Tradesmen

[Motu]

I've got a couple of builder mates who do mainly renovation work...and ride bikes,always busy then.I don't know how they do it,their work flow is very spasmotic.If they take on a job that's going to take 6 weeks or more,then they can't do other jobs,they still get called on for quote,have to fit in some other job that was waiting for council concent or other work to finish so they could do theirs,urgent jobs.I do many jobs in one day,some jobs may take 2 or 3 - but to manage a workflow when you are talking about jobs taking weeks must be very difficult.I'm always too scared to ask them to do something for me,it's just too stessful to me to hear them trying to fit me in.

[Ixion]

HOW BOUT INSTALLING YOUR OWN HIGH WALL AIRCONDITIONING , OR REPAIRING A LEAK IN A HIGH WALL AC AND REFILLING IT WITH GAS?CAN YOU DO THAT SHIT WITH A FEW SPANNERS

Geting the gas and testing the job is the hard part. I've fixed refrigeration units before today.

But at home I keep life simple. Don't buy anything that cant either be biffed when it break, or fixed by me. Preferably with me BLOODY BIG HAMMER. I like things simple.

But Jim2 was talking about a door. Doors are pretty simple.

[James Deuce]

Thought of doing it yourself?

Not a hope in hell. There isn't a job I've "done" that hasn't required someone else coming to fix it. I can't even put an exhaust canister on without denting it, an oil filter without cross threading it, a piece of duct tape without removing paint when I take it off. Odd thing is I'm a toolsetter by "trade". I'll mill 15 microns off the inside rims of your wheels once I've measured the bugger and set the offsets in whatever CNC lathe I chuck them in. If I tried to do that to my own wheels, I'd destroy the chuck, smash the hubs out of the wheels, and the cutting head would sticking up out of the body of the lathe at a weird angle, having taken the arm off an innocent bystander. And somehow the lathe bed would damaged in a way that made it uneconomic for repair.

I wouldn't have the foggiest where to begin with joinery, and I'm bound to lose a thumb in the process.

[James Deuce]

But Jim2 was talking about a door. Doors are pretty simple.

There's the stoop, the frame, the glazing, the lintel, the frame, architraves, and the door has eight glazed panels that are apparently rare, valuable, and irreplaceable. The actual door joinery is being replaced too. It needs sealing, painting, clear coat and weather sealing. I SHOULDN'T touch it.

[WINJA]

Geting the gas and testing the job is the hard part. I've fixed refrigeration units before today.

But at home I keep life simple. Don't buy anything that cant either be biffed when it break, or fixed by me. Preferably with me BLOODY BIG HAMMER. I like things simple.

But Jim2 was talking about a door. Doors are pretty simple.

I WENT AND BOUGHT A BIG HEAP OF TOOLS SO I COULD DO ALL THIS SHIT MYSELF SO IF I NEED TO PUT UP A WALL OR KNOCK ONE DOWN I JUST HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT OR ASK MY COUSIN WHO IS A BUILDER FOR ADVICE , IVE DONE ALL MY OWN PAINTING REPLACED MY ROOFING IRON AND PUT IN MY OWN POWER POINTS AND LIGHTING , IT ISNT THAT HARD TO DO SOME SHIT ROUND THE HOME , I WOULDNT LAY MY OWN DRAINS OR PUT IN MY OWN FIREPLACE THO SOMETHINGS ARE BEST LEFT TO THE PROS

[soundbeltfarm]

Not a hope in hell. There isn't a job I've "done" that hasn't required someone else coming to fix it.

same here .

im primo at pulling shit apart but when it comes to putting it back together i always end up with parts left over.

and normally the thing still goes so i reckon companies put stuff in a component just to add to the price. joking.

its in the genes i reckon, my old man took all their wedding appliances apart just to see how stuff works. he couldn't afford to buy things back then so he thought all his christmases had come at once on his wedding day.
mum said he only managed to get 2 thirds of the aplliances back together with out parts left over.

but nowadays he's good with things so here's hoping i get better as i get older.

[Zed]

Thought of doing it yourself?

I do most of my own jobs for that reason - don't like having to rely on other people, and I find that by the time I shag around chasing someone to do the job, I can have it done myslef.

Then you must be a man of many talents, and I suppose where there is a will there is a way!

When it comes to DIY, only sometimes will I make the effort. Any 'trade' involves leanring unique skills and knowledge that the average person just won't have unless he/she has experience in that field. Sure, there are books and courses available that will help you to learn certain trades so you can DIY, but that's easier said than done, especially if you need the job done in an emergency. Some people will make the effort and completely botch it up causing more trouble than it's worth, yet others like yourself Ixion have what it takes to get the job done...I'd luv to see your house!!

