Is it easier to get your house worked on in the States?

[jimmyjimjim]

Nope, I just wasn't a fan of that style. It also flickered madly when using anything other than incandescent bulbs, so it had to go. Replaced it with a Casablanca isotope.

The house was an odd mix of modern styling with retro fittings, I've replaced a lot of the stranger choices in the last few years.

[Matt Harper]

It is one of Hampton Bay's finest creations - $79.99 from Homo Deepio - given that it's outdoors, in my lanai, I decided to spend the big bucks.

[Minemapper]

Remember it well. I think I put at least three in our place. Interestingly, the one on the covered front porch fared the best of the lot.

[hairyben]

Rosscow said:

Minemapper said:

Having done extensive remodels on houses both in the US and UK, I'll say this. In Home Depot, anyone can buy proper 'trades' materials and tools, and get proper advice from staff, many of whom will be specialists in whichever department they work in. In B&Q, consumers get utter dross, and advice from monkeys without a clue. The contempt that trades have for customers in the UK is appalling, in my experience.

Maybe we don't have Home Depot but surely most towns in the UK will have specialist trade shops/distributors for nearly everything you'll need?

Our nearest town (not particularity large) has several of each - electrical, plumbing, roofing, tiling, building materials, etc. with plenty of people that know what they're talking about in each. I've never had a problem.

If you're going to B&Q and talking to their staff about how to build/plumb/wire etc. then you're doing it very, very wrong!

Can't speak for stateside but I doubt its any different to here - not sure why any halfabout tradesman would want to earn retail wages if he can do the job - theres no shortage of counter monkeys who like to regurgitate what little info they've gleaned like theyre an authority on the subject to anyone unfortunant enough to frequent their trade counter, best avoided like the nastier STDs in my opinion.

As for the subject of makeover shows on tv, they are to renovation works what "lethal weapon" or "naked gun" is to police work

[Thankyou4calling]

That's fine as your opinion but others on this thread have highlighted some fundamental differences beyond the TV facade.