Tiler for £12 an hour??

[paulthe spark]

Whats everyones views on other trades rate? Must say it annoys me a little the fact we seem to be on the same par as plasterers, painters and tilers now. No disrespect but these trades are not as technically skilled as electricians so why is this not reflected in the rate? We have to pay and study for courses and liable if someones house burns down but other trades not subjected to this are paid the same or not more? Ive heard electricians were always the best paid years ago so whats changed? I cant see the justification, sorry rant over but would welcome peoples views

 

[devon1]

Testing job nearby paying £11 per hour Self employed, all qualifications required, £8.60 paye government job. There ain't t no money in sparks jobs and there will not be again, if you can get out do it or if your happy on low pay stick with it, but forget about earning any descnt money. I don't think the rates will ever come back to what they should.

 

[Adam W]

Not while there are so many people offering to work for free.
Does that happen in other trades? Do tilers, plumbers, painters and decorators etc work for free to gain experience?

 

[paulthe spark]

I wouldn't worry guys the money will get
much better soon due to all the guys dropping out the trade due to poor wages there will be a shortage of sparks soon and this will again reflect on the wages

 

[devon1]

paulthe spark, This won't happen this time due to the new influx of workers from overseas. There are many sparks available at low wages, The sparks dropping out have found something better or retiring and are being replaced with sparks who are prepared to work for lower wages. The people wanting the work done can get their work done for lower labour costs, they will never be forced to pay more. why would they want to hand over more money? Get used to low pay, it's here to stay.

 

[Lyngarth]

I have been doing this work as a DI for two years now, before that, decorating and tiling, of which I still do a bit now and then.

I charge a flat rate of £185 per day (8 hrs ) for decorating or tiling and £210 for electrical work.

Have not been without work for the last 20+ yrs, but I find it a lot easier getting the money for the decorating than anything else.

Poeple can see the end results with this but not with wiring, so they think your on the make all the time.

 

[pennywise]

Maybe I could start tiling the fronts of socket outlets with mosaic tiles, or painting murals on them, I could start charging proper money and the customer might pay me on time

 

[livelounge]

I just feel as every trades getting easier ours osgetting harder there is always more electrical stuff going in to places now and what really annoys me is when someone wnats a job doing and go and tell them what involved in it and they dont want it done no-more do they think there is batteries behind switches and sockets really getting ----ed of with the trade now

 

[paulthe spark]

Lyngarth u only need to learn the art of plastering and you will be able to offer the complete service lol also what area are you in cuz at those sorts of rates ud b laughed at where I live but I'm up in the north I suppose

 

[cantabrian9]

every proper spark on this forum appears to be disallusioned the domestic boys buy test gear etc not cheap compared to just the odd trowel and float now and again (no calibration needed either!!) like others have quoted people DO NOT UNDERSTAND what is involved to get a light to work or power to a socket (when i was on my apprenticeship the spark told me "always remember boy WE are the scientist of the building trades") NOT NOW ? SAD!!

 

[martysparky]

I think it is fair to say that sparks do similar work as an accountant with all the math and regs etc involved nowdays but with the added graft of physical work.

we should be getting paid more for the amount of information to be considered not pushed / dumbed down.

What are all the regs going to do when nobody will pay for a spark and no spark can afford to meet the regs.

with that in mind is it a class collar war we are loosing.

 

[Lyngarth]

Lyngarth u only need to learn the art of plastering and you will be able to offer the complete service lol also what area are you in cuz at those sorts of rates ud b laughed at where I live but I'm up in the north I suppose

I did have a go at plastering on my own house, never again

I'm down here in Sunny Dorset. The money is still about down here but it is getting a little harder to find it out, but I have some very good customers and 90% of my new work is from word of mouth, so I'm very lucky.

I have been doing work for a top end kitchen company for 14yrs, hand painting the units on site, and now getting to do a lot of electrical work for them as well, which is good money and clean work.

Lyngarth

 

[martysparky]

have a read here.

http://www.electriciansforums.net/chit-chat-off-topic/14183-plastering-tips.html

I must say I had a go on my mrs hse

it come out ok not perfect but ok. will be better next time.

 

[devon1]

Government are employing fully qualified sparks for full range of electrical work at £8.60 an hour paye. To give you an idea of how low the UK electrical industry is going, in Australia the minimum wage for unskilled worker is $15 per hour = £8.82

 

[martysparky]

No disrespect to young men but who else could afford to work for that money.

obviously no experience needed

 

[Spudnik]

No disrespect to young men but who else could afford to work for that money.

I do agree here.

I have just lost a contract (small) to a newly trained sparky living at home.

£70 a day he is charging.

He also occasionally subbies for a firm who, when needed, will go in and sign his work off he has done for the public.