Electricians and Electrical Work During COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic (Public Weekly Thread)

[radiohead]

Late april and through may was busy. But it's just stopped. Like the phones been disconnected. Barely getting a couple of days a week in bits and pieces. Spoke to the guys at our CEF today and they said most of the busy ones are with bigger projects which they were on before lockdown and are continuing now. Small outfits like ours are just scratching around, it's not just us.
If it doesn't improve then we'll go down, inevitable.
I'm fast approaching 60 so yes, it's a worry, been employed for nearly 40 years and would prefer to stay that way. But I suspect at my age another employed position isn't going to be easy.

 

[NateCreekside]

My main trade is still landscaping, while looking for work as an electrical improver.
I was in full time education January/February, finished in march. Started sending out CVs during lockdown haha.
Landscaping is proper busy for all, as far as I can tell, although there's delay in getting some materials. I'm booked through until early winter, even though that wasn't the plan when I started this year.
Luckily it's easy to socially distance when you're working in a garden.

 

[mattg4321]

Flat out and can’t keep up.

Be nice if I could defer some of it till winter as who knows what will be happening then.

Re comment about tilers above. I need a bathroom tiled and can’t get hold of both tilers I know. One has said they would do it but he’s avoiding me I think!! Can’t even get a price off him! He’s usually flat out busy so I’m sure that’s what it is.

 

[Moley]

Most of our work is on LV/HV at power stations working on switchgear and transformers. We just can't keep up and have been busy all through. At the moment we just don't have enough manpower to cope.

 

[nicebutdim]

But the poor bathroom fitters and tilers I know, who's trade is a finishing one that is often aesthetics rather than a requirement, are really getting hit hard. Can see some small tile outlets going down the pan once this furlough and grants thing has fully backed off.

Reminds me that I need to find a local tiler.

Hall has been stacked with tiles since just before lockdown began and the other half would be over the moon to see them placed where they're intended to be.

 

[littlespark]

i'm picking up well now.

Went on a self imposed 2 month doing nothing, because quite frankly, it was confusing whether we should have been working or not, being in other peoples homes. (I could do work in someone elses house, but i could visit my own parents??)

I was half way through a new kitchen when the customer called off. Their doctor had said no one in the house as the customer has quite bad lung problems and didnt want to take any risk... so thats one to go back to in the future.

I had a slew of outside sockets to install. Everyone decides they are holidaying at home this summer, and everybody wants a hottub. Trying to get outside sockets where i am was a nightmare. I was buying double when they came into stock, just so i had them.

Some customers dont realise there's a problem. They answer the door, hand outstretched... sorry, not shaking it.
They pass in the room, really close... Looking over my shoulder... Ive got my mask and gloves on, and i really want to cough just to make them back off. 2 metres!

Ive just had word from a local village hall to ask about a heating job I quoted for before xmas..... when could i start?.... they're wanting it done before the end of August..

 

[Chuck U Farley]

I'm keeping my head above water, had TWO grow-houses to put right after they were busted thanks to locked-down locals overpowered by the whiff making complaints to Mr Plod.

I've had a couple of jobs dragging on though too, thanks to plasterers apparently being unable to get hold of any plaster.

A few local pubs were moaning about being forced to close, then were taken by surprise when the recent re-opening was announced. So, after months of inactivity, they suddenly decided they wanted stuff doing, NOW. They are in the queue...

 

[richy3333]

We are flat out as we were before Covid lockdown. Long list of people waiting.

We were in a hotel yesterday - all empty apart from the owner. We were really surprised when guests started to turn up as the owner hadn't told us he was opening that afternoon. Luckily we soon finished and legged it.

The north of Scotland is heaving with tourists now which we find concerning as our medical infrastructure cant cope if there is a large outbreak.

I've switched trades completely and am farming now. Got a bad feeling about winter...

The latest rumour-mill is that November is the month to watch out for. With the USA elections and bubbling civil unrest; combined with cold weather and Covid flourishing again. Who knows, we'll see!

 

[Baddegg]

I’ve never been so busy, the phone hasnt stopped mainly through checkatrade, I’ve actually started another fella this week....admittedly Electrical work probably only makes up less than 50% of my works but it’s all within the building trade...

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

I do carpentry and building work as well so have picked a few jobs in those ares, nothing very substantial but just enough to keep afloat.
Local builders merchants have run out of cement and plaster now though and other supplies will be hit as the stockpiles dwindle. It's vital that manufacturers get going again asap wherever possible.
I'm in S Devon and like Richy3333 above it's crawling with holiday makers, the caravan park down the road is packed.