Trades V Pistonheads forum "Big shots"
Discussion
brianashley said:
And I am not a hands off " project manager" My hands rub all over the jobs that I run
My apologies, you are not a Project Manager. Think the title of Foreman would be more suited?brianashley said:
are you a mug ? I have work published in "World of Interiors and Country life and Living" you want to see them, buy some back issues .
Back issues.... Is an onsite Foreman of your calibre not featured in the current issue?
brianashley said:
are you a mug ? I have work published in "World of Interiors and Country life and Living" you want to see them, buy some back issues .
Which WOI? I'm a subscriber and have the last 12 months or so in my library, have you been featured in Elle Decoration as well by any chance? From the sounds of things I'm guessing your work is in at least one of Andrew Martin's Interior Design Reviews?
princeperch said:
Dealing with a good tradesman is normally an absolute pleasure, and I always make sure they know how appreciative I am, by giving them a few quid extra or a crate of lager or similar.
This thread did remind me of that cretin I employed to do my garden a year ago. Local bloke, well recommended in a local community Facebook page. All he needed to do was put up 5 fence panels, lay 8sq m of patio and lay 15 sq m of turf. He quoted me 600 labour only iabout three days work. Ok say I, and we agree a start date a week later.
Matey boy doesn't turn up. I should have sacked him off. We agree he will start 2 days later. He turns up at midday. Ok I thought in for a penny, and he sets off on his work.mstarts moaning that he under quoted on the job because there is more hardcore for hi, to take up for the lawn than he initially thought. I said don't worry about it - just pile it up and I'll take it to the dump.
Next day - he doesn't turn up. I call him, no response. He then gets him touch saying he'll be over tomorrow. Doesn't turn up.
Unfortunately the wife had given him some money on account, wasn't a lot. Anyway, he doesn't contact us or anything, there is sand all over the garden and I don't have a fence on one side. I send him an email saying your services are no longer needed, you best bring us the money back then you can collect your tools.
He is apologetic, says he will come over tomorrow with half the money. I said you can do that but your tools will stay where they are. He cuts up nasty now saying I'm being unreasonable. I tell him he hasn't seen anything yet,
Radio silence for 2 weeks. He texts me saying his phone was cut off. And he would like to come over tomorrow. He doesn't turn up, but does a week or so later . I think we are a kin the on now.
In the meanwhile I must confess I lost my rag with him and outed him to the local Facebook group where he gets most of his work from. He isn't happy and threatens to sue me. I tell him to go ahead if he wants to.
Eventually turns up, collects his tools and gives my wife the money. I didn't deal with him when he came over because I didn't want to get into a slanging match with him.
What I don't understand, and never will, Is all he had to do was turn up for another day or so, and it would have been done. Instead, he f
ks about causing everyone aggro, for no real reason. I simply don't get it. how on earth he thought he could run a business like that, I do not know.
I was derided and applauded in equal terms on here for my actions, but I really do think I acted reasonably. It was of course my fault I instructed him , he wasn't the cheapest quote, nor was he the most expensive. I just don't understand how people earn their living like that.
Professionals deserve good pay and respect and I will give both. Chancers deserve to be fked about and embarrassed in front of the community, which is what I did.
I agree , people like this are bad . This thread did remind me of that cretin I employed to do my garden a year ago. Local bloke, well recommended in a local community Facebook page. All he needed to do was put up 5 fence panels, lay 8sq m of patio and lay 15 sq m of turf. He quoted me 600 labour only iabout three days work. Ok say I, and we agree a start date a week later.
Matey boy doesn't turn up. I should have sacked him off. We agree he will start 2 days later. He turns up at midday. Ok I thought in for a penny, and he sets off on his work.mstarts moaning that he under quoted on the job because there is more hardcore for hi, to take up for the lawn than he initially thought. I said don't worry about it - just pile it up and I'll take it to the dump.
Next day - he doesn't turn up. I call him, no response. He then gets him touch saying he'll be over tomorrow. Doesn't turn up.
