The going rate for trades in the South East?
Discussion
Live in Buckinghamshire in the middle of a house refurb….decorator £220, sparky and chippy nudging £400. Every single one of them has said they are finding it incredibly hard to find apprentices and they’re all very busy.
I spoke to a joiner today who has already done some work for us…he’s had a flurry of bookings this year and is fully booked until June.
I spoke to a joiner today who has already done some work for us…he’s had a flurry of bookings this year and is fully booked until June.
trickywoo said:
A lot of trades now are aiming for £600+ a day in the south east.
They won’t necessarily give a day rate but they will spin a job out to a day and a half and charge £900 for it.
Not many do a good job either.
Yup.They won’t necessarily give a day rate but they will spin a job out to a day and a half and charge £900 for it.
Not many do a good job either.
Plasterers, £400/day.
Plumbers, price by the job but try to clear £800/day.
Had some carpets cleaned, quite a big house, chap had done it before said "that's a day's work, so £450". Thought that was pretty punchy but hey ho. On the day, he turned up at 10:00, and was gone by 14:00 - to another job, obviously. While he was with me I heard him spin the same story to another punter on the phone, "4 rooms, that's a whole day..." (he did 8 biggish rooms & 2 staircases for us in the 4 hours).
Chimney sweep, £50 per chimney assuming it takes less than 30 mins. He was doing 10 chimneys in the day when he came to do mine.
All the tradesman I meet who big up their prices don't ever look like they're living the lifestyle. They don't sustain it. £600 a day? They aren't living the £150k life.
Times are tough out there at the moment. And in answer; plenty of trades round my way in the South East earn £200 a day. Technical maybe £300.
Times are tough out there at the moment. And in answer; plenty of trades round my way in the South East earn £200 a day. Technical maybe £300.
R6tty said:
All the tradesman I meet who big up their prices don't ever look like they're living the lifestyle. They don't sustain it. £600 a day? They aren't living the £150k life.
Times are tough out there at the moment. And in answer; plenty of trades round my way in the South East earn £200 a day. Technical maybe £300.
Exactly this, I know a lot of tradesman (I am one) and for my trade I get £x per square meter, there is always a fair few stating they will not work for less than £x.xx psm but are always available when someone posts a vacancy Times are tough out there at the moment. And in answer; plenty of trades round my way in the South East earn £200 a day. Technical maybe £300.
PhilboSE said:
Yup.
Plasterers, £400/day.
Plumbers, price by the job but try to clear £800/day.
Had some carpets cleaned, quite a big house, chap had done it before said "that's a day's work, so £450". Thought that was pretty punchy but hey ho. On the day, he turned up at 10:00, and was gone by 14:00 - to another job, obviously. While he was with me I heard him spin the same story to another punter on the phone, "4 rooms, that's a whole day..." (he did 8 biggish rooms & 2 staircases for us in the 4 hours).
Chimney sweep, £50 per chimney assuming it takes less than 30 mins. He was doing 10 chimneys in the day when he came to do mine.
Plumbers on 200k a year? I doubt many are. Plasterers, £400/day.
Plumbers, price by the job but try to clear £800/day.
Had some carpets cleaned, quite a big house, chap had done it before said "that's a day's work, so £450". Thought that was pretty punchy but hey ho. On the day, he turned up at 10:00, and was gone by 14:00 - to another job, obviously. While he was with me I heard him spin the same story to another punter on the phone, "4 rooms, that's a whole day..." (he did 8 biggish rooms & 2 staircases for us in the 4 hours).
Chimney sweep, £50 per chimney assuming it takes less than 30 mins. He was doing 10 chimneys in the day when he came to do mine.
trickywoo said:
A lot of trades now are aiming for £600+ a day in the south east.
They won’t necessarily give a day rate but they will spin a job out to a day and a half and charge £900 for it.
Not many do a good job either.
One chap we’ve used for years seems to have succumbed to a worse temptation…They won’t necessarily give a day rate but they will spin a job out to a day and a half and charge £900 for it.
Not many do a good job either.
He works on a day rate but from his availability clearly has very little in the diary. Was told yesterday, by someone who doesn’t usually badmouth trades, that he’s spinning jobs out to the extent that he’s properly taking the piss and trying to create more work as the job progresses (lots of extra things “need” to be done), but is hard to get rid of until the work is actually finished.
