These days most of us females can use a paint roller, screwdriver or drill just as well (or as badly) as the men from our generation. We can do a range of DIY tasks quite easily on our own or with a bit of help from a handy youtube video. This is great because it means you don’t need to get a bloke in to give you a sky-high quote, not turn up when they said they would and do a half-assed job that you have to make repeated calls to get them back to finish properly! This is saving us a great deal of money, time and stress.
However, there are some jobs that really don’t fall into the DIY category for which you will need to get some specialist help. The sort of jobs I am thinking of are; asbestos removal, dealing with rising damp, fitting windows or having wiring replaced. It can be daunting to find and use a workman however a bit of knowhow can help you make good decisions and give you confidence to negotiate.
Use A Reputable Company or Workman
Choosing someone purely on the basis of price is a bad idea. You get what you pay for and if someone is prepared to do your job for a surprisingly low price there will probably be a reason – they will do a poor job, not turn up, make a terrible mess, use poor quality materials or even attempt to defraud you. It is better to wait a bit longer, save up a bit more money and pay for better quality work.
You should always get more than one person or company to give you a quote. Their questions to you and the detail provided in their quotes will help you think through all the elements of the job and make sure you have had the opportunity to think about all the important decisions. You will be able to compare their level of detail, price, qualifications and other things like how trustworthy you found them and what commitments they gave you about keeping to an agreed schedule.
But how do you identify which people to ask to come and quote for the work? If you have friends or family who have recommended a company or tradesman that is a good start. But everyone’s idea of value for money or quality of finish is different, so don’t go on a recommendation without asking someone else to quote too. There are plenty of good websites that collect independent reviews on tradesmen (CheckaTrade, Which Trusted Trader, TrustMark and TrustaTrader ). Look for people who have some trading history (at least 12 months) and look for good reviews. If there are one or two bad reviews read them – was this a genuine issue of poor quality work or is the reviewer being unreasonable?
Payments
It is reasonable to pay for materials upfront however you should not be paying for 100% of the labour until the job is complete and you are satisfied. If a builder is pressuring you to pay 100% before the job is completed then walk away. It is quite normal to hold back 10-20% of the total cost of the job as security. Once all the snagging work has been completed you make the final payment.
Damp
Damp rooms are cold and can become mouldy which is very bad for your health. In addition, damp walls and window or door frames will start to disintegrate and rot. The longer you leave the damp the larger the area of damage. So if you spot damp you should deal with it as quickly as possible to minimise damage and reduce the total cost of the repair work. You should try to find a specialist company that only perform damp repair and treatment. They will be able to use the most technologically advanced materials and will have greater experience at completing a quality job quickly.
The damp treatment company should identify the source of the damp – it will be things like a missing damp proof course, damage to the damp-proof course, bridging materials on the exterior of the wall, leaking windows frames etc. They should use a special measuring device to test the dampness of the walls and floor to establish the size of the affected area. If areas of the wall are damp they do need to be removed and replaced. If they aren’t then residual salts left by the damp will continue to leech out and discolour your walls. When you get a quote make sure you establish exactly how much wall they need to remove (if any) and if doors, windows or flooring also needs to be replaced. Ask them to say how they are going to complete the damp proofing – membranes, injected fluids or other barrier materials. Establish how much drying time they recommend between each stage. If different companies identify different causes, want to remove & replace different areas of wall or use different damp proof treatments don’t be embarrassed to ask them why.
Asbestos Removal
Although the devastating health effects of asbestos have been known since the late 1800’s it has still been widely used up until the 1960s when its connection to cancer was scientifically established. It was still used for several decades after this and was not banned in new buildings until 1999. Estimates are that half the homes in the UK contain this dangerous material. It is hazardous because when it is moved, removed or broken it releases tiny fibres that are inhaled into the lungs where it can cause a range of deadly diseases.
You might assume that asbestos is only found in old home insulation but this is not true. It can be found in a huge array of places and materials; tiles, gutters, water tanks, pipes, Artex, partition walls, cement, panel ceilings and roof shingle. So if you are about to disturb any of these materials in a pre-1999 home you should get a licensed asbestos tester trained to Category B level to carry out asbestos testing. If they find asbestos then you need to contract a Category C trained person or company to safely remove the materials. The Health and Safety Executive published a list of all the licenses asbestos handling companies so make sure you use one of these companies.
Electrical Work
Electrical work is both tricky and potentially dangerous. Changing a light bulb is pretty easy but replacing sockets, light fitting and plugs can be potentially dangerous. That is why it is a good idea to use a registered electrician for your homes electrical work. Electrical Safety First is a UK non-profit that published lots of electrical safety information such as product recalls and information about buying electrical appliances. Crucially they also list all the officially trained and registered electricians so you should only use someone if they are on this list.