I've been a professional bricklayer, mason and general builder for over 30 years, but I've had enough. It's not the job, it's the industry. It's a mess.
I've got four jobs waiting to start. A chimney rebuild, a roof repair, a garden wall and a large retaining wall. I can't get any of them under way. I've been trying for six weeks to source bricks for the retaining wall. I can't get any builders merchant to confirm what bricks they can supply, when they can get them of how much they'll cost. They list umpteen types of brick on their websites but have none of them in their yards. When I ask what they can supply and at what price, it's: leave it with us we'll get back to you. They never do. Emails go unanswered while the customer is chafing wondering when I'm going to start. If I do manage to source materials the price is not that agreed on the terms of my trade account. They can be double and I'm working at a loss.
The chimney job I could have squeezed in before the retaining wall. Chimney rebuilds can be good little earners if you're prepared to put your back into it. I can earn £1500 and more a week rebuilding chimney stacks. But I need bricks, and I need scaffolding. I've spent the best part of a week trying to find a scaffolder who'll survey the job and give me a price. I know roughly what it should be but it's an awkward one that needs a site visit. I know from experience that not all scaffolders will want it and that prices can vary widely. Most don't answer the phone at all, return calls or respond to messages.
I've tried every scaffolder I can find in the local area from every listing source I can think of and I've asked friends within the trade if they can know of anyone I haven't heard of. Of the twenty odd I've tried to contact, five picked up the phone. none would commit and invariably it was: "sorry mate I'm driving now. Text me the address and you number and I'll get back to you when I'm home". None have and when I ring again the next day I get no answer. There is no one left to phone.
I need buff bricks for the chimney job. And they can't be any old crap that someone just happens to have kicking about in their yard (if they've got any at all). They have to be the right grade and an acceptable colour match as it's an old building. I've tried all the major builders merchants without success. Again, they carry no stock and they never get back to me about what they can supply.
I tried a small independent yard a couple of miles from the job. Told them what I needed and asked them to let me know what they could supply. They said they'd look into it and email a list of options. They haven't and they won't.
I haven't worked for a month. I've spent God knows how much on diesel running around. I've wasted day after day on the phone or the internet trying to source materials, while my customers are getting ****ed off.
Everyone tells me they can't get tradesmen for love nor money. I can see why now. I've had enough of it. I hate this industry, it's populated by fools.
I've got four jobs waiting to start. A chimney rebuild, a roof repair, a garden wall and a large retaining wall. I can't get any of them under way. I've been trying for six weeks to source bricks for the retaining wall. I can't get any builders merchant to confirm what bricks they can supply, when they can get them of how much they'll cost. They list umpteen types of brick on their websites but have none of them in their yards. When I ask what they can supply and at what price, it's: leave it with us we'll get back to you. They never do. Emails go unanswered while the customer is chafing wondering when I'm going to start. If I do manage to source materials the price is not that agreed on the terms of my trade account. They can be double and I'm working at a loss.
The chimney job I could have squeezed in before the retaining wall. Chimney rebuilds can be good little earners if you're prepared to put your back into it. I can earn £1500 and more a week rebuilding chimney stacks. But I need bricks, and I need scaffolding. I've spent the best part of a week trying to find a scaffolder who'll survey the job and give me a price. I know roughly what it should be but it's an awkward one that needs a site visit. I know from experience that not all scaffolders will want it and that prices can vary widely. Most don't answer the phone at all, return calls or respond to messages.
I've tried every scaffolder I can find in the local area from every listing source I can think of and I've asked friends within the trade if they can know of anyone I haven't heard of. Of the twenty odd I've tried to contact, five picked up the phone. none would commit and invariably it was: "sorry mate I'm driving now. Text me the address and you number and I'll get back to you when I'm home". None have and when I ring again the next day I get no answer. There is no one left to phone.
I need buff bricks for the chimney job. And they can't be any old crap that someone just happens to have kicking about in their yard (if they've got any at all). They have to be the right grade and an acceptable colour match as it's an old building. I've tried all the major builders merchants without success. Again, they carry no stock and they never get back to me about what they can supply.
I tried a small independent yard a couple of miles from the job. Told them what I needed and asked them to let me know what they could supply. They said they'd look into it and email a list of options. They haven't and they won't.
I haven't worked for a month. I've spent God knows how much on diesel running around. I've wasted day after day on the phone or the internet trying to source materials, while my customers are getting ****ed off.
Everyone tells me they can't get tradesmen for love nor money. I can see why now. I've had enough of it. I hate this industry, it's populated by fools.
