Unreasonable to expect trades to work in this weather?
Unreasonable to expect trades to work in this weather?
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dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,989 posts

293 months

Monday 6th December 2010
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My extension has ground to a halt. Heating drained and off, no water (pipes frozen), and only chipboard seperating the inside from the elements. It's actually seems colder inside than out at the moment.

Now, I know you can't lay bricks in this temp and that's the problem. There's another 3 or 4 courses of blockwork (+ facing brickwork) to go up before the roof can be constructed, windows put in and the heating back on.

But.

there's a $hitload of internal stuff to do. Plumbing, sparks, moving internal walls about a bit, cutting hole for new window....etc etc

Last week nowt happened and that's fine as physically getting to the house was an issue. It's not now though, just the cold.

So, is it unreasonable to expect the poor sods to be working in -2 temps or what?

Bear in mind the longer this goes on the longer we have to live with the in-laws, in a small 3 bed semi, with a 20m old toddler. It's been ok but starting to drag. Moved out 6 weeks ago!!

bobr

1,031 posts

188 months

Monday 6th December 2010
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All the sparks I know are working, I suggest yours need a kick up the arse

BliarOut

72,863 posts

263 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
Go stand outside for eight hours and then you can answer the question yourself wink

GG89

3,691 posts

210 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
It depends really. I am off at the moment as were expecting 10inches of snowfall today. There must be easily 5/6 so far. I am on a job at the other side of the city and I know my van wouldn't get up some of the hills on the way. Have phoned the clients and they understand fully that I will be out as soon as the weather permits.

Edited by GG89 on Monday 6th December 11:07

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,989 posts

293 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
BliarOut said:
Go stand outside for eight hours and then you can answer the question yourself wink
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they should be out there today. I'm just wondering if it's the norm for builders to be out working in what are pretty fvckin horrible conditions.

I know I wouldn't like it. They aren't getting paid though!

It was -8 driving in to work this morning....brrrr.

BliarOut

72,863 posts

263 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
It's probably down to how hot their work can make them, some trades will warm you up, other won't smile

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,989 posts

293 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
GG89 said:
It depends really. I am off at the moment as were expecting 10inches of snowfall today. There must be easily 5/6 so far. I am on a job at the other side of the city and I know my van wouldn't get up some of the hills on the way. Have phoned the clients and they understand fully that I will be out as soon as the weather permits.

Edited by GG89 on Monday 6th December 11:07
If there's snow on the ground that's furry muff. If you can't get there you can't get there.

No snow on roads in Leeds though. Just cold.

GG89

3,691 posts

210 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
In that case they need a kick up the arse. That's what jackets hats gloves and boots are for.

bigmac146

184 posts

212 months

Monday 6th December 2010
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I would be expected to be out there, my collegues are out in Somerset, not sure what the weather is like there,but im sure its not great, ourjob can be quite messy and wet as well, being land drillers and all!

Busamav

2,954 posts

232 months

Monday 6th December 2010
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They are just working another site where the client is more demanding and shouts louder than you wink

MuffDaddy

1,487 posts

229 months

Monday 6th December 2010
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I've got 4 men working on the roof, two punching holes through walls, windows are being fitted as are bi fold doors. They all seem happy to do so.

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

272 months

Monday 6th December 2010
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If it's of any help, all we're supplying at the moment are inside jobs (plasterboarding, etc) and Rock Salt.

I certainly wouldn't expect Brickies, Roofers, Steel Erectors, Pavers and the like to be working today.

Plasterers maybe, dependant on what they've got to do, certainly no wet plastering.

Groundworkers, Civil Engineers (earthworks), electricians, plumbers, kitchen and bathroom installers, flooring (not screed) contractors I'd expect to be working, assuming they can get to the site.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,989 posts

293 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
MuffDaddy said:
I've got 4 men working on the roof, two punching holes through walls, windows are being fitted as are bi fold doors. They all seem happy to do so.
Hardcore!

It's a difficult one really as it's being project managed by my old man who has 25yrs experience with this sort of thing.

I'll have a word and see if we can't get cracking the whip a bit.

paulrockliffe

16,386 posts

251 months

Monday 6th December 2010
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Look at it another way; you're not paying them on days where they'll be relatively unproductive.

MuffDaddy

1,487 posts

229 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
dave_s13 said:
MuffDaddy said:
I've got 4 men working on the roof, two punching holes through walls, windows are being fitted as are bi fold doors. They all seem happy to do so.
Hardcore!

It's a difficult one really as it's being project managed by my old man who has 25yrs experience with this sort of thing.

I'll have a word and see if we can't get cracking the whip a bit.
My guys are on a fixed price. I wouldn't expect them to work but they are working towards being watertight for Christmas.

tubbystu

3,846 posts

284 months

Monday 6th December 2010
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So your contractor has scheduled you to have brickies this week, who cannot work in this weather, so where is he supposed to magic up the carps and sparkies from ? He will have them already working presumably on work that is further forward than your job.

hairyben

8,516 posts

207 months

Monday 6th December 2010
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Sparky here, Last weeks jobs included investigating why some patio lights weren't working on Wednesday (hour+ in the snow) and run a supply cable to/1st fix a summer house (all day in cold/snow).

Tell your guys to harden the funk up.

EDIT: And I drove there on summer tyres, too.

Edited by hairyben on Monday 6th December 12:53

bobr

1,031 posts

188 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
hairyben said:
And I drove there on summer tyres, too.
How dare you, you baby murdering bd!

JustinP1

13,357 posts

254 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
BliarOut said:
Go stand outside for eight hours and then you can answer the question yourself wink
No wonder Russia has all their problems eh...?

If you want a joiner, electrician or plumber you need to wait a good 6 months for temperatures to rise...

Or maybe they just get the job done?


Not saying I would *like* to work in the cold, but if it were my job and I needed the money, I would.

BliarOut

72,863 posts

263 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
JustinP1 said:
BliarOut said:
Go stand outside for eight hours and then you can answer the question yourself wink
No wonder Russia has all their problems eh...?

If you want a joiner, electrician or plumber you need to wait a good 6 months for temperatures to rise...

Or maybe they just get the job done?


Not saying I would *like* to work in the cold, but if it were my job and I needed the money, I would.
I cycle about a hundred miles a week in these temps, I know what I'm on about wink