Why do commercial sparks bash house bashers?

[Electrics]

I've just started an apprenticeship with a decent sized firm (I got taken on full time - hooray!) and was thinking this week about how a lot of people, mostly online, turn their nose up at people who do domestic work.

I was wondering why, since at my work everybody seems to do the bare minimum but with most decent domestic sparks i know, they tend to go the extra mile.

Is there a difference in quality of workmanship simply because people want to do a better job for their own customers as opposed to commercial sparks who are simply getting the job done and aren't personally responsible for the final job?

Just seems to be a lot more 'just get it done' mentality on the commercial side.

Another thing i noticed is hardly anyone has the correct tools for the job and the tools they do have are mashed up.

So people will be using blunt cutters where the tip of one side has shattered off, or drivers with half the shaft insulation hanging off. Then there are other things which not bad but just 'doing it the hard way' like cutting PVC conduit with a hack saw having 3m of it flapping about instead of just buying a £10 pipe cutter, or using hammer and chisel/pad saw to cut out for back boxes where the wall is double skinned chipboard/plasterboard because nobody has a multi tool. Putting up conduit? Simply measure out from some maybe straight maybe wonky reference point and use your 6 inch torpedo level to get it right, instead of simply using a proper spirit level, making the job ten times easier.

When in the domestic setting it seems most people have the basic tools that make life easier.

Is it simply a case of 'not my job, don't care that much' on site compared with running private jobs directly in people's homes?

 

[Petej999]

I read it that the OP has got an apprenticeship with a commercial firm. And that he has noticed a difference in work ethic between commercial and domestic.
Either way, I'd guess it's more to do with whoever runs the company than it is the individual tradesmen. There are good companies and less good companies in both fields.

When the person completes the Commercial Apprenticeship, will he be classed as an Electrician? Commercial, domestic or industrial, a laughable situation don't you think?

 

[ipf]

spark house bashers aren't normally sparks. They are pretend sparks. No Qualifications except they can get it passed off by a spark. Checked and tested. Bring a house basher to an industrial job. Like tray and basket and see how they fair. What about doing a three phase board.
I bet if a piece of unistrut hit they wouldn't know what it was

Defining 'housebasher' can be difficult.
Is it a derogatory remark for a lesser regarded fully qualified spark? (mickey take).
Are they fully qualified who do domestic only?
Are they lesser qualified who do domestic only?
Are they unqualified who do domestic only?
What about those who do all types, including domestic?

What about designing and completing a half million pound 'domestic', 3phase installation in a mansion? You still have to do a Part P, if it's a habitable building.

Must I admit that I'm an occasional housebasher, or be proud of the fact? I must admit, helping someone out with a house problem can be quite satisfying.

What is an expert housebasher?
One who does a job correctly and by the book or one who does things as cheap as possible, cut's all corners and couldn't care a to$$?

I'd call it all 'open to opinion'.

 

[Petej999]

T o continue I thought if you completed an Apprenticeship as an Electrician that was it

 

[nicebutdim]

Defining 'housebasher' can be difficult.
Is it a derogatory remark for a lesser regarded fully qualified spark? (mickey take).
Are they fully qualified who do domestic only?
Are they lesser qualified who do domestic only?
Are they unqualified who do domestic only?
What about those who do all types, including domestic?

What about designing and completing a half million pound 'domestic', 3phase installation in a mansion? You still have to do a Part P, if it's a habitable building.

Must I admit that I'm an occasional housebasher, or be proud of the fact? I must admit, helping someone out with a house problem can be quite satisfying.

What is an expert housebasher?
One who does a job correctly and by the book or one who does things as cheap as possible, cut's all corners and couldn't care a to$$?

I'd call it all 'open to opinion'.

They guy who posted that comment is seeking access to the trainee forum, so I'm sure they've many years ahead to gain a better understanding about all aspects of the industry.

