Plumbing in Portugal

[kirkgas]

A bit of a long shot but has anyone any knowledge of doing plumbing or gas in Portugal?
We're going to build a villa in the algarve and thinking whether it's worth the bother of doing any of the plumbing ourselves or is it probably easier just to get the builder to do it, obviously it will be first and second fix but I intend to be quite involved on the build anyway so I will be going over a few times, although the obvious problem will be working to their regs I'm more thinking about the legality of working abroad, what needs to be done to register etc to work abroad
Cheers

 

[Ermintrude]

Worked abroad a bit, different regs, different fittings and very different work ethic. Lots of iron replaced with plastic on big land mass to the right. Some bits of Europe are horrible to work in. Can't drink water, locals don't talk to you signs all look stupid and inspectors treat u really bad as your English. Foods rubbish....... Never working in Wrexham again!

 

[mountainman]

Either do the work yourself or stay onsite supervising otherwise it''ll end in tears.

 

[Ray Stafford]

I don't know about Portugal, but we have a brit ex-pat customer in Spain who just does british plumbing in british owned properties over there. He reckons its worth driving there and back every eight weeks or so with a truck full of gear, because he can't get anything decent locally, or at a decent price.

Of course, that might just be xenophobia...

 

[Masood]

I don't know about Portugal, but we have a brit ex-pat customer in Spain who just does british plumbing in british owned properties over there. He reckons its worth driving there and back every eight weeks or so with a truck full of gear, because he can't get anything decent locally, or at a decent price.

Of course, that might just be xenophobia...

I don't think it's xenophobia as such. My sister-in-law lives in an area in the south of France with a sizeable expat community, and I constantly hear about the difficulty in making sense of their regs, the frustratingly wide range of pipe sizes and materials they use, and the difficulty in dealing with local plumbers. I think I could quite easily make a decent living over there working to British regs for British expats, bring van loads of materials over as required..

 

[Ermintrude]

I don't think it's xenophobia as such. My sister-in-law lives in an area in the south of France with a sizeable expat community, and I constantly hear about the difficulty in making sense of their regs, the frustratingly wide range of pipe sizes and materials they use, and the difficulty in dealing with local plumbers. I think I could quite easily make a decent living over there working to British regs for British expats, bring van loads of materials over as required..

Can I come? I'll be your labourer

 

[Masood]

Can I come? I'll be your labourer

Any time, Ermi. I'm planning on taking early "retirement" in about 5 years' time, moving out there and setting up a plumbing business.

Having a serious look at French regs and registrations, and whether EU law means I can use UK quals and registration in other member states.

 

[kirkgas]

Any time, Ermi. I'm planning on taking early "retirement" in about 5 years' time, moving out there and setting up a plumbing business.

Having a serious look at French regs and registrations, and whether EU law means I can use UK quals and registration in other member states.

It appears that anyone can turn up and work in Britain so surely we can go to Europe

 

[SimonG]

We are all one big happy union, supposedly 🙂

 

[Killy Bing]

I don't think it's xenophobia as such. My sister-in-law lives in an area in the south of France with a sizeable expat community, and I constantly hear about the difficulty in making sense of their regs, the frustratingly wide range of pipe sizes and materials they use, and the difficulty in dealing with local plumbers. I think I could quite easily make a decent living over there working to British regs for British expats, bring van loads of materials over as required..

I'm game 😉
going over again to plumb in another kitchen later this year.

 

[Ermintrude]

No other nations are wise and don't let drifters in! We once a proud nation of 'engineers' now over run with thumbless idiots. Can't believe the jobs that are over hyped with engineer...... I'm a fitter / plumber . Not a heating engineer or a lift engineer, or a telecoms engineer. To call myself as I once did an engineer I did a lot of calculations and design. I didn't even get my shirts remotely grubby.

Any way Im going to start the UK first Arian pluming group. - I can't be in it as have dark hair and dark eyes plus one of my distant ancestors was Egyptian.

But I will represent all of the fascists on here in European government , although i think Europe is a disgusting place and I hate anyone who's not white British (includes welsh) I will draw £350 a day for me and £750 for my secretary and expenses!

UKIP

United
Kingdom
Independent
Plumbing

Or

BNP

Brittas empire
National
Plumbers

 

[kirkgas]

The villa will be built before I get a sensible answer on here ;-)

 

[SimonG]

How about trying an expat forum and find people in Portugal that have already done what you are planning?

British Expatriate Community | Serving the expatriate community

 

[SimonG]

British Expats - Search Results

 

[basildog]

If it is anything like Spain you will be issued with all your qualifications on the easyjet flight !
There are far more regulations in most other european countries than over here but most Brits abroad seem to ignore them all and do as they please ?
Some of the work I saw in Spain was shocking and even gas work is carried out by so called British tradesmen but you can be sure they were a master baker over here or a Banker !
Even the Spanish plumbers fit propane cylinders in cupboards below water heaters or next to the hob ?
Main trouble is also Brits abroad are normally running away from something normally themselves and also lazy compared to locals so you end up with many chasing the same euro and will do anything to get it !

 

[kirkgas]

The villa is going to be about 350,000 euros to build so we won't be skimping on anything

 

[basildog]

Who said anything about skimping ?
Just do plenty of research and trust no one least of all ex pats !
I know nothing about Portugal but a friend of mine does I will ask her if it is like Spain as there you cannot even trust the officials or your solicitor and especially the Mayor !
We are treated like lemons they squeeze you until the juice runs out then find another one !

 

[REDSAW]

I don't think it's xenophobia as such. My sister-in-law lives in an area in the south of France with a sizeable expat community, and I constantly hear about the difficulty in making sense of their regs, the frustratingly wide range of pipe sizes and materials they use, and the difficulty in dealing with local plumbers. I think I could quite easily make a decent living over there working to British regs for British expats, bring van loads of materials over as required..

i will second that,
ever tried looking for a piece of glass cut to size 10''x6''? easier to take with you in a suitcase.

 

[PlumbersMate]

Worked abroad a bit, different regs, different fittings and very different work ethic. Lots of iron replaced with plastic on big land mass to the right. Some bits of Europe are horrible to work in. Can't drink water, locals don't talk to you signs all look stupid and inspectors treat u really bad as your English. Foods rubbish....... Never working in Wrexham again!

Post of the century, in tears