What he doesn’t seem to realise is that if word gets round it’ll cost him more than he’s made. Very shortsighted.
There seems to be a shortage of quality trades and a lot are cowboys as it’s lucrative. I have a very good sparkie and reasonable too. Plumber I haven’t found one that is great yet so ended up sorting somethings myself.
No problem with paying people well for their skill and knowledge but would struggle with the idea of paying a plumber for repairs or smaller jobs more than a NHS heart surgeon!! Judging from the daily rates quoted that’s the case!!
No problem with paying people well for their skill and knowledge but would struggle with the idea of paying a plumber for repairs or smaller jobs more than a NHS heart surgeon!! Judging from the daily rates quoted that’s the case!!
For those extrapolating the day rate to annual earnings. Do need to remember that we're talking self employed.
So, vehicle running costs, accountancy, tax, VAT, health insurance.
Also no sick pay, no holiday pay.
Not hard to see how £150-200k per year quickly becomes a £60k annual salary
So, vehicle running costs, accountancy, tax, VAT, health insurance.
Also no sick pay, no holiday pay.
Not hard to see how £150-200k per year quickly becomes a £60k annual salary
We tried to see about a gardener last year . Purely grass cutting and hedge cutting. No taking waste away. We are in the south east nearby so very expensive houses and roads . We don't live in one of those houses.
I am still cutting our grass as the rate for cutting grass is £150 per hour here .
I am still cutting our grass as the rate for cutting grass is £150 per hour here .
Try even getting a trade in for a small job these days in the south east. We’ve waited months to get a plumber to fix a leaky toilet and the same to get a roofer to fix some loose tiles.
I forget the plumber’s price but the roofer came in at £560 for half a day including materials (lead flashing and cement).
It gets to a point where you’re happy to pay over the odds just to get the job done.
I forget the plumber’s price but the roofer came in at £560 for half a day including materials (lead flashing and cement).
It gets to a point where you’re happy to pay over the odds just to get the job done.
I don't have a problem with trades earning good money. I don't have a problem with trades earning more than me.
It does grind my gears when I hear trades plead poverty and they are by all accounts, charging like a wounded animal. Because let's face it, and not all do this, but a lot of them deal in cash, frequently. Not all, but a lot do.
I also do not, from a personal perspective, care if they do so because it's ultimately a matter for their conscience. But let's not pretend it doesn't go on a lot because it does.
It does grind my gears when I hear trades plead poverty and they are by all accounts, charging like a wounded animal. Because let's face it, and not all do this, but a lot of them deal in cash, frequently. Not all, but a lot do.
I also do not, from a personal perspective, care if they do so because it's ultimately a matter for their conscience. But let's not pretend it doesn't go on a lot because it does.
TwistingMyMelon said:
Its been a while since we have had a "lets knock self employed trade rates".....almost like EV vs ICE in GC
Indeed, there seems to be a trend amongst the PH PBCD crowd that it's not fair that a good tradesman can in some case make a similar rate to an IT contractor. It's simple market forces - fair play to them.It will all settle down once we realise that a mickey mouse degree and a heap of debt is not the way forward for many youngsters. I'm in professional services and if I could have my time again I would get into a trade like a shot.
princeperch said:
I don't have a problem with trades earning good money. I don't have a problem with trades earning more than me.
It does grind my gears when I hear trades plead poverty and they are by all accounts, charging like a wounded animal. Because let's face it, and not all do this, but a lot of them deal in cash, frequently. Not all, but a lot do.
I also do not, from a personal perspective, care if they do so because it's ultimately a matter for their conscience. But let's not pretend it doesn't go on a lot because it does.
Sorry Prince but I had to have a wry smile when I checked your profile and noted your profession It does grind my gears when I hear trades plead poverty and they are by all accounts, charging like a wounded animal. Because let's face it, and not all do this, but a lot of them deal in cash, frequently. Not all, but a lot do.
I also do not, from a personal perspective, care if they do so because it's ultimately a matter for their conscience. But let's not pretend it doesn't go on a lot because it does.
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