Home D.I.Y.

[CXRAndy]

I like to do things myself, but understand professional people charge. They are cheap compared to a solicitor or private doctor.

Solicitors charge £175 per hour.

My very talented joiner and neighbour charges £225 a day.

Because I can do most of the basic stuff, I can buy the tools I want. It may take me a few days longer to get the job done,

 

[gbb]

Me too, I fix things outside my remit to save a few £ where possible.
It's a bit unfair to bemoan bona fide tradespeople a living.
I've been self employed for 37 years, so have a very good understanding of work required & the break down of costings. Circa £100 is about correct for a customer visit, diagnose an issue & make a repair. If you were charging less, then its not a sustainable business based on 4-5 calls a day.

Tbf, I'm not 'fuming' or anywhere near, just thought £108 was a bit expensive for 10 mins work, add maybe 20 mins travel, plus fuel, plus vehicle....and I guess the more you think about it, what's a tradesman need to earn every week to keep a business healthy, £500 a day minimum I'd guess.

It's no problem anyway, problem solved, the cost isn't really the big issue , it's the fact I'd have almost certainly DIY'd it given the time (and not too much of it)
Circumstances dictate you have to do what you have to do sometimes,

 

[Drago]

Plastic door expanding in the heat? Raising the hinge may have resolved it, but is heat the problem?
We have similar with our French doors in hot weather - I adjusted the hinges and cured it last year - more Global Warming this year?

I was surprised to find recently that UPVC and polycarbonate do indeed expand, the latter especially so.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Saturday 8th

I bet this chap regretted his trip this morning, with intermittent torrential rain/thunderstorms

Wickes
(off) Park Road
Pontefract

 

[newts]

Saturday 8th

I bet this chap regretted his trip this morning, with intermittent torrential rain/thunderstorms

Wickes
(off) Park Road
Pontefract

View attachment 697973

Only if they knew you can fold the guttering into a U shape & then shut all the doors & windows🤣

 

[fossyant]

Only if they knew you can fold the guttering into a U shape & then shut all the doors & windows🤣

Or use a bungie for the boot

 

[Lee_M]

Tbf, I'm not 'fuming' or anywhere near, just thought £108 was a bit expensive for 10 mins work, add maybe 20 mins travel, plus fuel, plus vehicle....and I guess the more you think about it, what's a tradesman need to earn every week to keep a business healthy, £500 a day minimum I'd guess.

It's no problem anyway, problem solved, the cost isn't really the big issue , it's the fact I'd have almost certainly DIY'd it given the time (and not too much of it)
Circumstances dictate you have to do what you have to do sometimes,

You're not paying £108 for 10 minutes work, you're paying £108 for someone to know what to do during that 10 minutes, and to have any/all tools required during that 10 minutes.

I'm guessing the guy didn't turn up within 10 minutes, so if it was that easy, you could have done it before he got there?

 

[Drago]

And if the cack it up they bear responsibility for putting it right, and some ongoing legal responsibility over the quality of materials and workmwnship.

 

[MontyVeda]

priced up some 2x4 online and got my mother to drive me to pick up 5 x 2.4m lengths... but they only stock 3m lengths so a quick on the spot recalculation meant i'd only need three lengths... got them to the garage and started cutting them to size and realised i needed four

 

[MontyVeda]

And if they cack it up they bear responsibility for putting it right, and some ongoing legal responsibility over the quality of materials and workmanship.

have you ever watched Cowboy Builders?

 

[Drago]

Yes. Fortunately I'm not daft enough to employ one.

 

[Jameshow]

Saturday 8th

I bet this chap regretted his trip this morning, with intermittent torrential rain/thunderstorms

Wickes
(off) Park Road
Pontefract

View attachment 697973

Gutted!!

 

[gbb]

You're not paying £108 for 10 minutes work, you're paying £108 for someone to know what to do during that 10 minutes, and to have any/all tools required during that 10 minutes.

I'm guessing the guy didn't turn up within 10 minutes, so if it was that easy, you could have done it before he got there?

Nah, up post I said something along the lines...'ah well, circumstances dictate', that sentiment anyway.
It's 6.30 am, I am literally on my way out the door to work. I spent 5 minutes trying to figure out why, not enough time.
I said to my wife, if you don't mind the door unlocked all day, I will have a look tonight.
But I'm at the hospital today..said my wife..I could call someone, see if I can get someone out before I have to go.
Phhhh, well, that's the circumstances, you gotta do what you have to do. I almost certainly would have sorted it that evening but....the rest is history.
Truth is, it's not the cost, it's the fact I could have, almost certainly would have, fixed it myself.

 

[Lee_M]

Nah, up post I said something along the lines...'ah well, circumstances dictate', that sentiment anyway.
It's 6.30 am, I am literally on my way out the door to work. I spent 5 minutes trying to figure out why, not enough time.
I said to my wife, if you don't mind the door unlocked all day, I will have a look tonight.
But I'm at the hospital today..said my wife..I could call someone, see if I can get someone out before I have to go.
Phhhh, well, that's the circumstances, you gotta do what you have to do. I almost certainly would have sorted it that evening but....the rest is history.
Truth is, it's not the cost, it's the fact I could have, almost certainly would have, fixed it myself.

Never said you couldn't do it at a later date, but the fact is you paid for an expert to turn up, when you wanted him to, to fix it when you wanted it fixing. That's what you paid for

And when people say "it's not the money", it's the money.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Never said you couldn't do it at a later date, but the fact is you paid for an expert to turn up, when you wanted him to, to fix it when you wanted it fixing. That's what you paid for

And when people say "it's not the money", it's the money

How do you know he was an expert? In fact how the cheerio do you get to become an expert in fixing UPVC doors