Anyone a plumber ?

[POPEYE]

Have to aggree, there was good money in it once, now you can virtually replumb a house from top to bottom in B&Q push-fit without touching a solder joint let alone wipeing a lead one, three of us completly plumb'd a house in a day a few years ago by the old method of end-feed joints etc, that was a conventional heating system, boiler, cylinder and tanks, and all the associated pump, priority valve etc plus all hot & cold supplys, now you could probably do three houses in push-fit on yer jack in a day, plus all the cheap labour comeing in, plus the ever increaseing'ly difficult & expensive corgi or acops exam, and it aint worth a w@nk now

[MattF]

What was your trade Matt?

Still is. As I mentioned, I specialised rather than calling it a day. Electronics
service engineer. Used to be in brown goods, now repair office printer and fax
equipment. I do still repair brown goods to some degree, but that's only as
a contractor to other service dept's. I don't take that work in directly anymore.

[POPEYE]

Still is. As I mentioned, I specialised rather than calling it a day. Electronics
service engineer. Used to be in brown goods, now repair office printer and fax
equipment. I do still repair brown goods to some degree, but that's only as
a contractor to other service dept's. I don't take that work in directly anymore.

Hummmm wots brown goods????

[MattF]

Hummmm wots brown goods????

Domestic entertainment. Television, video, satellite and hifi.

[beaufighter]

Exactly, it has to be a last resort before I will have any trades people in the house. Luckily I am able to tackle most things and have had plenty of experience in house renovation - my own. On one occasion I had put in a completely new bathroom suite and then due to pressure of work ran out of time. With a need to have the suite plumbed in, and I mean only connected up as I had already put in the new pipes so a couple of hours work, I called on a local plumber to give me a quote. £500!! No wonder people do it themselves.

My advice is to read the books, attend night school and give it a go.

[POPEYE]

Most things are do'able yourself with a bit of common sence, with the exception perhaps of electrics, and even then some of it's not too bad, through nesesity i'm rewireing the lighting circuit (in stages) in my place as the soddin council in their infinate wisdom passed these places (in the 60's) with a non earthed wireing system (lighting), gonna get a mate to connect to the consumer unit though, that stuff hurts,
The only "tradesman" i've ever had in (a couple of months ago) made a right frekin mess of it, flooded the place when he botched the flue terminal (flat roof) and it pi$$ed with rain that night, Thats a qualified plumber for yer,
Just finished fitting this thing together today, it's a chinese made, sweedish style steam/shower thing, it's going in the bedroom, it did'nt look that big in the picture but it does now, off ebay and no frekin instructions, it looked daunting at first, more pipes and tubes than a Naffi pie, but when you study it a bit it's not too bad, if the missis dont want the steam option i'm gonna fit it in the truck, turbo steam injection system what yer reccon

[Ace Piker]

more pipes and tubes than a Naffi pie,

Someone's sealegs are showing!

[Vagrant No2]

Oh well I will need a rethink .
I have rewirred this house , fitted the kitchen , fitted the bathroom inc all plumbing and tiling, built bookshelfs , plastered the walls, hung all the doors ,knocked through the lounge to dinning room ,built and modifyied the built in wardrobes, papered the walls,rebuilt the stair knewl posts and spindles , built a 3 level deck patio , etc so thought I could I could pick up on one of these to retrain .
Before I left school I wanted to be an electrician but when I left school and went for apprenticeship I failed on the entry exams on my maths , so I was offered a mechanics apprenticeship .

Any suggestion as to wot I can retrain to do ?

[POPEYE]

Oh well I will need a rethink .
I have rewirred this house , fitted the kitchen , fitted the bathroom inc all plumbing and tiling, built bookshelfs , plastered the walls, hung all the doors ,knocked through the lounge to dinning room ,built and modifyied the built in wardrobes, papered the walls,rebuilt the stair knewl posts and spindles , built a 3 level deck patio , etc so thought I could I could pick up on one of these to retrain .
Before I left school I wanted to be an electrician but when I left school and went for apprenticeship I failed on the entry exams on my maths , so I was offered a mechanics apprenticeship .

Any suggestion as to wot I can retrain to do ?

A roofer!! they get away with murder half hour makeing a bit of noise and present a bill for two grand, you'll be able to get a 3rd gen in two weeks,

[Vagrant No2]

A roofer!! they get away with murder half hour makeing a bit of noise and present a bill for two grand, you'll be able to get a 3rd gen in two weeks,

I dont like heights.

[Woodzie]

Oh well I will need a rethink .
I have rewirred this house , fitted the kitchen , fitted the bathroom inc all plumbing and tiling, built bookshelfs , plastered the walls, hung all the doors ,knocked through the lounge to dinning room ,built and modifyied the built in wardrobes, papered the walls,rebuilt the stair knewl posts and spindles , built a 3 level deck patio , etc so thought I could I could pick up on one of these to retrain .
Before I left school I wanted to be an electrician but when I left school and went for apprenticeship I failed on the entry exams on my maths , so I was offered a mechanics apprenticeship .

Any suggestion as to wot I can retrain to do ?

Male Stripper

[POPEYE]

Someone's sealegs are showing!

Ahahah used to call em mystry tours

[Vagrant No2]

Male Stripper

I think things have started to hang to far south now to be considered for that

[sticks]

Hello mate, in answer to your question there are 3 ex plumbers where I work now and that includes me! There are many reasons why and I think somebody has already said about the cheap labour and the fact most plumbing is do-able. Though it is highly over sold to say the least!
Its only gas heating that is regulated( for obvious reasons) and thats only corgi (Certificate Of Registered Gas Installers) and thats done by the gas board and is overated and only really asked for by the Insurance Industry.
It also depends on where you are as some areas are desperate while others are awash with them.
I'd go for the choice of sparky if I were you but that is regulated heavily and even cheap labour has to take the tests for that when they wish to work here but the training is long and the tests are expensive also there is the question of supply and demand in your area.
Anyway, good luck whatever your choice.

[beaufighter]

How are your carpentry skills? Ok you need some maths but not the sort they teach for some of the other trades. Incidently, I trained to be a mechanic when I left school but had to leave the course as I could not get on with the maths. Often just being an odd jobber who is able to turn there hand to most household tasks will always be in demand. I know of a couple of people in this area who do just that and they appear to be quite comfortable. Nice life, variety, no one on your back and speaking with them most of their work comes from repeat business and recommendation. I would say that if you have done all that and feel that you have the ability then why not give it a go? After all you always have your previous trade to rely on if it is not a success.