Recession? What recession?

[Tulipone]

If we are in recession, why do I find it so hard to get trades in to do work? All the tilers in my area are too busy to give me a quote or else do not return my calls. It may not be a huge job, but if I were offered money to do some work within my expertise, I would strongly consider making some time to do it.

We have a similar issue with trying to get a patio laid. I managed to persuade three local landscapers who claim to lay patios to come and scope the job. One muttered about my current slabs being too heavy and left and, a week after the last came, I have one quote but we are still waiting to be booked in - he hopes he can get it done this year but seems doubtful. To be clear, there 4 months left this year.

We now have a conservatory that is unusable as it is not tiled - and the concrete floor is still producing loads of dust, and a back garden that more resembles the 1918 Somme.

My option seems to be to tile the floor myself. I understand that it is not beyond the scope of an average person - but I'd rather have it done properly. The Somme is different and I have little inclination to bust my back trying to do too much lifting and digging.

Are my issues duplicated where you are, or is Huntingdon a trades blackspot?

Chris

 

[tiler65]

I wish you were closer.


As regarding the dust from the concrete slab, go to b&q and buy a litre of PVA and then add this to 2 litres of water , mix thoroughly and then using a sweeping broom/brush, brush into the concrete slab. let it dry and you should have no more dust. You may need to do 2 coats if it is a bad case of dust.


How big is your room any way so I can give you some ideas on how much you should expect a quote for.

 

[Tulipone]

I wish you were closer.

Huh, motivation but too far!

As regarding the dust from the concrete slab, go to b&q and buy a litre of PVA and then add this to 2 litres of water , mix thoroughly and then using a sweeping broom/brush, brush into the concrete slab. let it dry and you should have no more dust. You may need to do 2 coats if it is a bad case of dust.

Thanks for the tip - will do that later today. The dust is filling the house and shows no sign of rebate!

How big is your room any way so I can give you some ideas on how much you should expect a quote for.

It is a shade over 3 * 3 metres - less than 10 sq metres - a days work? The quote isn't the problem though - if I can't get anyone round to quote they are too busy and would assume a premium. I thought that £150 - £200 a day + materials would have been sufficient, but now not sure.

Is there such a severe lack of trades all over?

Chris

 

[Galaxy66]

I wish you were closer.


As regarding the dust from the concrete slab, go to b&q and buy a litre of PVA and then add this to 2 litres of water , mix thoroughly and then using a sweeping broom/brush, brush into the concrete slab. let it dry and you should have no more dust. You may need to do 2 coats if it is a bad case of dust.


How big is your room any way so I can give you some ideas on how much you should expect a quote for.

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1185319/PrintPost.aspx

Read the last bit

More,

http://www.screwfix.com/talk/thread.jspa?forumID=21&threadID=105238&messageID=1216313#1216313

 

[Tulipone]

...thats why I'd prefer to get trades in - even on a quote I'd have asked about dust reduction!

I will continue on the quest for a tiler....and live with the dust.


Chris

 

[whitewash]

ive had real problems trying to get tradesmen in up here as well, they just dont seem bothered, they either dont answer the phone, answer the phone and make arrangements to come and see the work and never turn up, never produce a quote, produce a quote then never turn up to do the work, or even worse do a **** job that requires work to be redone. its infuriating, especially given that at the moment im getting threats from the council over work needing done yet can i find someone to do it, can i hell (i think ive now found someone and atleast hes given me a rough date to do the work (its outside so hes at the mercy of the weather)

as you say you;d have thought that they;d be biting peoples hands off for work, or atleast wanting to fill their diary up. i like to think that whilst my jobs are small they probably work as little fill in jobs between others


in my time up here ive found a decent sparky (eventually), a decent plasterer +joiner (after having a room plastered by a moron), and hopefully a decent renderer/plasterer. i thought i had found a good gas fitter until i realised it was just a decent oldboy working for a bunch of idiots, and there was no garantee that it would be the oldboy that they sent to the job). i found a roofer who appears (after 2 attempts) incapable of making a roof watertight so hopefully the next one i find will be competent.

 

[Steve Smith]

Reading the post above, I'm pleased that I can do all of that myself!


Steve.

 

[Galaxy66]

ive had real problems trying to get tradesmen in up here as well, they just dont seem bothered, they either dont answer the phone, answer the phone and make arrangements to come and see the work and never turn up, never produce a quote, produce a quote then never turn up to do the work, or even worse do a **** job that requires work to be redone. its infuriating, especially given that at the moment im getting threats from the council over work needing done yet can i find someone to do it, can i hell (i think ive now found someone and atleast hes given me a rough date to do the work (its outside so hes at the mercy of the weather)

as you say you;d have thought that they;d be biting peoples hands off for work, or atleast wanting to fill their diary up. i like to think that whilst my jobs are small they probably work as little fill in jobs between others


in my time up here ive found a decent sparky (eventually), a decent plasterer +joiner (after having a room plastered by a moron), and hopefully a decent renderer/plasterer. i thought i had found a good gas fitter until i realised it was just a decent oldboy working for a bunch of idiots, and there was no garantee that it would be the oldboy that they sent to the job). i found a roofer who appears (after 2 attempts) incapable of making a roof watertight so hopefully the next one i find will be competent.

