Tools Recommendation

[malvolio]

pro tradesman - £300/day
contractor - £750/day
why DIY??

Pro-trader - all engaged on estate builds, usually at rates well above most contractors. If you can find one, it will be £150 an hour plus travel and materials and it's no unknown for them not to turn up.

I agree that you need a pro for many jobs, but drilling holes and hanging shelves is not in scope.

[sadkingbilly]

Pro-trader - all engaged on estate builds, usually at rates well above most contractors. If you can find one, it will be £150 an hour plus travel and materials and it's no unknown for them not to turn up.

I agree that you need a pro for many jobs, but drilling holes and hanging shelves is not in scope.

I've had no trouble finding builders. and not at those rates either.
as for drilling holes, you don't need to tell insurers and councils about that, afaik.
you must be on the local builders 'MUG' list mate.

[jamesbrown]

pro tradesman - £300/day
contractor - £750/day
why DIY??

No respectable contractor is earning as little as £750/day

[jamesbrown]

Also, most "competent persons" are unbelievably fecking incompetent and just want to get in and get paid. Online reviews are a fairy story. I've seen a lot of work by DIYers and pros and the common thread among the quality jobs is getting someone who actually cares what they're doing. Experience is not unimportant but it's not the main thing that determines a quality job. I can count on two hands the number of occasions where I've had a trade come in and do a better job that I would've done myself so, if you have a decent care factor, some general experience of DIY and enjoy turning your hand to new things, you're often best to DIY

[hobnob]

pro tradesman - £300/day
contractor - £750/day
why DIY??

Not all contractors earn that much, especially if you're on the bench.

Aside from cost, I think that choosing to DIY mainly depends on how big the job is.

• Would you hire a plumber to bleed your radiators or would you buy a radiator key so that you can do it yourself once a year?
• Would you buy a couple of spanners so that you can take a radiator off the wall for decorating?
• Would you hire a locksmith to replace the lock in your front door, or buy a new lock and fit it yourself with a screwdriver?

It can be satisfying to do small jobs by myself. At the opposite end of the scale, I hired a plumber to install new pipework (e.g. soldering copper pipes together). I could have bought a blowtorch and had a go at it myself, but I think they did a much neater job so that was money well spent.

[sadkingbilly]

No respectable contractor is earning as little as £750/day

Not all contractors earn that much, especially if you're on the bench.

.

make your minds up

[DoctorStrangelove]

When I think of some of the tulip work that Gary did on one of my cars I'm glad I managed to do almost as tulip work myself on the same car.

His work was not only crap, it was unsafe and lasted 6 months before I paid someone to do it properly.

£750/day: obviously not in engineering then. .

[woody1]

Been trying for the past few weeks to find someone to paint a few 1st floor windows. Talking to a local guy in the building trade, he reckoned most aren't interested in smaller domestic jobs. I did manage to find a couple who said they'd come out and take a look but neither showed up.

It's looking like I'll have no choice but to DIY, even though I hate going up ladders.

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BTW, I wonder if a lot of Polish builders going home has created a shortage of trades people in some areas?

[courtg9000]

Been trying for the past few weeks to find someone to paint a few 1st floor windows. Talking to a local guy in the building trade, he reckoned most aren't interested in smaller domestic jobs. I did manage to find a couple who said they'd come out and take a look but neither showed up.

It's looking like I'll have no choice but to DIY, even though I hate going up ladders.

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BTW, I wonder if a lot of Polish builders going home has created a shortage of trades people in some areas?

Probably better off trying a handman for that, might be easier to find.
Most trades as you say want the larger money jobs.

[woody1]

Probably better off trying a handman for that, might be easier to find.

I've been trying them, as well as painter decorators, but no joy.

My wife contacted a few who seemed interested, until they found out she was married.