Electrician Charges

[Sheepshanks]

I'd say it's weird how it varies - I know apparently similar tradespeople, some of whom are flat out and others who struggle for work.

It's surprising how often you see the flat out ones around, considering how busy they say they are. Called the central heating guy the other day and he said he could pop round in the morning after he'd taken the kids to school.

A heck of a lot of people are "out of trade" or at least have regular jobs - the plasterer we use works in a factory, our plumber is a fireman etc.

I watched one of those "homes under the hammer" programmes a few weeks ago and a guy running a security company bought and did up a house. He was asked where he got the tradespeople from and he said seemed genuinely amazed that he'd found he had nearly all of them already working for him doing security work.

[Yabu]

Sheepshanks said:

I'd say it's weird how it varies - I know apparently similar tradespeople, some of whom are flat out and others who struggle for work.

Nature of the work in many cases, we can have months with very little/no work then be stacked out for ages before going quiet/dead again

[wolfracesonic]

Condi said:

Maybe he's the same bloke who's mate worked for Dubai as a pilot for 120k a year, and all his mates had £1m houses by the time they were 30, and anyone's whos done well for themselves has a household income of £200k. Some proper bullst around here at the moment.

Decent midlands sparky will earn about £200/day top end, self employed. Major company will charge about £250 per man per day, the guys themselves are on about £10hr. Best mate is a self employed sparky doing industrial/agricultural stuff, not the sort of thing any fresh faced apprentice would do. Obviously some days he quotes for a job taking 3 days and it takes 2, but in general his day rate is £175.

Heating engineer as they like to call themselves, or plumber as everyone else calls them, on about the same. Cant remember what I paid for some labour last time, but was suprised how little it was. From memory £250 for 1.5 days, which values their time at £166/day.


Maybe Im blessed with good, reasonably pried tradesmen, or maybe the OP is talking crap. I'll leave you to decide.

I'm a Construction Solutions Enabler btw

[oilydan]

Condi said:

...or maybe the OP is talking crap...

Electrical inspection was around 342- took the best part of a day. (400yr old, 7 bedrooms, many outbuildings etc.)

Quote for remedials (C2 items) to satisfy insurance was originally 1438.39 with the caveat that some items may require further investigation, the split main bonding being one of these.

Requested re-quote as I could fix some of the items, such as smoke detectors, light fittings, loose bonding clamps etc.

Quoted for "A number of accessories not fitted properly", "A number of sockets are worn with poor contacts", and "Main bonding appears to be split/joined as only one conductor in consumer unit" They would not tell me which sockets etc. "We will show you on-site" I guess so they wanted the work to change them. New quote 361.70

On the day the electrician came (different one to the inspecting electrician) he went straight for the bonding job, having a poke around. I overheard him talking to the inspecting engineer on the phone about the split bonding and it seems there is no problem after all with the main bonding.

He then runs 2 bonding lines to the Aga and Oil Pipes, 10m each along the back wall. Both originating in the DB, both terminating where the 2 oil pipes enter the house. The lines run parallel like train tracks. Same place, same length.

The he comes inside and changes a socket backbox, having to drill out the screws in the old one as it is badly corroded.

Then he checks my handywork; removal and blanking off a shaver mirror, securing the bonding clamp under the sink, new ceiling lights in the study, removed light in cupboard, blanked off socket too close to worktop. All easy and quick stuff. I could have done the lounge socket too, if they had told me which one.

Day Job Sheet reads:

Run earth bond for Aga
Clip with boiler bonding wire
Clamp down to copper pipe
Terminate in DB
1 hour

Replace Galv backbox in sitting room. Back box was corroded and M3 screw was broken on locating screw.
1/4 hour

Inspect all remedial put right by customer
1/4

Materials:
20m 10mm earth
1 Earth clamp
1 2 gang back box

Bill came in with 3 items:

361.70 as per quotation
43.50 Additional works Labour
26.78 Additional works Materials

Plus VAT of course.

I have requested clarification as to what work was done for the split main bonding, I was told this was remedied by adding the boiler bonding.

I have requested further clarification to confirm that the work carried out was just the 2 bonding lines, the backbox, and inspection of my work and that 431.98 is correct for these items.


I'm not sure if that satisfies Condi as to whether I'm talking crap or not?

[jason61c]

oilydan said:

Condi said:

...or maybe the OP is talking crap...

I don't think that's leveled at yourself, its at the guy who claims he's earning £500 a day, every day in the SW.

[Matt_N]

Condi said:

Heating engineer as they like to call themselves, or plumber as everyone else calls them, on about the same.

What's the difference between a plumber and a heating engineer?

About £200-300 a day and a sticker on the van by the looks of it.

[LookAtMyCat]

It's shocking that so little people seem to know the difference between a plumber and a heating/gas engineer. There's an absolutely massive difference. And yes, also twice the wages; rightly so.

