http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'

Qualified tradespeople can help prevent DIY disaster
Homeowners risk injury, heartache and DIY disaster by calling in
friends and family to carry out home improvements, a government-backed
body has said.
TrustMark, which warns about rogue traders, said 58% of homeowners
asked non-professionals to do work such as electrical, roofing or
plumbing jobs.

First-time buyers were most likely to use friends and family, it said.

Using friends and family might feel like good value for money, but in
the long run it might not be, it warned.

"It is all very well asking family members to help out with home
improvements... but it is worth bearing in mind that you are unlikely
to have a father who is a qualified electrician," Ian Livsey, TrustMark
chairman, said.

"Homeowners need to remember that selecting a reputable tradesperson is
the best way to get a quality job at a fair price."

David Pope, of Electrix UK, a TrustMark member, added: "Homeowners may
feel that by asking friends or family to work on their home they are
getting good value for money.

"In the long run, they need to understand that by not using a qualified
and accredited tradesperson, they could be risking the quality of work
and even the safety of their homes."

TrustMark is supported by the government, consumer groups and the
building trade.


unquote

On 26 Oct 2006 00:18:21 -0700, blue wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'

Qualified tradespeople can help prevent DIY disaster
Homeowners risk injury, heartache and DIY disaster by calling in
friends and family to carry out home improvements, a government-backed
body has said.

Err, acting as devil's advocate for just a moment, there's no doubt that we
do get the occasional poster here who shouldn't try to tackle *any* sort of
DIY work. When I see someone asking for advice about the most basic
knowledge for tackling a job, it begs the question 'Are they competent to
do the work?' IMHO, those people should be advised against tackling DIY
projects.

TrustMark, which warns about rogue traders, said 58% of homeowners
asked non-professionals to do work such as electrical, roofing or
plumbing jobs.

First-time buyers were most likely to use friends and family, it said.

Using friends and family might feel like good value for money, but in
the long run it might not be, it warned.

"It is all very well asking family members to help out with home
improvements... but it is worth bearing in mind that you are unlikely
to have a father who is a qualified electrician," Ian Livsey, TrustMark
chairman, said.

"Homeowners need to remember that selecting a reputable tradesperson is
the best way to get a quality job at a fair price."

Now *that* is the laughable part of the whole report. It's a gamble. If you
finish up with a good craftsman, then you're lucky, but most so-called
reputable tradespersons will cut corners if they think they can get away
with it. Says he who has just finished properly repairing and repainting
fascia boards around the house that were last painted by a 'reputable
tradesperson' who slapped wood hardener and *masses* of filler into areas
of wet rot on the corners of the fascia.

David Pope, of Electrix UK, a TrustMark member, added: "Homeowners may
feel that by asking friends or family to work on their home they are
getting good value for money.

"In the long run, they need to understand that by not using a qualified
and accredited tradesperson, they could be risking the quality of work
and even the safety of their homes."

Much as current regulations can be a PITA, they are making the serious
DIYer think about what he or she is doing, and I suggest do a better job
because of them.

TrustMark is supported by the government, consumer groups and the
building trade.


unquote

Are, so it's really a bit of protectionism - but we all knew that anyway,
didn't we?

--
the dot wanderer at tesco dot net

"The Wanderer" wrote in message
...
On 26 Oct 2006 00:18:21 -0700, blue wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'

Qualified tradespeople can help prevent DIY disaster
Homeowners risk injury, heartache and DIY disaster by calling in
friends and family to carry out home improvements, a government-backed
body has said.

Err, acting as devil's advocate for just a moment, there's no doubt that
we
do get the occasional poster here who shouldn't try to tackle *any* sort
of
DIY work. When I see someone asking for advice about the most basic
knowledge for tackling a job, it begs the question 'Are they competent to
do the work?' IMHO, those people should be advised against tackling DIY
projects.
...

And in fairness to this list, they usually are. People here spot a someone
trying to do a job outside their compentancy pretty quickly, and the advice
is always good (i.e. find someone else who can do it).

-- JJ

The Wanderer wrote:
On 26 Oct 2006 00:18:21 -0700, blue wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'

Qualified tradespeople can help prevent DIY disaster
Homeowners risk injury, heartache and DIY disaster by calling in
friends and family to carry out home improvements, a government-backed
body has said.

Err, acting as devil's advocate for just a moment, there's no doubt that we
do get the occasional poster here who shouldn't try to tackle *any* sort of
DIY work. When I see someone asking for advice about the most basic
knowledge for tackling a job, it begs the question 'Are they competent to
do the work?' IMHO, those people should be advised against tackling DIY
projects.

TrustMark, which warns about rogue traders, said 58% of homeowners
asked non-professionals to do work such as electrical, roofing or
plumbing jobs.

First-time buyers were most likely to use friends and family, it said.

Using friends and family might feel like good value for money, but in
the long run it might not be, it warned.

"It is all very well asking family members to help out with home
improvements... but it is worth bearing in mind that you are unlikely
to have a father who is a qualified electrician," Ian Livsey, TrustMark
chairman, said.

"Homeowners need to remember that selecting a reputable tradesperson is
the best way to get a quality job at a fair price."

Now *that* is the laughable part of the whole report. It's a gamble. If you
finish up with a good craftsman, then you're lucky, but most so-called
reputable tradespersons will cut corners if they think they can get away
with it. Says he who has just finished properly repairing and repainting
fascia boards around the house that were last painted by a 'reputable
tradesperson' who slapped wood hardener and *masses* of filler into areas
of wet rot on the corners of the fascia.


