Its easy when you know how

blossom30

Hi I don't know if I'm posting in the right area but just had to tell you about my small leak at the stop !!!! under the sink and the plumber I got to fix it.
He must have been in all of 2 minutes and charged me £45 (apparently that's his minimum labour charge. All he did was tighten the valve at the stopcock. Anyway I wanted someone who knew what they wer doing and I had to pay the going rate. I think I will go to night school to learn basic plumbing as I might save myself money in the future. just thought I'd share this with you. shrewdal :eek:

ooo000ooo

Classic example of paying someone for what they know not for what they do Be happy that he didn't invent a more serious fault and bill you megabucks.

xlt_hunter

Not nice isn't it - I had one with the gas cooker... £60 that cost me (faints) for a local guy to tighten the nut....

Still its either that or the house goes up in a bang

I have been doing a lot of DIY lately and have install 2 new pipes for the washing machine in what used to be the downstairs loo. Okay that cost me about £30 in parts (push fit plumbing with the nuts to tighen up etc) but all now live with no leaks (touch wood) and I am impressed

Next stop is the bathrooms rad... a bit a advice from this board and I have my towel rail ready to be fitted... but the back room needs to be painted first before that is done and before the carpet fitters come on thursday... busy, busy, bust

weekendwarrior

ARGHHHH,


lol


you could have saved yourself £45

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/stop_tap/Stop_tap.htm

:rolleyes:

Canucklehead

shrewdal wrote: »

Hi I don't know if I'm posting in the right area but just had to tell you about my small leak at the stop !!!! under the sink and the plumber I got to fix it.
He must have been in all of 2 minutes and charged me £45 (apparently that's his minimum labour charge. All he did was tighten the valve at the stopcock. Anyway I wanted someone who knew what they wer doing and I had to pay the going rate. I think I will go to night school to learn basic plumbing as I might save myself money in the future. just thought I'd share this with you. shrewdal :eek:

Good evening: It is unfortunate that you didn't post your problem on here before you called a plumber...many professional tradespersons having been giving excellent (and callout charge free) advice on this forum for a long time, not only plumbers but painters/decorators, plasterers, tilers, carpenters, brickies, electricians, roofers, glaziers, general builders and CORGIs. To all MSErs : If someone has helped you out, remember to click the 'Thanks' button or even throw a quid into a charity box.;)

Canucklehead

stilernin

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good evening: It is unfortunate that you didn't post your problem on here before you called a plumber...many professional tradespersons having been giving excellent (and callout charge free) advice on this forum for a long time, not only plumbers but painters/decorators, plasterers, tilers, carpenters, brickies, electricians, roofers, glaziers, general builders and CORGIs. To all MSErs : If someone has helped you out, remember to click the 'Thanks' button or even throw a quid into a charity box.;)

Canucklehead

Sorry to highjack this thread, but I must agree with Canucklehead.

As a woman of a 'certain age' I have learnt so much from every one on here as I've been doing up an old house over the last year. Very often it is the bl==din' obvious. Trouble is, it is only the bl==din' obvious once you know!

THANK YOU to everyone who takes time to answer our questions, over and over again......... Your patience is really appreciated.

baldelectrician

It can SEEM easy when someone knows what they are doing.

I sometimes do jobs (change a light or switch), which can only take a few minutes. Then I get the 'my husband has been trying to get that to work for 2 days now'.

You are paying the 'hourly rate'

I often ask customers if there is anything else, as my charge is for upto an hour.

Remember you are paying for someones knowlege. This is why you have called a qualified person in.

Not all trades people are the same, when you watch rogue traders you see the dodgy ones.

ormus

my father was a maintainence engineer for a company, and he did most things that needed attention on the site.
so growing up with him was natural that i picked up all sorts of knowledge.
i suppose there is some skill and experience in knowing just how much you can tighten a nut before you strip the threads!
but i am always amazed that others dont know the trick/knack.

ive saved thousands over the yrs by doing it myself. mind you not as much as my uncle.
i was at his house last night to see his new extension/conservatory. he was quoted 75k! by some flash git in a suit.
so he did it himself. cost of materials? approx 5.5k, for the wood (2.5k) and the glass (2.7k).
(he likes traditional stuff) the finished job is superb.