Unfortunately the wife had given him some money on account, wasn't a lot. Anyway, he doesn't contact us or anything, there is sand all over the garden and I don't have a fence on one side. I send him an email saying your services are no longer needed, you best bring us the money back then you can collect your tools.
He is apologetic, says he will come over tomorrow with half the money. I said you can do that but your tools will stay where they are. He cuts up nasty now saying I'm being unreasonable. I tell him he hasn't seen anything yet,
Radio silence for 2 weeks. He texts me saying his phone was cut off. And he would like to come over tomorrow. He doesn't turn up, but does a week or so later . I think we are a kin the on now.
In the meanwhile I must confess I lost my rag with him and outed him to the local Facebook group where he gets most of his work from. He isn't happy and threatens to sue me. I tell him to go ahead if he wants to.
Eventually turns up, collects his tools and gives my wife the money. I didn't deal with him when he came over because I didn't want to get into a slanging match with him.
What I don't understand, and never will, Is all he had to do was turn up for another day or so, and it would have been done. Instead, he f
ks about causing everyone aggro, for no real reason. I simply don't get it. how on earth he thought he could run a business like that, I do not know.I was derided and applauded in equal terms on here for my actions, but I really do think I acted reasonably. It was of course my fault I instructed him , he wasn't the cheapest quote, nor was he the most expensive. I just don't understand how people earn their living like that.
Professionals deserve good pay and respect and I will give both. Chancers deserve to be f
ked about and embarrassed in front of the community, which is what I did.Talented at man management and quality control?
Your clients, as you have already mentioned, are not the actual 'end client' but infact the designers you have stated you repeatedly work 'for'.
So a designer is sought after by the home owners after reading about them in a magazine, the designer is invited over, given coffee from the clients Nespresso machine and invited to curl up on the sofa and get to know the the names of their kids.
Then at a later point, the designer rings you and says "Ey up Brian, can you look through Checkatrade and get me a French Polisher and a concrete specialist and stay with em whilst they do their magic. Client doesn't wasn't you using their facilities so take a 110v kettle and some Instant coffee"
Your clients, as you have already mentioned, are not the actual 'end client' but infact the designers you have stated you repeatedly work 'for'.
So a designer is sought after by the home owners after reading about them in a magazine, the designer is invited over, given coffee from the clients Nespresso machine and invited to curl up on the sofa and get to know the the names of their kids.
Then at a later point, the designer rings you and says "Ey up Brian, can you look through Checkatrade and get me a French Polisher and a concrete specialist and stay with em whilst they do their magic. Client doesn't wasn't you using their facilities so take a 110v kettle and some Instant coffee"
Willeh85 said:
EggsBenedict said:
...or conversely when someone has a go at something, but gets stuck and asks for help (electrics is a favourite) and all the tradesman pile in like 'get a pro in, it's all far too complex for someone of your tiny brainpower and skill'. Seems to be no shortage of high horses around.
On a similar vein, in the last year I've been attempting more and more of my own driveway mechanical repairs on my cars. Its a mix of personal interest/hobby and cost saving on labour meaning I can sort out even more things. I tend to read up first and watch 'how to' guides on YouTube and asses whether or not I have the time and ability. Anyway, I got a bit stuck(still stuck) earlier this week while attempting to replace the rear brake pads, and accidentally dislodged the dust seal on the caliper. I posted on a Facebook group for a bit of quick advice and I got about 20 replies quite quickly, and many offered some helpful advice. Most said not too much of a problem and suggested buying a refurb kit from ebay, which I subsequently did and intend to attempt next week.
But of those 20, a couple of people took the opportunity to blast me quite offensively saying if I've manged to do that what else have I broken etc, and should have paid a professional to do it. One of them even private messaged me to give me grief about my abilities!
Its a £2000 hot hatchback not a super car, some people really have some sort of complex
You'd be forgiven for thinking that being Gas Safe registered is on the same level as being an Astrophysicist, the way some tradesmen wear it like a badge of honour!
I particularly like the plumber deniers. They spend their working day installing boilers, which includes fitting pipework that carries hot, cold, heating and waste water, yet they aren't plumbers, they are gas 'engineers'.
brianashley said:
hyphen said:
Back issues....