[The_Dover]

It's not another episode of "Jim'll Fix It" then?

[soundbeltfarm]

I WENT AND BOUGHT A BIG HEAP OF TOOLS SO I COULD DO ALL THIS SHIT MYSELF SO IF I NEED TO PUT UP A WALL OR KNOCK ONE DOWN I JUST HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT OR ASK MY COUSIN WHO IS A BUILDER FOR ADVICE , IVE DONE ALL MY OWN PAINTING REPLACED MY ROOFING IRON AND PUT IN MY OWN POWER POINTS AND LIGHTING , IT ISNT THAT HARD TO DO SOME SHIT ROUND THE HOME , I WOULDNT LAY MY OWN DRAINS OR PUT IN MY OWN FIREPLACE THO SOMETHINGS ARE BEST LEFT TO THE PROS

you painted your roof then?

whats the deal with fitting your own powerpoints and insurance? if your're not qualified.
if your house burns down because of electrical fire will you be covered?

always wanted to know this.

[Ixion]

Main thing with DIY, is it always takes y' longer than the tradesman. Cos he's doing it all the time, so he gets fast.

So y'have to balance up the extra time it's going to take doing it yourself, versus the cost and hassle of getting someone in.

With me , it's usually the hassle factor that does it. I don't paying someone to do the job, but I can't be arsed messing round trying to dfind someone to do it.

Same with bikes and cars. I do my own stuff usually, but there are some thing, like oil changes in the car, where it works out no dearer to get them done, and less hassle. Tyres, ditto, I can't be arsed putting tyres on rims any more, it's so much easier for the pro with his tyre changing machine. Thing is to know that you CAN do it yourself, 'cos then the dynamic changes, from having to find someone to do it, to deciding if it's worth while doing it yourself. .

[Ixion]

Then you must be a man of many talents, and I suppose where there is a will there is a way!

When it comes to DIY, only sometimes will I make the effort. Any 'trade' involves leanring unique skills and knowledge that the average person just won't have unless he/she has experience in that field. Sure, there are books and courses available that will help you to learn certain trades so you can DIY, but that's easier said than done, especially if you need the job done in an emergency. Some people will make the effort and completely botch it up causing more trouble than it's worth, yet others like yourself Ixion have what it takes to get the job done...I'd luv to see your house!!

Well, older folk will remember when you mor eor less HAD to do such things y'self. And m'house is like m' bikes. I don't do pretty. Gives things ideas above tehir station. They work - function is what matters.

[James Deuce]

You've read far too much Pratchett, Ixion old man. It's filtered into the in between bits of your brain.

[Ixion]

There are no in between bits in my brain. They're all filled up with Speights.

[Zed]

Well, older folk will remember when you mor eor less HAD to do such things y'self. And m'house is like m' bikes. I don't do pretty. Gives things ideas above tehir station. They work - function is what matters.

Hmmm that must've been the same mindset of the aged man who lived for 25 years in the last house I bought. There were a heap of different DIY jobs that had been performed in different areas of the house, some only half finished, and they didn't look pretty! I had to spend money getting a hole in the roof fixed, and some plumbing redone because of previous dodgy DIY work.

[WINJA]

you painted your roof then?

whats the deal with fitting your own powerpoints and insurance? if your're not qualified.
if your house burns down because of electrical fire will you be covered?

always wanted to know this.

THEY GOTTA PROVE I INSTALLED THEM AND THEN MY WIRING WOULD HAVE TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THEN FIRE B4 THEY CAN VOID MY INSURANCE , IVE GOT A LOT OF ELECTRICAL EXPERIENCE AND EVEN DRAW WIRING DIAGRAMS FOR SPARKS IVE ALSO GOT AN ELECTRICAL SERVICE TECHNICIANS LICENCE , WHAT I RECKON IS BAD IS THE AMOUNT OF SPARKY FIRMS SENDING FIRST YEAR APPRENTICES TO WIRE PEOPLES HOMES , THESE ARE SCHOOL LEAVERS AND SUCH , I WAS AT A FACTORY THE OTHER DAY AND ASKED THE SPARKY TO DO A COC AND HE SAID HE COULDNT , I ASKED IF HE EVEN HAD THE PRACTICING LICENCE AND HE DIDNT HAVE THAT EITHER , LOTSA YOU SUCKERS ARE PAYING FOR A QUALIFIED SPARKY AND ONLY GETTING AN APPRENTICE AND YES YOUR INSURANCE IS VOID IF HES THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE