Owning your own home

We haven’t got that in glasgow. My first hour isn’t that and the following hours are cheaper too.

I think that a good approach, I did similar, took a loan out on doing the kitchen (about 8k total) with 0% finance like @Mr_Smyth for 5 years and the repayment is really peanuts.

Better than paying a little more in mortgage unless it need like 40k worth of work.

I thought that was top secret info ;-)

It’s not secret, I charge in Dorrans up here.

Graham Dorrans (born 5 May 1987) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder

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London's Famous London but just a few days ago I had to get a plumber out to unblock a waste pipe (sink, dishwasher, washing machine) and they charge £95/h for blockages (1h minimum but then charge by half hour after that). Usual hourly rate for "general plumbing" is £85/h.

£25 for materials too. New trap and a big bottle of trade H2SO4. I'm sure there's a fair markup on those too.

I was also paying for his time whilst he drove to collect the trap and the acid. Part of me is a bit miffed he didn't carry these two simple items on his van given he knew he was coming out to this kind of a job, but at least their depot is only a mile or so away (benefits of using a local firm).

But, most importantly, I was happy to just pay the £144 it cost me (£95+£25+VAT) to get back to normal life.

Our waste pipes can handle lots of 95% H2SO4 but his wet vac hose couldn't. Oof.

As much I love our current builders (sloppy as they can be at times), I'm very much ready for them to fuck off. It seems I have about a 10 day limit on my tolerance for mess and stomping about, and we're now on day 14 of loft bathroom and main bedroom reno. Bathroom is nearly done and they've gutted the bedroom walls.

Bedroom was more fucked than we anticipated (because of course it was). Whole ceiling came down without tools and exposed the old cold water tank being the cause of the sagging. Luckily the joists for the loft extension were not the same as the ceiling joists and supported on their own steels. Probably the only nice surprise about this place.

But, old tank fully drained (whoever did our unvented system didn't do this, contrary to what they told me) and removed. Knackered ceiling joists being replaced or sistered up with new. Rot removed (from previous roof leaks - now also fixed since we replaced the roof tiles, battens and felt).

Also, I couldn't be sure, but the labourer they brought in to cart shit about was either drinking a Strongbow Dark Fruit or some kind of energy drink this morning. Neither option would surprise me.

Also got a few quotes in for bespoke wardrobes. £8k - £11k. ms_com is slightly more open to the PAX idea now.

And to keep the comment on trend, we have done a mix of self supply and builder supply. Mainly because the electric rad he turned up with looked like a storage heater from a 70's council flat and the toilet he specced may as well have come from a public park loo.

+1 for speccing everything yourself.
For cabinets/wardrobes I've use this place and am happy with the results (although yet to fit properly) https://thecabinetshop.co.uk

Also got a few quotes in for bespoke wardrobes. £8k - £11k.

What the fuck

I could literally stop working, buy the tools, train myself, and make them myself, then start working again and time / cost / materials I'd still be in the black compared to that.

You have to be an absolute baller at the moment to pay anyone to do anything nice at the mo

I could literally stop working, buy the tools, train myself, and make them myself, then start working again and time / cost / materials I'd still be in the black compared to that.

Dunno, that sounds a bit "garage doors" to me

I could literally stop working, buy the tools, train myself, and make them myself, then start working again and time / cost / materials I'd still be in the black compared to that.

Exactly, I could take a couple of months unpaid leave and still not be more out of pocket.

Uh oh, you'll upset the joiners with that sort of talk!

Seriously though, this is why I ended up doing my own ensuite - it took a while but it didn't cost 4 months of my (then) take home pay.

We're just looking at places like this for a living room cabinet/dresser
Do they charge delivery? I've looked on their site but it's a bit vague.
Some others we've been looking at charge £100 for delivery alone

They do I think, but I don't feel it was £100. If you go most the way through checkout I'm sure it will tell you before you have to commit.

https://thecabinetshop.co.uk

Don't go tall enough. Room is 2700 tall. Looks like they max out at a full sheet, 2400.

8-11k sounds crazy, what kind of wardrobe is it?
We had one built in our new loft bedroom earlier in the year for 2.8k . The guy we use has done lots of stuff for us in the past and is a pleasure to work with.

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@motman those are lovely. Have you got any pics of the inside? We're looking to get something very similar soon.

@NickCJ

Dunno, that sounds a bit "garage doors" to me

Did LOL.

You could be smart and stack a 2000 and a 700.

They look lovely. Good use of space.

You could be smart

You over estimate me....

The guy we use

Tease, who and where?

So, what you're saying is that I should go out and buy myself a full Festool setup?

Sounds reasonable to me.

Interesting. Does this rely on your walls being pretty square though?

Not got any pics of the inside but the main wardrobe just has a couple of rails, then the other 2 cupboards with doors just have shelves in. So pretty basic, just painted mdf but well made and he used good quality hinges and drawer sliders.