Is an onsite Foreman of your calibre not featured in the current issue?
Not a Foreman . Just a very talented gentleman and well loved by my clients . Is an onsite Foreman of your calibre not featured in the current issue?
brianashley said:
Fastpedeller said:
Some tiles acn be incredibly difficult to drill. I usually use a masonry drill no problem. Had a customer who said (can you drill this for me? I add he did prewarn he'd not been able). Started with rechargeable drill, just ran down battery. Went on to corded drill and after 20 minutes I finally mad a 6mm hole in it. Scoring one of these tiles and snapping it, by contrast was a doddle.
Back to Op's question, I'd use Tigerseal, Stixall or similar poly adhesive, they work really well. If you want to remove it at any time use dental floss!
Tiles are hard to drill if you A: use the wrong type of Drill and B: the wrong Bits . I use a selection of 4 different Bits .Some will get one hole if lucky in some tiles ! Some will do about 10 max .The secret is to know what bits for what tiles and to know how to "start the cut " Back to Op's question, I'd use Tigerseal, Stixall or similar poly adhesive, they work really well. If you want to remove it at any time use dental floss!
GnuBee said:
Which WOI? I'm a subscriber and have the last 12 months or so in my library, have you been featured in Elle Decoration as well by any chance? From the sounds of things I'm guessing your work is in at least one of Andrew Martin's Interior Design Reviews?
Remembered which WoI your work is featured in yet? How about some of the designers you've worked with/for? Sure they'll not have the same concerns around security as your wealthy patrons and will have portfolios online or presented in some of the industry journals.
Can I get people’s opinions on this?
Our cottage is currently on electric night storage heaters, so I get a quote for a complete new oil boiler install, external boiler, oil tank, UFH, rads and connecting upto 2x bathrooms, so the full works. This is a proper heating engineering firm that deals with off grid and renewables, not Bob from the pub that is gas safe.
He says I don’t do the concrete bases for the tank and boiler, so you will have to do them, and I can source the rads etc but may cost you more and they are a personal thing, so do you want to source them yourselves?
So we agree he is quoting for the full job, bar the concrete pads and rads.
This was Monday 10th, he knows I want him to start on Monday the 24th and agrees he can do this.
He calls me the very same evening (10th) with the quote, £7265 plus VAT, I say great leave it with me and ill let you know, on Wednesday the 12th i say im happy for you to go ahead with the job, as long as i can get the quote in writing and start on the 24th, he agrees.
After chasing the written quote 3 times it finally arrives Friday (21st), with him starting on the Monday, however the quote now states that he wont be Chasing walls for pipes or "making good", burying the oil line from the tank, or installing the fused spur to power the boiler.
I email back immediately questioning this and don’t hear back, phone him today and he is at my house working, i again question the above works now not included and he states that he "doesn’t have time" to mess about with chasing and burying as he only has 4 days to complete the job, and would i really want to pay him £250 a day to do a labourers job digging trenches and chasing walls?
He also says I got the quote detailing what was and wasn’t included and I was free to tell him I didn’t want to go ahead and go elsewhere, the fact i questioned it immediately and didnt get a response didn’t seem to register with him.
So now I'm left with a £9,000 heating system that isnt finished until I hire a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer (twice, once to chase walls, then once to make good when he is finished)
Am I being unreasonable or is that not on?
Our cottage is currently on electric night storage heaters, so I get a quote for a complete new oil boiler install, external boiler, oil tank, UFH, rads and connecting upto 2x bathrooms, so the full works. This is a proper heating engineering firm that deals with off grid and renewables, not Bob from the pub that is gas safe.
He says I don’t do the concrete bases for the tank and boiler, so you will have to do them, and I can source the rads etc but may cost you more and they are a personal thing, so do you want to source them yourselves?
So we agree he is quoting for the full job, bar the concrete pads and rads.
This was Monday 10th, he knows I want him to start on Monday the 24th and agrees he can do this.
He calls me the very same evening (10th) with the quote, £7265 plus VAT, I say great leave it with me and ill let you know, on Wednesday the 12th i say im happy for you to go ahead with the job, as long as i can get the quote in writing and start on the 24th, he agrees.
