In some areas it can be a real nightmare getting qualified plumbers and reliable builders. That episode of Fawlty Towers in which Fawlty gets a really dodgy builder to make some alterations over the weekend can be not far from reality. I just read of someone who hired a builder to renovate the area round the swimming pool, then she paid him after he had done the basic work, when he said that his finisher would come the next day to complete the work. He never turned up, and the cracks are still there. This was not in Dublin, the area where I am talking about, but you still need to be very careful.
Plumbing is a highly skilled job, too. I made the mistake of hiring someone to do some plumbing in the house who advertised in the local paper but was not in the Yellow Pages and just gave a mobile phone number. Two hours after he had finished, water started leaking out from the toilet, and we had to get someone else to redo the job. Fortunately, I had not paid the first plumber, and took photos showing the water leaking.I have not had any trouble with builder in Dublin, but regrettably there are builders who are not as skilled as they should be.
So what is the answer? First don’t look for the cheapest plumber you can find. Make sure he is a member of a trade association, and that the business is listed with an address. You can also look on the internet for Plumber Dublin, If you find they have a website as well, that is encouraging, but you should also check that they are registered with Bord Gáis if they need to do any work on a heating system. Of course, you don’t that if you are getting them to repair a water leak or a damaged toilet.
I recommend that you use a similar method to screen builders as well. You can’t be too careful when you are getting someone to work in your home and you are paying with your own money.