Reading the post above, I'm pleased that I can do all of that myself!


Steve.

That is the reason I do all the work myself, I have just had a bulk Calor gas tank installed instead of a bottle supply, I did the concrete base and dug a 30 mtr trench for the supply to the house but, although I could connect the supply pipe to the boiler myself . easy peasy, it annoys me that am not allowed to. I am forced to get a plumber in to do what is a small easy connection and will probably be hit hard in my wallet for what is a simple job :bang::bang::bang:.

 

[Steve Smith]

but, although I could connect the supply pipe to the boiler myself myself. easy peasy, but it annoys me that am not allowed to.

That's still a bit of a grey area I think. The regulations only state that it must be done by a competent person (this is for mains gas rather than a tank). You can be competent without being qualified. Incompetence is much easier to spot by the results!

I think you can still do it for yourself although I am a bit out of touch with the current law on this.

I don't do gas for anyone else now although I have fitted quite a few boilers for friends which were then checked and signed off by CORGI registered fitters.


Steve.

 

[Steve Smith]

Double post for some reason!

 

[whitewash]

That is the reason I do all the work myself, I have just had a bulk Calor gas tank installed instead of a bottle supply, I did the concrete base and dug a 30 mtr trench for the supply to the house but, although I could connect the supply pipe to the boiler myself myself. easy peasy, but it annoys me that am not allowed to. I am forced to get a plumber in to do what is a small easy connection and will probably be hit hard in my wallet for what is a simple job :bang::bang::bang:.

one of my mates had the problem that he installed his own boiler did everything but the gas connection which he got a plumber to do, the plumber reduced the 22mm pipe down to 15mm bent it by hand and then sized it back up to 22mm to meet the boiler.... so the certificated pro has made it look like a botch job of a diy install....

 

[joyofanonymity]

On the recession point of the OP I think that because less people are moving, and are choosing to just fix what they have currently, the tradesmen can sometimes just pick and choose who they work for as they are in demand.

It's what i've managed to observe anyway...sorry I can't help any more than that, but fingers crossed for you that you manage to get a decent tiler soon who can do that job at a reasonable price.

 

[russdaz]

Really depends on the area you live in, and the trade your after, but also the type of work you require being done. The SE seems more effected then some other areas.

I dont work in the domestic market area, my mate does, and he dosnt have a much work on as he did this time last year, the commerical market seems to be ticking over, but most of the work seems to be fairly large projects that where started before hand. Site work has dropped massively, but that doesnt mean theres stacks more folkl on the job market, as you find alot of site workers cant, not set up to work on the private domestic market and cant afford to set them selfs up. The banks also see that as a high risk area.

Personally i specialise in fault repairs, so finding nothings changed.

 

[whitewash]

i guess thats the main thing, people just arent selling and instead are sitting pretty and doing improvement work instead of upsizing so theres probably alot of work to pick and choose from

 

[tiler65]

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1185319/PrintPost.aspx

Read the last bit

More,

http://www.screwfix.com/talk/thread.jspa?forumID=21&threadID=105238&messageID=1216313#1216313

Galaxy, on what authority do you know about PVA apart from forums?

I did not say to use the PVA as a primer, just to seal the concrete for dust problems.

As my name suggests guess what I do for a living?

I know what PVA can and cannot do, posts like yours only confuse people.

Without seeing the job there is no way I could quote or even recommend what tiling products to use as every situation is different. ( see below for a quote if everything is NORMAL.

Don't argue with me because I could show some very interesting reports about PVA/SBR marketing policies and who owns the rights to said sealers for tile manufacturers and adhesive companies.

Any way as regarding a price for a conservatory in the Huntingdon area supplying adhesives you will be looking in the region of £35 per metre square. (this is if the tiles are square and laid in basketweave pattern.)

Tulipone the OP

Post your job on this site and you will get some responses.

http://www.tilersforums.co.uk/im-looking-wall-floor-tiler/

 

[easylife]

Don't feel so inferior about my photography knowledge now....I'm much better at DIY

 

[Galaxy66]

Galaxy, on what authority do you know about PVA apart from forums?

I am a really good diy tiler, floors and walls, and even I knew that PVA should never be [used] prior to tiling

I did not say to use the PVA as a primer, just to seal the concrete for dust problems. [used]

As my name suggests guess what I do for a living? Your not a tiler by any chance?

I know what PVA can and cannot do, posts like yours only confuse people.

Without seeing the job there is no way I could quote or even recommend what tiling products to use as every situation is different. ( see below for a quote if everything is NORMAL.