After chasing the written quote 3 times it finally arrives Friday (21st), with him starting on the Monday, however the quote now states that he wont be Chasing walls for pipes or "making good", burying the oil line from the tank, or installing the fused spur to power the boiler.
I email back immediately questioning this and don’t hear back, phone him today and he is at my house working, i again question the above works now not included and he states that he "doesn’t have time" to mess about with chasing and burying as he only has 4 days to complete the job, and would i really want to pay him £250 a day to do a labourers job digging trenches and chasing walls?
He also says I got the quote detailing what was and wasn’t included and I was free to tell him I didn’t want to go ahead and go elsewhere, the fact i questioned it immediately and didnt get a response didn’t seem to register with him.
So now I'm left with a £9,000 heating system that isnt finished until I hire a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer (twice, once to chase walls, then once to make good when he is finished)
Am I being unreasonable or is that not on?
sidekickdmr said:
Can I get people’s opinions on this?
Our cottage is currently on electric night storage heaters, so I get a quote for a complete new oil boiler install, external boiler, oil tank, UFH, rads and connecting upto 2x bathrooms, so the full works. This is a proper heating engineering firm that deals with off grid and renewables, not Bob from the pub that is gas safe.
He says I don’t do the concrete bases for the tank and boiler, so you will have to do them, and I can source the rads etc but may cost you more and they are a personal thing, so do you want to source them yourselves?
So we agree he is quoting for the full job, bar the concrete pads and rads.
This was Monday 10th, he knows I want him to start on Monday the 24th and agrees he can do this.
He calls me the very same evening (10th) with the quote, £7265 plus VAT, I say great leave it with me and ill let you know, on Wednesday the 12th i say im happy for you to go ahead with the job, as long as i can get the quote in writing and start on the 24th, he agrees.
After chasing the written quote 3 times it finally arrives Friday (21st), with him starting on the Monday, however the quote now states that he wont be Chasing walls for pipes or "making good", burying the oil line from the tank, or installing the fused spur to power the boiler.
I email back immediately questioning this and don’t hear back, phone him today and he is at my house working, i again question the above works now not included and he states that he "doesn’t have time" to mess about with chasing and burying as he only has 4 days to complete the job, and would i really want to pay him £250 a day to do a labourers job digging trenches and chasing walls?
He also says I got the quote detailing what was and wasn’t included and I was free to tell him I didn’t want to go ahead and go elsewhere, the fact i questioned it immediately and didnt get a response didn’t seem to register with him.
So now I'm left with a £9,000 heating system that isnt finished until I hire a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer (twice, once to chase walls, then once to make good when he is finished)
Am I being unreasonable or is that not on?
not sure what this has got to do with Brian? Our cottage is currently on electric night storage heaters, so I get a quote for a complete new oil boiler install, external boiler, oil tank, UFH, rads and connecting upto 2x bathrooms, so the full works. This is a proper heating engineering firm that deals with off grid and renewables, not Bob from the pub that is gas safe.
He says I don’t do the concrete bases for the tank and boiler, so you will have to do them, and I can source the rads etc but may cost you more and they are a personal thing, so do you want to source them yourselves?
So we agree he is quoting for the full job, bar the concrete pads and rads.
This was Monday 10th, he knows I want him to start on Monday the 24th and agrees he can do this.
He calls me the very same evening (10th) with the quote, £7265 plus VAT, I say great leave it with me and ill let you know, on Wednesday the 12th i say im happy for you to go ahead with the job, as long as i can get the quote in writing and start on the 24th, he agrees.
After chasing the written quote 3 times it finally arrives Friday (21st), with him starting on the Monday, however the quote now states that he wont be Chasing walls for pipes or "making good", burying the oil line from the tank, or installing the fused spur to power the boiler.
I email back immediately questioning this and don’t hear back, phone him today and he is at my house working, i again question the above works now not included and he states that he "doesn’t have time" to mess about with chasing and burying as he only has 4 days to complete the job, and would i really want to pay him £250 a day to do a labourers job digging trenches and chasing walls?