 

[Electrics]

They guy who posted that comment is seeking access to the trainee forum, so I'm sure they've many years ahead to gain a better understanding about all aspects of the industry.

I was originally referring to opinions like Keyspark01's which i see very often online, where those working in industrial or commercial settings think less of those who do domestic only.

I'm not going to go for the trainee forum - they want to know what time i go for a dump in order to get access to it. Not really up for giving away personal info to a random online forum ?

 

[nicebutdim]

I'm not going to go for the trainee forum - they want to know what time i go for a dump in order to get access to it. Not really up for giving away personal info to a random online forum ?

Supposed to be a lot of help and useful information available in the trainee forum. I once looked at the access requirements and only remember that verification of college course was required, but could be wrong. It's not unreasonable that they'd want to restrict access to those who are genuinely engaged in training.

 

[Electrics]

They want full name, address and telephone number too. Which is fine, i just don't want to give that out to an online forum.

 

[telectrix]

They want full name, address and telephone number too. Which is fine, i just don't want to give that out to an online forum.

the info you give to dan is confidential.

 

[nicebutdim]

Have you looked at the forum privacy policy? I've no such concerns - especially given how thorough and compliant their cookie policy is.

 

[littlespark]

Us that have been here a while get to access the Electricians Arms... to talk about non public things... (a bit like the Masons i think)

Have to give Dan our credentials for that too

 

[DefyG]

most decent domestic sparks i know, they tend to go the extra mile.

Maybe because domestic sparks tend to be small companies or 'one man bands' that rely a lot more on their reputation for ongoing and repeat work?

 

[telectrix]

most decent domestic sparks i know, they tend to go the extra mile.

the rate at which all the pubs are being demolished/ refurbed into care homes, we all have to go the extra mile. at this rate we'll all evolve into camels.

 

[Petej999]

They guy who posted that comment is seeking access to the trainee forum, so I'm sure they've many years ahead to gain a better understanding about all aspects of the industry.

Certainly hope so Mate, good point though

 

[Dave OCD]

I've done a fair bit of Industrial and Commercial type work over the years but these days it's probably 90% Domestic. I do think that those who sneer and look down on domestic sparks in many cases wouldn't cope with that aspect of the trade or do the work particularly well if they had to.
There's an art to running in cables properly and neatly with minimal disruption or damage to the fabric of the property and you also need to be able to adapt to and overcome ever evolving snags as the work progresses at times. And with some customers you really need the patience of a saint.
It can also be exhausting, whereas although some Industrial work can involve heavy cables everything is fixed surface and easily accessible within reason. I also think that a lot of domestic work can be poorly executed and shoddy but a really good install doesn't stand out as everything is hidden with just accessories on the walls on show.

 

[ipf]

I've done a fair bit of Industrial and Commercial type work over the years but these days it's probably 90% Domestic. I do think that those who sneer and look down on domestic sparks in many cases wouldn't cope with that aspect of the trade or do the work particularly well if they had to.
There's an art to running in cables properly and neatly with minimal disruption or damage to the fabric of the property and you also need to be able to adapt to and overcome ever evolving snags as the work progresses at times. And with some customers you really need the patience of a saint.
It can also be exhausting, whereas although some Industrial work can involve heavy cables everything is fixed surface and easily accessible within reason. I also think that a lot of domestic work can be poorly executed and shoddy but a really good install doesn't stand out as everything is hidden with just accessories on the walls on show.

More so these days, yes. It all depends on the work and conditions, though. Industrial can be tough and much 'dirtier' than domestic.
As a contractor, I used to do work at a silver recovery plant, installation of new machines and services, as well as maintenance. Methods of recovery involved chemicals and the burning of x-ray plates. Never worked in worse condition, working on the burners...black as the ace of spades and absolutely shattered every night. Fault finding on breakdowns was a nightmare, everything covered in black dust and mostly in awkward spots behind the units......plus the almost unbearable heat, whilst masked up.