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Are you busy !?

View the thread, titled "Are you busy !?" which is posted in UK Plumbers Forums on UK Plumbers Forums.

T

tomskinner

How are you taking the recession? Has work slowed up, got busy, prices dropped? Is now a good time to put yourself out there. Share you thoughts
 
Work hasn't slowed up, it's stopped. I've done 12 hours work in the last 3 weeks. Fortunately I've got a couple of big jobs starting next Monday but the phone is silent.


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It's non stop and has been for a while, worked sat and sun morning. Just nipped home to grab a sandwich. Worked booked in well in advance and pricing something every other day. But it's not the same for everybody. I now lads who are doing very little at the minute.
 
Seams the place to be is Teesdale lads, look out Simon ! ALL UK plumbers heading to County Durham, work down in west country is dead :skull: , prices cut for what is about, and general public getting advise on here and doing it themselfs :icon9: Thank god we have J Kyle & Springer to cheer us up ! LOL, Right bag's are pack'd off to County Durham !!
 
Pretty quiet for me too, so much so that I've just taken the offer of a part time contract doing some project management for a retailer...
Half decent income for the hours, so if the proper work doesn't pick up at least I can cover my outgoings and not end up homeless or in poverty.
Worked out quite nicely really, flexible contract so I can work it around my main business as and when required.

Was starting to get a bit down about it all, but spoke to a few of my local guys and they're in the same boat - Especially the guys specialised to boiler servicing, one of them was down >75% on last year. He reckons that loads of his regulars have stopped servicing (non essential spend), and will just waiting for breakdowns before calling anyone out - Allways the cheapest they can find too. Not a good place to be...

Last thing I ever want to do is walk away from this business but I have to keep busy or I'll go bonkers without constant work or learning to keep me occupied! - Boredom threshold of a fish with ADHD me, and daytime telly makes me want to punch someone! 🙂

Hope it picks up soon, but guess we've got a tough couple of years ahead!
 
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I can now imagine a traffic jam of plumbers vans pouring into County Durham, like a copper based version of the USA Gold Rush of old!
 
Just had a new build, all plumbing and heating , and three heating installs confirmed.Just need to get the van back on the road now!!!
Looks like it is going to be the busiest summer I have had for the last three years.
 
very slow for me, in fact the worst its been since i started on my own 3 1/2 years ago.
i've never felt so bad, its difficult to know what more to do when you've done everything you can think of and
the phone still doesnt ring.
 
Well done Grahamgas , but no van ! think steveb and me better come over to Portsmouth first ! on our way to County Durham. lol :auto:
 
Work has slowed right down. Theres 2 of us and my mate is gonna get a job somewhere. Its national though definitely I know loads of lads from all over from site subbin an there all sayin the same thing. It'll pick up though I'm sure. Government should be offering something after all the only way they're gonna get things moving is the private sector
 
Haha, like it! The plastic rush, sounds like the thing I'm paraniod of hearing evrytime I pressurise a system where I've been forced to use plastic!
 
I've had to take on contracting work to earn a living. The phone is certainly quieter this year than last. It will pick up I'm sure. An awfull lot more new plumbing and heating companies starting up locally all the time and I'm sure that's the main problem. Graham if work slows up it is always a great excuse to go fishing!
 
It's just slowed right down up here! 🙂 🙂 🙂

I just don't know what it is. Three boiler services (1 combi and 2 condensing conventional) and creating a new shelf on a semi recessed basin and concealed wc. Did two services this morning and one of the customers wants a shower in, picked some gear up and visited maccy d's then look at moving two rads and moving incoming mains for a new kitchen install. Then last service and she wants a shower fitting and then out to sort the shelf. It just seems that I cross one job off my list and add two too it. Mind you it's been bloody hard work to get into this position.
 
national issue few lucky ones who seem to be busy enough but reckon most doing nothing ,imo it wont get better either as materials are over costly plus the govt are pushing people who have lost jobs into learning trades etc.

Funny converstaion overheard in the merchants today tho 2 old guard plumbers saying that the youngsters are killing the game , judging by the colourfull language i would say tourettes was killing the game for them !!
 
A lot of the problem down this way is people are after as cheap as possible and going for guys doing foreigners at weekends with no PLI and without there own Gas Safe. Because they're just working for beer money they can go in dirt cheap and prob use materials from there weekly job so it's even cheaper. I'm hearing more and more tales of people being undercut by huge amounts. The prices some of these jobs are being done for a bona fide tradesmen would be making a loss after taking account of overheads.
 
I was thinking about leaving the firm i sub contract from to try and branch out solo but theres been a bit of a mixed response i may try to cut my days down on site and see if i can fill a couple days a week with work but fear as work gets tighter on site i would be one of the first to go, may rethink a plan
 
Things is merseyside are dreadful. Got 2 full bathroom refurbs this month but this will be my busiest month this year! Used to get £150 a day off local builders but they want you in for £100 a day now! only getting 7 or 800 for full house refurb bathroom kitchen heating gas! Really thinking of joining the handout gang they seem to do ok!
 
Hi hammers ! Who you useing for supply's ? Me , - City Plumbing & Dougfield's (Saltash) But prices are getting out of hand * still no work so no need to worry about costs.
 

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