He also says I got the quote detailing what was and wasn’t included and I was free to tell him I didn’t want to go ahead and go elsewhere, the fact i questioned it immediately and didnt get a response didn’t seem to register with him.
So now I'm left with a £9,000 heating system that isnt finished until I hire a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer (twice, once to chase walls, then once to make good when he is finished)
Am I being unreasonable or is that not on?
but in effect, you're paying 9k for a boiler replacement. and a half arsed job at that too. I'd pull the plug on it now and get someone else in. be easier in the long run.
sidekickdmr said:
Can I get people’s opinions on this?
Our cottage is currently on electric night storage heaters, so I get a quote for a complete new oil boiler install, external boiler, oil tank, UFH, rads and connecting upto 2x bathrooms, so the full works. This is a proper heating engineering firm that deals with off grid and renewables, not Bob from the pub that is gas safe.
He says I don’t do the concrete bases for the tank and boiler, so you will have to do them, and I can source the rads etc but may cost you more and they are a personal thing, so do you want to source them yourselves?
So we agree he is quoting for the full job, bar the concrete pads and rads.
This was Monday 10th, he knows I want him to start on Monday the 24th and agrees he can do this.
He calls me the very same evening (10th) with the quote, £7265 plus VAT, I say great leave it with me and ill let you know, on Wednesday the 12th i say im happy for you to go ahead with the job, as long as i can get the quote in writing and start on the 24th, he agrees.
After chasing the written quote 3 times it finally arrives Friday (21st), with him starting on the Monday, however the quote now states that he wont be Chasing walls for pipes or "making good", burying the oil line from the tank, or installing the fused spur to power the boiler.
I email back immediately questioning this and don’t hear back, phone him today and he is at my house working, i again question the above works now not included and he states that he "doesn’t have time" to mess about with chasing and burying as he only has 4 days to complete the job, and would i really want to pay him £250 a day to do a labourers job digging trenches and chasing walls?
He also says I got the quote detailing what was and wasn’t included and I was free to tell him I didn’t want to go ahead and go elsewhere, the fact i questioned it immediately and didnt get a response didn’t seem to register with him.
So now I'm left with a £9,000 heating system that isnt finished until I hire a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer (twice, once to chase walls, then once to make good when he is finished)
Am I being unreasonable or is that not on?
Very expensive on the face of it for 1....Our cottage is currently on electric night storage heaters, so I get a quote for a complete new oil boiler install, external boiler, oil tank, UFH, rads and connecting upto 2x bathrooms, so the full works. This is a proper heating engineering firm that deals with off grid and renewables, not Bob from the pub that is gas safe.
He says I don’t do the concrete bases for the tank and boiler, so you will have to do them, and I can source the rads etc but may cost you more and they are a personal thing, so do you want to source them yourselves?
So we agree he is quoting for the full job, bar the concrete pads and rads.
This was Monday 10th, he knows I want him to start on Monday the 24th and agrees he can do this.
He calls me the very same evening (10th) with the quote, £7265 plus VAT, I say great leave it with me and ill let you know, on Wednesday the 12th i say im happy for you to go ahead with the job, as long as i can get the quote in writing and start on the 24th, he agrees.
After chasing the written quote 3 times it finally arrives Friday (21st), with him starting on the Monday, however the quote now states that he wont be Chasing walls for pipes or "making good", burying the oil line from the tank, or installing the fused spur to power the boiler.
I email back immediately questioning this and don’t hear back, phone him today and he is at my house working, i again question the above works now not included and he states that he "doesn’t have time" to mess about with chasing and burying as he only has 4 days to complete the job, and would i really want to pay him £250 a day to do a labourers job digging trenches and chasing walls?
He also says I got the quote detailing what was and wasn’t included and I was free to tell him I didn’t want to go ahead and go elsewhere, the fact i questioned it immediately and didnt get a response didn’t seem to register with him.
So now I'm left with a £9,000 heating system that isnt finished until I hire a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer (twice, once to chase walls, then once to make good when he is finished)
Am I being unreasonable or is that not on?
