Making good after chasing out?

[1shortcircuit]

I'm really interested to know who or how many electricians offer this as part of their services.

Do you do it because it is more professional and despite the extra cost is more likely to secure the job for you or do you not do it because it's more time and aggro and risks losing you a job due to having to include it in your quote?

I have not specified a prefix in this thread title but could YOU please add if you work in Domestic or Commercial

Thanks for your participation

 

[kung]

Hi 1Shortcircuit
I do make good after chasing it is better but can be a pain in some cases. I took a short 1 week plastering course as my house has air pockets all over (1938 house with lime/plaster) glad i did if you dont get a good finish there is a smooth over finishing plaster from i think pollycell or some make its available from most DIY shops and works a treat ! the course is good fun and worth the money and is a good suppliment to our field.
Dom/comm but mainly domestic nowadays !

 

[Guest123]

A bag of 1 coat and off I go.....

Dont do it as much as I used to anymore though, customer always asks will it be cheaper if I do it myself???

 

[1shortcircuit]

Hi 1Shortcircuit
I do make good after chasing it is better but can be a pain in some cases. I took a short 1 week plastering course as my house has air pockets all over (1938 house with lime/plaster) glad i did if you dont get a good finish there is a smooth over finishing plaster from i think pollycell or some make its available from most DIY shops and works a treat ! the course is good fun and worth the money and is a good suppliment to our field.
Dom/comm but mainly domestic nowadays !

Thanks Kung, I am not in the trade yet but I will be starting my training next year.

I am finding work (in what I do) very hard to come by and have stumbled across a course that would tie in nicely with this especially as on occasions I have no work for weeks

I personally believe it would be nice to offer the customer this service if they require it. Also, my brother in law can plaster so if it was too much aggro then I may be able to pass the buck onto him

 

[kung]

my brother in law can plaster so if it was too much aggro then I may be able to pass the buck onto him

Sounds ideal m8 worth tagging along with him on a few jobs knocking the plaster up and watching/having a go worth its weight in gold being able to plaster so making good in a good way will also give you a good name for recommendations

 

[1shortcircuit]

A bag of 1 coat and off I go.....

Dont do it as much as I used to anymore though, customer always asks will it be cheaper if I do it myself???

There are some "Penny Pinchers" out there

I personally would prefer a professional to do the job than have to mess around with it myself

Out of interest and on average, roughly how much would this normally add to your quote ?

 

[kung]

Depends on how many chases and lenth but on average the price of the plaster plus time ! norm switches £40 sockets £20-domestics

 

[1shortcircuit]

making good in a good way will also give you a good name for recommendations

Indeed. I would quite happily pay a trades person that has quoted me higher than a few others if I knew they were clean and tidy in my home, did a good quality job and were backed up with a good reputation.

 

[kung]

I also know a few good plasterers and as you say if im very busy its good to have a back-up.

 

[1shortcircuit]

Have you used this "making good" as a selling point or even included in FOC or a much reduced rate in order to secure a large job?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

We make good as long as the customer wants it and we make sure that the customer understands that we make good to the same standard as a plasterer. You can price that into the job as long as you make it clear what they are paying for. I'ts easy if you do it with an undercoat followed by a skim of finish....with practice it doesnt take long and I'd defy anyone to tell the difference between a chase I've done and one done by a spread.......One coat-?.....forget it ....takes twice as long and you get a rubbish finish.....when was the last time you saw a plasterer using one coat??

 

[Guest123]

One coat-?.....forget it ....takes twice as long and you get a rubbish finish.....when was the last time you saw a plasterer using one coat??

I've never had a problem with one coat at all. for filling in chases it's ideal......and to answer your question last thursday.

 

[drywax]

Just be careful in older properties with lime and plaster and say to the customer that if half the plaster on the wall falls off in the process you won't be responsible because if your not confident with doing full walls it may cost you in the end

 

[sparky paul]

Made good some chases once ,never again

Took longer to do the plastering than the bloody electrics.

I allways give the customers my mates number who is a proper plasterer or sometimes i might put his price in with mine and earn a few sheckles off his back for my trouble

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I've never had a problem with one coat at all. for filling in chases it's ideal......and to answer your question last thursday.

...Fair enough mate....you may be the exception to the rule,but I can honestly say the next decent job I see done by a sparks with one coat will be the first.

 

[martinxxxxxx]

Depends on how many chases and lenth but on average the price of the plaster plus time ! norm switches £40 sockets £20-domestics

Bloomin eck, The plasterers only charge 30 for a wall plus plaster. 6 by 3m I had done recently.

I would not include it as I tend to do more damage than I could possible fix

 

[dragon-av]

Not a spark, but i wouldn't leave a client without at least filling the first coat back in, most we do all the way back. if they are having a full redecoration after we may let the plasters finsh (some can be iffy) If its a first fix, then its pre plaster so not a problem. Had one today, client is happy to finsih the plastering himself.

 

[ghost]

I have got to say, I don't do occupied rewires, therefore when I do a rewire, the house is empty, usually a full renovation going on, therefore more cost effective to have the entire house plastered after we have destroyed the place. I find it's a bloody good investment to have the full house done (usually works out about 1500 quid for the full house inc gear) once we have finished first fixing. A house sells much quicker when it looks a professional finish, topped off with a bit of magnolia.
For the little chases, ie making good after putting a socket or spur in, I will have a go at it myself, I never use one coat, always browning and finish. I was taught to do basic plastering as an apprentice, never do any more than a little chase though. If half the wall falls off, it's a call to my mate...................

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I do small bits if ive put the odd socket in etc, but i always quote to include a plasterer, their rates are cheap for what they can do, i use a lad who only charges me £150 inc materials to make good rewires. at the end of the day he is a good plasterer...it is what he does.....i am definitely not a plasterer nor am i ever likely to be one either.

Cheers...........Howard

 

[1shortcircuit]

There appear to be some very good arguments FOR and AGAINST

Thanks to all that have posted:thumbsup

 

[lockhes]

i hate doing it its not often i do it unles you want artexing on your walls


boss tends todo it or a builder we know

 

[ghost]

Plastering is an art, not just a trade! I once tried to do a full wall, one of the most ridiculous cost saving tasks I have ever had the misfortune to attempt, in my own home, many years ago I must add. I realised that rather than wasting my time doing it, I could pay somebody and I could go and make money doing electrics whilst they got on with plastering. I learnt a valuble lesson. I have worked with sparks who can plaster really well, I just don't have the patience for it.

 

[Gravid]

Yeah it is an art, a trade after all, i always offer it so do lads i work with, even though i can't do it, most of it ends up on the floor but i get there in the end.

 

[1shortcircuit]

Only 4 votes in it, I thought there would be more that didn't bother offering the service?

Thanks for all your votes

 

[steamboatwilly]

My apprentice is a "trowel occupations level 2" guy and he loves the chasing/plastering work (and he's good) so he does all of that and it doesn't cost the customer the earth anyway. Quality counts.

 

[dragon-av]

Oddly enough i went to a friends today and was asked to refit a back box (surface mount) that the plasterer had knocked of the wall! seems not all trades "make good"

 

[saveloy]

...Fair enough mate....you may be the exception to the rule,but I can honestly say the next decent job I see done by a sparks with one coat will be the first.

One coat is great especially if you have a deep chase to fill.
The secret to getting a good finish is to apply it and then leave it to go hard almost to the point of setting (can take upto hour and half depending on depth). Then get a plastic float and plenty of water and rub it up to bring up the fat and then polish up with steel trowel. Beats messing around with bonding and then finish.

 

[andekoch]

I do the small repairs using one coat, the sort where a new socket or switch is added so a chase of say 1m x 30mm. Any more and it is a job for a plasterer. I tell my customers I am not a plasterer (or decorator for that matter) but will do a 'first pass' fill that a decorator will be able to work with.

Prefer to make good around the socket though to prevent the home owner getting too close to live wires. Domestic work.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

working for a firm we have builders in to chase and make good
but when its for my house i make good with bonding coat first then easi fill on top because it will sand back

 

[ezzzekiel]

Personally I try to offer a full re-skim sevice instead of patching however i did originally serve my time as a plasterer

 

[Deleted member 9648]

This is the way I look at it,
| can plaster as well as most plasterers in small to medium areas,which means I can offer the sevice to the customer and I am not potentially held up on a job waiting for a spread.
I cant get on with one coat....tried it and it was a mare....took twice as long in the end and the finish was rubbish compared to a two coat job.
But each to their own....thats the way I do it.