[Sheepshanks]

LookAtMyCat said:

It's shocking that so little people seem to know the difference between a plumber and a heating/gas engineer. There's an absolutely massive difference. And yes, also twice the wages; rightly so.

"Engineer" really ought to be a protected title here, as it is in Germany.

People who fit central heating are Fitters.

[TA14]

Matt_N said:

What's the difference between a plumber and a heating engineer?

A heating engineer will typically have a relevant degree. He'll have a good understanding of the design of heating systems and be capable of analysing and designing heating systems including developing new technologies.

A plumber will fit/repair what a heating engineer has designed.

[Matt_N]

TA14 said:

heating engineer will typically have a relevant degree. He'll have a good understanding of the design of heating systems and be capable of analysing and designing heating systems including developing new technologies.

A plumber will fit/repair what a heating engineer has designed.

In theory, but how many 'heating engineers' actually have said degree?

It's an often abused title and that's what gets people's backs up.

[TA14]

Matt_N said:

In theory, but how many 'heating engineers' actually have said degree?

It's an often abused title and that's what gets people's backs up.

Ah, that's a different question. At a wild guess I'd say 80% of heating engineers and 2% of 'heating engineers' - we did have a good heating engineer in the office who for various reasons (inc health - cancer) gave up the office job and fitted the odd boiler from time to time. His customers got a very complete solution.

[LookAtMyCat]

Sheepshanks said:

"Engineer" really ought to be a protected title here, as it is in Germany.

People who fit central heating are Fitters.

What about if you design the system from the ground up? Inc heat loss calculations, pipe sizing calculations, DHW needs etc
What about diagnosing and fixing faults with gas appliances; of which there are thousands?
What about the 3-inch thick book of theory and regulations you need to learn to become ACS registered?
What about the fact that one fk-up can result in someones death?

You can VERY easily earn 50k as a heating engineer. If you're willing to put the time and effort into it, you can earn 100k. Again; if it's that easy, go and do it! Really.

[Sheepshanks]

I'm sure they vary in their level of technical understanding dramatically.

The guys who did our install are, of course Gas-Safe registered, WB accredited (they have to go on regular courses, it's not just a matter of signing up with the rep and they did a quick and neat job.

But they didn't have any idea about changing rad sizing to account for lower average flow temps that condensing boilers need. Or how weather compensating controls might affect the system design.

[Ganglandboss]

LookAtMyCat said:

It's shocking that so little people seem to know the difference between a plumber and a heating/gas engineer. There's an absolutely massive difference. And yes, also twice the wages; rightly so.

As you are new here, I'd better fill you in. You are correct there is a difference between a plumber and a heating technician. If we are going to slit hairs, a plumber is somebody who works with lead, but in the modern sense, it is somebody who works on domestic water and drainage systems. Not all plumbers work on heating systems and most 'heating engineers' will have Gas Safe accreditation, as there's little point being one if you can't work on boilers.

Every now and again though, we get a thread on the subject of 'engineers' that bores the st out of me. Usually it is a bunch of whinge-bags who have a BSc in some engineering subject (but don't know one end of a spanner from another) moaning that the bloke with a large amount of technical knowledge and years of practical experience should not be allowed to use the title 'engineer'.

[Sheepshanks]

Ganglandboss said:

(but don't know one end of a spanner from another)

Why would the need to? They're Engineers.

[LordFlathead]

Why didn't the OP just get a quote before any works commenced?

[Steve H]

It sounds like he did but there was "additional work" added on and they were still done in a couple of hours for a £400 bill (mostly labour).

[TA14]

Steve H said:

It sounds like he did but there was "additional work" added on and they were still done in a couple of hours for a £400 bill (mostly labour).

Agreed. The OP seems to have resented paying for the survey (one day at the house, one day writing up, taking on responsibility for a large expensive house) at £342. Then one way or the other the electrician wanted about £400 to do the work left after the OP had done some but again the OP didn't like it. I suppose that the OP views it as being ripped off for having a big expensive house with flash cars but the electrician will view it as fair reward for someone there half a day (with travelling etc.) and the liability if something goes wrong.

[Steve H]

TBH I took it more that when he was quoted what would be a weeks wages for many people, he assumed it would take more than a couple hours to complete .

[its hot]

LookAtMyCat said:

If it's that easy mate, go get on it. Even the st engineers around here get work charging 2-300 a day.

I'm not sure what the definition is; I just mainly install boilers, heating systems and the required plumbing/heating/gas and all its related fields/building/electrics that go with it. I drive around in a van, working for myself and answering to no-one, and earn a pretty fantastic crust doing so. And yes, I do have a good laugh in the process.

Edited by LookAtMyCat on Thursday 30th April 22:11

Edited by LookAtMyCat on Thursday 30th April 22:12

read my quote poss more qualified than you with electrics and plumbing and design etc diplomas hnc the full works so did choose a trade worked hard and charged people a fair rate also high voltage power qualified engineer the list really does go on !!!