Don't argue with me My mother was always saying that to me because I could show some very interesting reports about PVA/SBR marketing policies and who owns the rights to said sealers for tile manufacturers and adhesive companies

***

Can you show me a report that states categorically that it is safe to[use] PVA prior to tiling:shrug:

Any way as regarding a price for a conservatory in the Huntingdon area supplying adhesives you will be looking in the region of £35 per metre square. (this is if the tiles are square and laid in basketweave pattern.)

Tulipone the OP

Post your job on this site and you will get some responses.

http://www.tilersforums.co.uk/im-looking-wall-floor-tiler/

Tiler, that is a very interesting site, do you visit the site often? I think not because it specifically warns in many a thread not to use PVA at all either as a primer or as a sealer prior to tiling and has no place in the tiling industry whatsoever.



Tiler, you have made my day you have well and truly shot yourself in the foot on this one

***
Sorry if you were wanting an argument, I rest my case on the very link you posted which which leads to many a contradiction to PVA being being safe to use.

 

[Galaxy66]

I have rang a local plumber up to connect my boiler, I found the address on the Gas Safe list of qualified plumbers in my area, he sounded real friendly knows exactly where I live and has promised to look at the job tomorrow morning and can do the work next week

He even thanked me for the enquiry

I am confident he will turn up as he is local to me.

 

[Tulipone]

...I think that I have persuaded someone to come and give me a quote. Says he will come tomorrow lunchtime. I am so excited, I can hardly wait! Thinking of spoiling it all and getting under tile heating also installed.

Thanks for the advice guys - lets play nicely - all opinions were gratefully received and probably worth what I paid for them.

Chris

 

[u8myufo]

A pity you are so far away Chris otherwise I would be up to do your patio in the morning

 

[Tulipone]

On the recession point of the OP I think that because less people are moving, and are choosing to just fix what they have currently, the tradesmen can sometimes just pick and choose who they work for as they are in demand.

I think that this is probably right. I have no idea how much an advert in the local paper costs, but I would be inclined to stop the adverts when I had too much work, even if they still charged me for the entry. If nothing else, I would not have to ignore the numbers published.

I heard that the Eastern Europeans were flooding in and taking 'British' jobs. Sadly no tilers nor landscape gardeners appear to have 'flooded' here!

Chris

 

[Galaxy66]

...

Thanks for the advice guys - lets play nicely - all opinions were gratefully received and probably worth what I paid for them.

Chris

I do play nicely Chris, I'm a nice guy but I could not let tilers aggressive reply go unanswered, I did not rise to the occasion and replied with a factual and humorous reply.

 

[tiler65]

Tiler, that is a very interesting site, do you visit the site often? I think not because it specifically warns in many a thread not to use PVA at all either as a primer or as a sealer prior to tiling and has no place in the tiling industry whatsoever.



Tiler, you have made my day you have well and truly shot yourself in the foot on this one

***
Sorry if you were wanting an argument, I rest my case on the very link you posted which which leads to many a contradiction to PVA being being safe to use.

But there is no proof only what manufactures of 'New' products tell them so that you have to buy their 'branded' primer/sealer.

Would PVA still be around if it was unusable?

Do my tiles not stick if I use PVA - No.

Do I know this by experience - Yes.

Always ask before you start sprouting off about something you have only read about.

PVA is the same as anything in life - if it is used correctly it will do the job.

 

[Galaxy66]

But there is no proof only what manufactures of 'New' products tell them so that you have to buy their 'branded' primer/sealer.

Would PVA still be around if it was unusable?

Do my tiles not stick if I use PVA - No.

Do I know this by experience - Yes.

Always ask before you start sprouting off about something you have only read
about.
The only one "sprouting off" here is you with your aggressive know it all attitude

PVA is the same as anything in life - if it is used correctly it will do the job.

 

[Tulipone]

I think that it is time to end this thread - just off to Homebase to buy some adhesive to do the tiles myself. The guy that promised to come today has not bothered.

The tiles will stop the dust - so whether PVA would have worked or not is now irrelevant.

Thanks for the answers. Chris

 

[Galaxy66]

I have rang a local plumber up to connect my boiler, I found the address on the Gas Safe list of qualified plumbers in my area, he sounded real friendly knows exactly where I live and has promised to look at the job tomorrow morning and can do the work next week

He even thanked me for the enquiry

I am confident he will turn up as he is local to me.

My plumber turned up and what a genuine chap he turned out to be

 

[Tulipone]

My plumber turned up and what a genuine chap he turned out to be

...I have this suspicion that you are trying to annoy me. May I ask why?

Chris

 

[Galaxy66]

Sorry if you see it that way but you are wrong, :shrug:why would I want to annoy you:shrug:This is a thread about tradesmen not turning up.:shrug: I am merely saying mine turned up:shrug:

 

[Yv]

There seems to be an overdose of testosterone in this thread chaps, so time for a small castration job. Please all go and find a wall to paint or toilet to install.

Thankyou.