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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say tradesman are a bit useless?

58 replies

onesign · 23/10/2025 12:11

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!

OP posts:
notaweddingdress · 23/10/2025 18:23

Some are, some aren’t. True gof most jobs I think.

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 24/10/2025 19:47

There are some excellent tradespeople but a lot them are really. thick, have few skills, couldn't give a shit and massively entitled.

Ok wouldn't trust them to wipe my dogs arse

taxguru · 24/10/2025 19:56

40YearOldDad · 23/10/2025 12:44

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.

I think there's a big assumption among tradies that customers want the cheapest, but surely it's something they should agree with the customer and give them a range of options.

The plumber we use is terrible for this. He never used to give us any options, just came and installed things which typically looked crap and failed far too quickly. We soon got the measure of him and either told him to give us a range of options, or more recently, we buy the stuff ourselves and just get him to fit it.

Worse was when we asked for a replacement tap for our small downstairs loo sink. We expected him to replace it something like for like with the existing tap, but instead he brought a big ugly thing more akin to a public loo, that had a push handle instead of a tap. Looked completely out of place on what was a small understairs loo (basically a small vanity basin).

Then he did the same when we asked him to replace a faulty "over sink" hot water heater - we had a named one previously which was end of life and again, expected him to replace like for like, but he fitted some cheap naff flimsy plastic thing which barely lasted a year.

As I say, now we are more specific and often source the parts ourselves from Amazon or Plumbfix etc.

Bonsatater · 24/10/2025 20:38

Mine fitted my extractor fan and it blew the light because water 💧 got in where he hadn't put silicone around it. I had to pay him to fit another one because he said id sprayed water into it. My son let him in or I would of queried it we sealed the new one ourselves. He also charged me 300 to paint my bathroom ceiling with sandtex to stop the mould after he rubbed it down and treated it and guess what !!!!

GingerPaste · 24/10/2025 21:02

Most of the workmen I’ve used have ranged between just OK and totally crap. Only a couple have stood out as being good.

I try to do as much myself as I can in the house. I don’t touch plumbing, though: I once decided, on the hottest day of the year, to ‘fix the toilet’. Spending 5 sweaty (and sweary) hours with my head stuck down the back of the loo was an experience not to be repeated. Made the loo worse and ended up calling a plumber to make things good 😳.

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 24/10/2025 22:49

You get a lot of threads on here talking proudly of doing the bare minimum at work and encouraging others to do the same.
Calling in sick amd being signed off is another one, seems tradespeople have joined in too.

What's good for the goose and all that....

40YearOldDad · 27/10/2025 11:09

taxguru · 24/10/2025 19:56

I think there's a big assumption among tradies that customers want the cheapest, but surely it's something they should agree with the customer and give them a range of options.

The plumber we use is terrible for this. He never used to give us any options, just came and installed things which typically looked crap and failed far too quickly. We soon got the measure of him and either told him to give us a range of options, or more recently, we buy the stuff ourselves and just get him to fit it.

Worse was when we asked for a replacement tap for our small downstairs loo sink. We expected him to replace it something like for like with the existing tap, but instead he brought a big ugly thing more akin to a public loo, that had a push handle instead of a tap. Looked completely out of place on what was a small understairs loo (basically a small vanity basin).

Then he did the same when we asked him to replace a faulty "over sink" hot water heater - we had a named one previously which was end of life and again, expected him to replace like for like, but he fitted some cheap naff flimsy plastic thing which barely lasted a year.

As I say, now we are more specific and often source the parts ourselves from Amazon or Plumbfix etc.

Show quote history

Having worked for all social classes over the past 10 years, nearly everyone wants the cheapest price—very sweeping statement, I know, but it's also mostly true.

When I was pricing up jobs, I always asked customers what type of hardware they wanted, ie branded or generic trade contract stuff, or if it were a high-end job, you'd take them brochures.

As a stupid comparison, I can get a contract toilet for £50, complete, or a new imperial oak toilet seat is over £300 on it's own. When you get a call from a landlord wanting a new toilet you get a feel for what they want.

rwalker · 27/10/2025 11:16

There’s 2 types of of cover the one that flaps this one prevents backdrafts
the other one is a fixed louvre vent but there equivalent of having a permanent open vent and you get a draft through it and heat loss

there’s nothing wrong with what he’s fitted it’s the nature of the beast

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