Best Trade On-Site

LarryTheDecorator

Well-Known Member
A question, when you guys are on-site, what trade do you wish was there with you when you need it? (as in, plumbers to do the rads, or sparks to sort the sockets out etc)

Reason I ask as I'm (trying) to put an action plan together for next year, becoming multi-trade but specialise in one skill that is needed there and then on-site (if that makes sense) for domestics
 
A question, when you guys are on-site, what trade do you wish was there with you when you need it? (as in, plumbers to do the rads, or sparks to sort the sockets out etc)

Reason I ask as I'm (trying) to put an action plan together for next year, becoming multi-trade but specialise in one skill that is needed there and then on-site (if that makes sense) for domestics

If you want to train or get experience in something with a long shelf life, and to compliment what you already do, then I'd say electrics and plumbing (not gas).

Electricity isn't going away, it's increasing in use and application. Plumbing is a handy skill to have for the obvious stuff. It's also handy to have them as a combination as all the 'green' heating systems use a combination of the two.

Gas is going/getting phased out over time. The full electric CH systems, ground source, air recirc etc are the direction it's moving. Along with home automation and data which are an absolute piece of p1ss if you can handle electrics.
 
As imago
Also eco toilets and rainwater harvest
Hippies have grown up and joined the conservative party
 
Gas is one thing I'd never touch, it's just too dangerous!

Plumbing I can do, and do enjoy it, very rarely get a leak with compression, but I do need to learn about sweat jointing (saving up for a soldering kit!), sparks I'm waiting to see if I can get a grant for a study package (£2k) whilst I can do the practical side (anything from the mcb), I'm not touching the unit itself without knowing what I'm doing

Home automation no issue at all, I personally don't like the amazon/apple stuff due to security, but am very much a dab hand at IT


If you want to train or get experience in something with a long shelf life, and to compliment what you already do, then I'd say electrics and plumbing (not gas).

Electricity isn't going away, it's increasing in use and application. Plumbing is a handy skill to have for the obvious stuff. It's also handy to have them as a combination as all the 'green' heating systems use a combination of the two.

Gas is going/getting phased out over time. The full electric CH systems, ground source, air recirc etc are the direction it's moving. Along with home automation and data which are an absolute piece of p1ss if you can handle electrics.
 
Gas is one thing I'd never touch, it's just too dangerous!

Plumbing I can do, and do enjoy it, very rarely get a leak with compression, but I do need to learn about sweat jointing (saving up for a soldering kit!), sparks I'm waiting to see if I can get a grant for a study package (£2k) whilst I can do the practical side (anything from the mcb), I'm not touching the unit itself without knowing what I'm doing

Home automation no issue at all, I personally don't like the amazon/apple stuff due to security, but am very much a dab hand at IT

It's really important to get to grips with the theory on electrical work. Diversity, discrimination, cable values, voltage drops, resistance over distance etc etc etc. What to use, where to use it, why things are or aren't suitable, fault finding and testing are what determine how you set everything up.

Everything inside the CU whether you're using MCBs, or RCBOs is the easy part TBH as it's just the follow up from the circuits.

Obviously I'm talking about electrical work in its proper sense. Not doing the multiple guess to get a Part 'P' familiarisation cert then go kitchen fitting.
 
When looking at the courses on offer, I'm staggered at the multiple choice stuff, and the fact the theory books practically give away the answers in their training. At least make some effort and give the right answer, but also give the wrong answers with the reasons why with real world scenarios

It's really important to get to grips with the theory on electrical work. Diversity, discrimination, cable values, voltage drops, resistance over distance etc etc etc. What to use, where to use it, why things are or aren't suitable, fault finding and testing are what determine how you set everything up.

Everything inside the CU whether you're using MCBs, or RCBOs is the easy part TBH as it's just the follow up from the circuits.

Obviously I'm talking about electrical work in its proper sense. Not doing the multiple guess to get a Part 'P' familiarisation cert then go kitchen fitting.
 
When looking at the courses on offer, I'm staggered at the multiple choice stuff, and the fact the theory books practically give away the answers in their training. At least make some effort and give the right answer, but also give the wrong answers with the reasons why with real world scenarios

If you're so inclined you can use the course stuff to pass the exams and tests, then buy some additional books get some experience and build up your knowledge.

It's one of those skill sets that some people adapt to and enjoy, and some don't. Like anything else, the more you enjoy it and/or it interests you the easy it is to learn and the better at it you will be.
 
At the moment I've got all 2nd hand nvq books on the trades (plaster one is crud), so whilst I'm learning the theory there (nvq level 2 is about 1/3 about safety in all books), I'm also learning the practical sides doing the house up. Hopefully, I want to be in a position to hang around domestic trades, fully appreciating the hard work you guys do, and get the fixes done, working around the plasterers (and not against)


If you're so inclined you can use the course stuff to pass the exams and tests, then buy some additional books get some experience and build up your knowledge.

It's one of those skill sets that some people adapt to and enjoy, and some don't. Like anything else, the more you enjoy it and/or it interests you the easy it is to learn and the better at it you will be.
 
No offence to the turders but fact is @LarryTheLag g if you want to be best plasterer that’s what you have to do day in day out otherwise you loose rhythm and ain’t gonna get better as such so I’d say choice one trade and aim to peak in that instead of pissing about being bit part
Same goes for all the trades plumber bricklayers they all are like lightning if doing one thing if you get what I mean
 
A question, when you guys are on-site, what trade do you wish was there with you when you need it? (as in, plumbers to do the rads, or sparks to sort the sockets out etc)

Reason I ask as I'm (trying) to put an action plan together for next year, becoming multi-trade but specialise in one skill that is needed there and then on-site (if that makes sense) for domestics
When on site the trade i want with me is another plasterer. No termites. Poo plungers or energizer bunnies for me mate
 
Gas is one thing I'd never touch, it's just too dangerous!

Piece of piss like anything else, it's a gas in a pipe, more likely to get water leaking as it's under a higher pressure.

If you can't solder your not plumbing, push fit and compression will only get you so far and is expensive in relative terms to end feed.

It's a bit like being a skimmer and not able to render etc

IMHO the best llr ounder to earn the dosh is a bathroom fitter, you need a good general knowledge of a lot of trades and if you have an eye for detail the money is exceptional.

I don't hence me doing allsorts ;)
 
A question, when you guys are on-site, what trade do you wish was there with you when you need it? (as in, plumbers to do the rads, or sparks to sort the sockets out etc)

Reason I ask as I'm (trying) to put an action plan together for next year, becoming multi-trade but specialise in one skill that is needed there and then on-site (if that makes sense) for domestics
jack of all master of none I rest my case
 
Top