Hi all, Hope you can help. I've had a plasterer (checkatrade rated) quote to fill downlight holes and skim. He has said that he can route the flex for the new ceiling rose light fitting. Is this typically some thing you would trust an experienced plasterer to do? I've got a feeling I know the answer, but I'm abroad at the moment and it would save me a world of pain! Thanks in advance guys.
Thanks. Sorry, flex was my terminology not his! Stupid moi. Guess I could get an electrician into do it whilst I'm away. The area can be accessed as the carpet is up in the loft. Shouldn't cost too much??
Checkatrade rated? its not a ******* qualification, just a 2 bit website scamming hard working people. Anyone that asks if you are checkatrade rated deserves a punch in the face.
Peter, As much as you would like to punch potential customers in the face, it may be worth asking yourself why people use the likes of checkatrade. How else are people to know what type of work they're liable to get from the likes of yourself, a crystal ball? Maybe I can invite you to do some work at my house and if it's not up to the standard you promised then I can oblige you with a punch in the face. Oh, you forgot to write any answer related to the original question. Idiot
Another aggressive post! I agree with peter palmer. Checkertrade phhttttt, know several people who have left due to high fee's.
I agree about Checkatrade, the trading standards "Buy with confidence" site is worth looking at, but I guess if you are a customer who hasn't a clue and can't get a recommendation it's at least somewhere to start rather than a pin in yellow pages! I used to be Corgi registered and knew loads of engineers (We are too posh to be called gas fitters these days) who had full Corgi accreditation, but frankly a fair few I worked with, I wouldn't have trusted to put a no answer card in the door for me!
He is plasterer why is he doing electrical work? Will he check you have an earth, will he test, just because the light works doesn't mean its correct. And check a trade is just a money making scam, they don't care who is signed up as long as they can make money from you.
each to their own trade Obviously the spread is not a spark Leave it alone pal As for checkatrade effing Check a scam Leave them alone in all!
Guys, As always, I appreciate the advice. I get it, Checatrade isn't the best way to get a good tradesman. WTF is someone supposed to do, who hasn't a recommendation from anyone, when choosing a tradesman. Just keep employing people and wait till you find a good one?! I think looking at it from a customers point of view is helpful. Those who don't have the confidence to challenge poor work and prices, who don't have a recommendation, have little alternative than to refer to places like checkatrade or my builder. The term 'cowboy builders' is there for a good reason. Maybe being a little more constructive with advice as to how I can get a better tradesman would be more helpful. I'm trying to get work completed on my house before the arrival of our first baby. Coming on these forums have been massively helpful, but I don't appreciate the arrogant comments. So if any of you can recommend a good plasterer, or sparky in the Manchester / Cheshire area then I'm all ears, PM me. I have not issue paying good money for good work. And that includes you Peter. Cheers
As I said even qualified tradesmen can be poor workers and once they get too big to cope with work themselves the quality can suffer as they employ people. If you want to try any site I suggest this one. https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/ You can also try streetlife.com they have a number of local groups where you can find out about local issues swap items and ask neighbors for recommendations.
Many years ago i needed a roof done. Knew no roofers. took 10 names from local yellow pages.(specialists in slate roofing) Rang them and asked 3 questions. 1. I want to see the last 3 jobs you did personally and chat to customers. 2. I want a copy of your public liability cover. 3 No upfront money, payment after BC inspects it. Five told me to **** off, 2 happened to be too busy, 3 quoted. 2 quotes were astronomical. one guy turned up quoted sensible and started job on the monday. Does this help ? RS
A good approach, RS. Harry, it's the standard problem faced by most people in your situation. Sites like CheckaTrade might help, but it's still a lottery. Ie - you might possibly get a improved proportion of decent builders on there (I don't know), but it certainly ain't any guarantee of quality. The best way, I guess, is personal recommendation. Eg - if you work locally, ask all your work colleagues for suggestions. Failing that, check your local paper, short-list from this (and from the likes of Teabreak's suggestion and CaT too if you wish), a couple of plasterers and a couple of sparkies, call them up and explain the job (tell them the area of the ceiling, and explain you have access from above for the wiring). Ask each if they know someone from the other trade that they can liaise with to sort the job - surely to gawd all plasterers know lots of sparkies and vice versa?! If you have confidence in them from this chat, invite them out to quote. Ask the sparkies relevant questions about certs and stuff. Ask about recent jobs - where and can you check. Trust your gut feeling. (No, a plasterer shouldn't - these days - be doing sparky work. He might be competent, but will still be breaking regs, I believe. And you'll have no idea whether his work is up to scratch.)
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