But, a heating enginerring firm wouldnt plaster or make good usually unless specifically asked for. A 'builder' doing these works would be expected to IMO.
Chasing walls though the plumber should do anyway and the spur for the boiler I would have thought he would get a mate in for though so yeah hes probably being a bit of an arse. The groundworks and plastering though is probably pushing it if they are not builders but 'heating engineers'.
I wasn’t necessarily expecting the plumber to be on his hands and knees digging trenches, or a pro at plastering/electrics, but when you charge £9,000 for a job and tell the client all they need to do is supply the rads and organise the pads being made, I expect him to take care of those jobs by using his contacts to do them if he cant/wont.
It's not even the money, its the hassle, Im now supposed to find a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer who can even be bothered to turn up for such little jobs, if at all.
At least if he told me a week or two back could have got the ball rolling.
It's not even the money, its the hassle, Im now supposed to find a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer who can even be bothered to turn up for such little jobs, if at all.
At least if he told me a week or two back could have got the ball rolling.
sidekickdmr said:
I wasn’t necessarily expecting the plumber to be on his hands and knees digging trenches, or a pro at plastering/electrics, but when you charge £9,000 for a job and tell the client all they need to do is supply the rads and organise the pads being made, I expect him to take care of those jobs by using his contacts to do them if he cant/wont.
It's not even the money, its the hassle, Im now supposed to find a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer who can even be bothered to turn up for such little jobs, if at all.
At least if he told me a week or two back could have got the ball rolling.
He should at the very least fit the Fused spur (he should be able to do that himself under Part P) as how the fIt's not even the money, its the hassle, Im now supposed to find a sparky, a labourer and a plasterer who can even be bothered to turn up for such little jobs, if at all.
At least if he told me a week or two back could have got the ball rolling.
k can he commission it to sign it off?Edit: Brian would have done the lot, he's good he is
he can even drill holes in tiles!!Edited by dickymint on Monday 24th April 14:21
Only after posting did I read the whole thread and realise this isnt actually a serious trade thread.
Its a shame Brian couldnt really have helped, if only i had been willing to pay in full before the job even started, wear a pinstripe suit, have a 1 hour security procedure, ban phones and money, let me wife do the talking/banging and have a boiler that ran on a mix of liquid gold and snakeskin extract he would have been up for it too.
Its a shame Brian couldnt really have helped, if only i had been willing to pay in full before the job even started, wear a pinstripe suit, have a 1 hour security procedure, ban phones and money, let me wife do the talking/banging and have a boiler that ran on a mix of liquid gold and snakeskin extract he would have been up for it too.
sidekickdmr said:
Only after posting did I read the whole thread and realise this isnt actually a serious trade thread.
Its a shame Brian couldnt really have helped, if only i had been willing to pay in full before the job even started, wear a pinstripe suit, have a 1 hour security procedure, ban phones and money, let me wife do the talking/banging and have a boiler that ran on a mix of liquid gold and snakeskin extract he would have been up for it too.
He could concrete you the best damn oil tank base you've ever seen though.Its a shame Brian couldnt really have helped, if only i had been willing to pay in full before the job even started, wear a pinstripe suit, have a 1 hour security procedure, ban phones and money, let me wife do the talking/banging and have a boiler that ran on a mix of liquid gold and snakeskin extract he would have been up for it too.
hairyben said:
sidekickdmr said:
Only after posting did I read the whole thread and realise this isnt actually a serious trade thread.
Its a shame Brian couldnt really have helped, if only i had been willing to pay in full before the job even started, wear a pinstripe suit, have a 1 hour security procedure, ban phones and money, let me wife do the talking/banging and have a boiler that ran on a mix of liquid gold and snakeskin extract he would have been up for it too.
He could concrete you the best damn oil tank base you've ever seen though.Its a shame Brian couldnt really have helped, if only i had been willing to pay in full before the job even started, wear a pinstripe suit, have a 1 hour security procedure, ban phones and money, let me wife do the talking/banging and have a boiler that ran on a mix of liquid gold and snakeskin extract he would have been up for it too.
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