How would you stop cowboy builders before they cause problems?

no1catman wrote: »

I chose purely on price? Hardly, he was the much more expensive. I suppose, I chose, based on perception of competence - judging by trade association symbols - EMB, Trustmark, signed van (wary of plain van), website with all the details and all their specialities. Date stamp on cement - there is there one!? Inspect & monitor - up on the roof? No thanks - saw from below, thought they had done more than expected - only for chunks to come down (as already related.

What would I do different - try for a specialist in just roof repair.

Go into B&Q and you will see date stamps on all the bags of cement. I have bought many a bag when past the requisite date, and I have seem them selling pallets off at £1+VAT per bag.

Inspect and monitor ... what can I say? Would you book a car in for bodywork repairs then just pay what ever was asked without looking at the paint match, or the finish on the paint, or the alignment of the repaired panels? Probably not so why adopt a different mindset on your home?

In reality you are extremely foolish to not go up and examine the works. It was your requirement for the work to be done, it was done on your home, you were paying with your money and you were specifying the work. In return the builder was aiming to meet all these criteria with a proviso. That was provided the work was correct you would pay for it. You could not be bothered to see if it was correct, so you paid regardless. You were taken for a ride but you are a fool to yourself for allowing this to happen.

I am not being harsh here for your specification would have been to work safely. This would mean either scaffolding or a tower would be part of your specification. As a trade off from this decision access for inspection would be quick, easy and safe. So no excuses for not doing what you should have done.

no1catman wrote: »

You seem to assume that I 9or for that matter any member of the General public) would be able to tell the difference in situ of well mixed cement and non-well-mixed cement, all the while trying not to have a panic attack while being up on the roof - fcol.

It is not rocket science to observe if ridge tiles are set to line and level - you just squint your eye along them. It is also easy to see if mortar has been smoothly trowelled off and without leaving any mess on the roof.

But you also have to give me credit here for my views. I accept not everybody is able to go up a ladder even though a scaffold and a tower are safe. There is an elephant in the room here. If the consumer is not able to control the works then why do they proceed thinking that they can?

Competent, professional companies exist who can do the work. Indeed, I am working with one at the moment. There is minimal need for me to check the standard of the work of their plasterers, or their painters, or their carpenters or their bricklayers. All are directly employed men and the company has scores of them. However there is an issue. Quality work costs realistic rates and there is no way this standard of professionalism, skill and quality is acceptable to consumers. They always want cheap, cheap, cheap. But that too is bizarre - all these men work for a company that avoids private consumers because they cannot be trusted to pay up, to be professional, and to offer decent runs of work. So they are working within the construction industry purely on trade work where rates are cut throat and conditions competitive!

Many "tradespeople" working for consumers are those the construction industry has rejected. Yet consumers appear not to be bothered by this concept. Both these scenarios may have happened with your roof.

Doozergirl wrote: »

There is such a shortage of skilled labour that I can't imagine why anyone who is any good would work on small repair jobs. Bigger companies will scoop them up and/or they get fed up of people that don't pay.

It's so unpredictable and it's so much better to know in advance where you'll be working. Larger jobs are infinitely better.

Spot on! Within recent weeks I have turned down a work offer because the commitment, the short run of work, and the payment terms meant it was crazy for me to get involved. Of course the other party did not view it like this!

Just like my last post this too is crazy scenario. The client is going without the works they desperately need done because their stupidity, systems and whatever means nobody will come forward and do the work. The obvious is for them to improve the payments being offered, or to offer better terms. But they refuse to do so and their work does not get done. Utter madness, but not my problem.