Perfectly reasonable if the wood is dry and the really punky stuff is
cut back with a wire brush first.

That, or replace the bloody lot. Cutting in wood is a pain in the arse,
expensive, and always roots at the joint.

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
The Wanderer wrote:
On 26 Oct 2006 00:18:21 -0700, blue wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'
snip
Now *that* is the laughable part of the whole report. It's a gamble. If you
finish up with a good craftsman, then you're lucky, but most so-called
reputable tradespersons will cut corners if they think they can get away
with it. Says he who has just finished properly repairing and repainting
fascia boards around the house that were last painted by a 'reputable
tradesperson' who slapped wood hardener and *masses* of filler into areas
of wet rot on the corners of the fascia.


Perfectly reasonable if the wood is dry and the really punky stuff is
cut back with a wire brush first.

That, or replace the bloody lot. Cutting in wood is a pain in the arse,
expensive, and always roots at the joint.

Only if it's been replaced with really unseasoned wood.

(I have seen a sprouting windowsill)

It's an asscoaition on an association. To get a trustmark you first
have to join one of the trade bodies on the approved list - and from a
brief look, the list seems reasonable.

I'm less keen on how they promote it - FUD - Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt.
Whilst dangerous diy cretins and ripoff tradesmen undoubtedly exist,
IMO the major root of the problem is the unwillingness of the
householder to spend sufficient money to get quality.

The householder knows they're getting it bodged up on the cheap,
whether it's Uncle Fred or Bodgit Builders. And equally they know if
Uncle Fred has a good skill level or is in fact Uncle Fred Bodgit.

wrote in message
oups.com...
IMO the major root of the problem is the unwillingness of the
householder to spend sufficient money to get quality.

The householder knows they're getting it bodged up on the cheap,

It's not unwillingness, it's unableness in a lot of cases.

I work in an area of the NHS (not a doctor but my job deals directly with
patients and I have all the responsibility of knowing that if I cock up,
those patients are going to suffer in some way) and I get paid just over
£13/hour.

I don't mind paying anyone a fair days wage for a fair days work but when
some plumber wants £50/hour for moving a bit of copper pipe (or any other of
a zillion examples I could give) then the sums obviously just don't add up.

Fred.

On 26 Oct 2006 01:03:11 -0700 wrote :
It's an asscoaition on an association. To get a trustmark you first
have to join one of the trade bodies on the approved list - and from
a brief look, the list seems reasonable.

But IME really good builders have more work offered to them than they
can handle so they won't be interested in being on a list like this.

You only have to Google on 'Moben' to see what so-called professionals
can be capable of.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk

blue wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'

Qualified tradespeople can help prevent DIY disaster
Homeowners risk injury, heartache and DIY disaster by calling in
friends and family to carry out home improvements, a government-backed
body has said.

"Homeowners need to remember that selecting a reputable tradesperson is
the best way to get a quality job at a fair price."

I think the reality is that most bodges are done by professionals, who
know they wont have to live with the results of their work.

Just another attempt to take peoples freedoms away for someone's
profit. Unfortunately most will believe it, as prat p experience shows.


NT

blue wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'
stuff snipped

Being somewhat not-sleepy last night, I was sitting in bed watching telly
and stumbled onto ITV and their 'game' program. The question was 'add up the
numbers', and they showed a box with three balloons with the numbers 44, 80,
and ninety-six. Anyway, the idea was that you phone in (several times) and
have a go to win some money. The young lady that was hosting the show at the
time said (something like) "With this £15,000 you won't need to DIY, but can
get someone in to do a better job." Never did find the solution to the
question though.

Grumps wrote:
blue wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'
stuff snipped

Being somewhat not-sleepy last night, I was sitting in bed watching telly
and stumbled onto ITV and their 'game' program. The question was 'add up the
numbers', and they showed a box with three balloons with the numbers 44, 80,
and ninety-six. Anyway, the idea was that you phone in (several times) and
have a go to win some money. The young lady that was hosting the show at the
time said (something like) "With this £15,000 you won't need to DIY, but can
get someone in to do a better job." Never did find the solution to the
question though.

I saw that once .... it had (something like):

"21" "forty seven" "132" ...

I was suspecting the answer was 153 ....

wrote:
Grumps wrote:
blue wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'
stuff snipped

Being somewhat not-sleepy last night, I was sitting in bed watching
telly and stumbled onto ITV and their 'game' program. The question
was 'add up the numbers', and they showed a box with three balloons
with the numbers 44, 80, and ninety-six. Anyway, the idea was that
you phone in (several times) and have a go to win some money. The
young lady that was hosting the show at the time said (something
like) "With this £15,000 you won't need to DIY, but can get someone
in to do a better job." Never did find the solution to the question
though.

I saw that once .... it had (something like):

"21" "forty seven" "132" ...

I was suspecting the answer was 153 ....

But I bet it wasn't.
I worked out all of the combinations that I could (44+80+96, 4+4+8+9+6,
4+4+8+9-6, 44+80, 4+4+8, etc), but they all failed to win the prize (I
really couldn't sleep!).

In message om, blue
writes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6085476.stm
quote
Botched jobs 'pose risk to homes'

Qualified tradespeople can help prevent DIY disaster
Homeowners risk injury, heartache and DIY disaster by calling in
friends and family to carry out home improvements, a government-backed
body has said.
TrustMark, which warns about rogue traders, said 58% of homeowners
asked non-professionals to do work such as electrical, roofing or
plumbing jobs.


Miss what exactly ?

a bit of lame self promoting blurb ?

**** off with this crap

--
geoff