Trade rates experience
Discussion
nuyorican said:
mikebradford said:
Day rates I'm aware of in Yorkshire
£270 plumber
£225 electrician Inc a young helper
£220 joiner, high quality
£175 General bricky
£80 to 120 General helpers
£110 decorator.
Are those prices wages for employed trades? Seem very low to me, except maybe the joiner. I think a lot of confusion arrises when people google what a certain trade earns and they get a a figure which is based on full time PAYE, then a self employed person turns up to quote and their day rates are double what they were expecting because overheads etc. As others have pointed out, a self-employed person wants to earn a decent wage, same as the chap working for a company. then on top of that cover all their overheads of running a business plus sick days, holiday etc.£270 plumber
£225 electrician Inc a young helper
£220 joiner, high quality
£175 General bricky
£80 to 120 General helpers
£110 decorator.
£110 a day for a decorator? No chance. Unless they're retired and topping up, or Romanian... Even a kid straight out of college would be asking £150 sub-contracting. Self-employed - £200-£360.
I ended up painting my garage myself because of it.
PhilboSE said:
I have an issue with the plumber saying, on bidding for the work, verbatim: "it looks like 5 days work and my mate and I need £400 a day out of it". I thought that was fair, for a day rate. The job actually took them 2.5 days. Now, I know some people will say "but they overestimate on some jobs and underestimate on others and it all comes out in the wash". In my case the job couldn't have been more transparent - floors were up, ceilings were down, pipe runs were easy. So him being 100% inaccurate in his estimation cost me £2000 on his quoted rates.
I had exactly the same when getting a complete new system in daughter's little terraced house. Original was single pipe (in steel!) but the boiler had been replaced 15 years ago with a combi.They told me they'd be leaving the week clear but hoped to have it done in 4 days. I was gobsmacked when they rang at tea-time on day 2 and said it was all done. I went down there and it was completely clear - looked like they'd never been, all the carpets and furniture put back etc.
They did say some jobs just fall well - for instance the new boiler needed a condenstate drain but the soil pipe ran through the airing cupboard where the boiler was so that couldn't have been easier. And they didn't have to repipe the gas supply as it was already 22mm. I got the impression they just have an amount of money they want, almost regardless of the detail of the job.
nuyorican said:
£110 a day for a decorator? No chance. Unless they're retired and topping up, or Romanian... Even a kid straight out of college would be asking £150 sub-contracting. Self-employed - £200-£360.
I'd have said that, but just recently daughter got a lady decorator recommended on her local Facebook group who stripped one of the bedrooms, feature wallpapered one wall and painted the other walls. All done in 6 hours (apparently without pausing) and she charged £100. Sheepshanks said:
I'd have said that, but just recently daughter got a lady decorator recommended on her local Facebook group who stripped one of the bedrooms, feature wallpapered one wall and painted the other walls. All done in 6 hours (apparently without pausing) and she charged £100.
Sure. There are always outliers. Perhaps that lady was just starting out and looking to gain customers by charging low. Who knows. If she’s any good she won’t be charging £100 a day for long.Edit: unless she’s crackers… can you send me her number please?
Edited by nuyorican on Sunday 28th April 13:06
Sheepshanks said:
I'd have said that, but just recently daughter got a lady decorator recommended on her local Facebook group who stripped one of the bedrooms, feature wallpapered one wall and painted the other walls. All done in 6 hours (apparently without pausing) and she charged £100.
Very easy to undervalue one's labour and ability when starting out as a sole trader, especially when DIY or a hobby turns into a business.I spent years thinking "everyone else knows more and does a better job, so I can't charge what they do". Eventually worked out that I was wrong on both counts, with a few exceptions, and could charge more with confidence.
Rule of thumb is, if all quotes/estimates are accepted, you are too cheap.
I know this, but I'm still too cheap, even after doubling my prices since Covid.
Aluminati said:
J6542 said:
Who is going to be crippled by their 60,s? Every trade I know apart from sparkies are knackered by their 60,s
A very valid point. After seeing the deterioration of my mentor, I came off the tools at 45 for this exact reason. To be honest a 40 hour factory job with all the benefits that includes like pension and paid holidays is becoming more and more appealing even if it’s only for around minimum wage.
Aluminati said:
J6542 said:
Who is going to be crippled by their 60,s? Every trade I know apart from sparkies are knackered by their 60,s
A very valid point. After seeing the deterioration of my mentor, I came off the tools at 45 for this exact reason. 
There are many tradesmen working happily into their 60’s, and the talk of day rates on one job being calculated up to an annual turnover just doesn’t compute as many trades have days with no work eg tilers/weather everyone else/deliveries and jobs delayed. It only adds up if the plate spinning is perfect all year and I doubt it is from one week to the next.
Add onto costs the tools and travel and tax and the annual income isn’t anywhere near what’s being said.
Add onto costs the tools and travel and tax and the annual income isn’t anywhere near what’s being said.
GeneralBanter said:
There are many tradesmen working happily into their 60’s, and the talk of day rates on one job being calculated up to an annual turnover just doesn’t compute as many trades have days with no work eg tilers/weather everyone else/deliveries and jobs delayed. It only adds up if the plate spinning is perfect all year and I doubt it is from one week to the next.
Add onto costs the tools and travel and tax and the annual income isn’t anywhere near what’s being said.
So they earn a smaller amount, but still significantly above average, while working part time. Add onto costs the tools and travel and tax and the annual income isn’t anywhere near what’s being said.
The Three D Mucketeer said:
My Master Bricklayer is 76 and his labourer is 71 ... I'm the labourer and a brickies labourer must be the hardest job in the World and you get the most b
kings 
.
I had to separate our bricklayer and his labourer on one occasion - they were always arguing with each other. The labourer disappeared mid-way through the job - apparently there was some awkward family history involved.kings . GeneralBanter said:
Steve H said:
So they earn a smaller amount, but still significantly above average, while working part time.
With no career progression, paid holidays, healthcare or pension benefits or guaranteed salary. There seems to be a huge denial that a lot of trades are currently earning significantly well compared to the general population. But it is (in many cases, not all) evidently true.
I have said this on numerous threads now, the push towards needing higher education has completely changed earning opportunities in this country and left a large number of well qualified media consultants with a confused look on their faces when their plasterer charges the same for a day as they get in a week.
Steve H said:
I have said this on numerous threads now, the push towards needing higher education has completely changed earning opportunities in this country and left a large number of well qualified media consultants with a confused look on their faces when their plasterer charges the same for a day as they get in a week.
I’ve seen that confused look on the face of doctors and psychiatrists too…
Steve H said:
GeneralBanter said:
Steve H said:
So they earn a smaller amount, but still significantly above average, while working part time.
With no career progression, paid holidays, healthcare or pension benefits or guaranteed salary. Most I come across are £120-200 a day but there y’all go.
nuyorican said:
£110 a day for a decorator? No chance. Unless they're retired and topping up, or Romanian... Even a kid straight out of college would be asking £150 sub-contracting. Self-employed - £200-£360.
£200-360/day for a decorator? Maybe in London/SE but they’re nowhere near that where I am. nuyorican said:
mikebradford said:
Day rates I'm aware of in Yorkshire
£270 plumber
£225 electrician Inc a young helper
£220 joiner, high quality
£175 General bricky
£80 to 120 General helpers
£110 decorator.
Are those prices wages for employed trades? Seem very low to me, except maybe the joiner. I think a lot of confusion arrises when people google what a certain trade earns and they get a a figure which is based on full time PAYE, then a self employed person turns up to quote and their day rates are double what they were expecting because overheads etc. As others have pointed out, a self-employed person wants to earn a decent wage, same as the chap working for a company. then on top of that cover all their overheads of running a business plus sick days, holiday etc.£270 plumber
£225 electrician Inc a young helper
£220 joiner, high quality
£175 General bricky
£80 to 120 General helpers
£110 decorator.
£110 a day for a decorator? No chance. Unless they're retired and topping up, or Romanian... Even a kid straight out of college would be asking £150 sub-contracting. Self-employed - £200-£360.
As such ringing round for best rates and reusing trades that have turned up and done a decent job in the past.
The decorator is an anomaly, does a great job at a cheap rate.
He is english late to middle age.
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