and they just "thud" when the wind reverses, sucks rather than blows IYSWIM.

Try a different vent cover - have a look on Wickes or Screwfix website - it takes a small stepladder, screwdrive and patience to swap them. The ones with cowling might be less prone to rattle.

They all think they're the bee's knees though and dislike it if you point out something they've done that you don't think is good enough.

Sadly both me and my husband are pushovers and get taken advantage of.

This. You can't say all tradespeople are rubbish based on one experience 🙄

There’s a reason some tradies have to be self-employed.

I think there are also some lawyers, doctors and civil servants and people in all fields who are a bit useless. I don't think it's just confined to tradies.

I’m not the expert, he is. That’s what I'm getting at. I had no idea I needed or wanted a sturdier cover because I wasn't aware this would be a problem. I’ve never had an extractor fan before. If he had said, "some covers are a bit flimsy and can flap in the wind, would you like to pay more for one that stays put?" I would have definitely said yes.

Struggling to see how this is a trade's fault for a poorly designed fan?

Depends how the vent was fixed to the outside wall. I had one that blew off fairly quickly because instead of being screwed into the bricks, it had been stuck on with glue

I'm reluctant to employ any trades these days but when I have to, I check their work each and every step of the way now.

Well, storm Benjamin aside, did you not do any research before you had the job done?

You check their work? If you're enough of an expert in whatever they're doing that you feel qualified to check it, why don't you just do it yourself?

I admit, not every tradesman is useless, sorry about that. I’m sure there are some decent ones around. But honestly, I’m having a hard time understanding how I was supposed to know I needed a sturdier cover when people are saying the electrician (the professional) wouldn’t have known that. It doesn’t make sense to me.

Sorry, what do you mean by research? Surely, that's the reason you pay a professional, or have I misunderstood?

He’s an electrician not Michael bloody fish - fgs