'"> ');

Author Topic: Re: Introduction  (Read 8364 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Site carpenter

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 15
Re: Introduction
« on: December 23, 2017, 09:45:31 am »
Hi all. Firstly thank you Phil for setting up this website & forum.
I am a site carpenter with 35 years experience, 10 of those years have been spent building timber houses in Spain. When I returned to the UK three years ago I was shocked by the fall in building standards and worker indifference to care and quality.

I believe many of the problems we are seeing come as a direct result of worker employment systems now used in the UK, eg labour sourced from employment agencies. However this is only part of the problem, I have seen labourers with no trade experience managing building sites, simply because they have an SMSTS qualification that can be purchased for as little as £500. SMSTS is really just a health & safety qualification not a building qualification. Essentially these so called managers are just scapegoats incase of a health & safety issue.

The quality of materials used in many mass produced new builds also seems to be very low. MDF door frames and skirting boards,  steel web joists, sockets and switches all seem to be chosen for cost reasons not quality or durability reasons.

I am sure that many of the houses built today will create problems for owners and the rest of society for decades to come.

On legal stuff I am a bit useless, however on structural & quality problems I am more than willing to share my knowledge and experience if anyone needs it.


New Home Expert

  • Global Moderator
  • Guru member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1626
  • Country: england
  • Expert advice for new home buyers
    • New Home Blog
Re: Re: Introduction
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2017, 10:09:22 am »
Great to have you on board!

I agree that there is a growing incidence of promoted forklift drivers becoming site "managers".
However they will need to have a SMSTS which is a five day course, that said most do not fail.

It is not in my opinion agency trades that are to blame but the sub contract industry employing trades that are very loosely classed as self-employed working on a price.

Even so, decent site management and contracts management should be able to drive standards and achieve the quality required. Stopping payment and contra charging and soon most will stop poor quality.
New Home Blog - New Home Expert is committed to providing help and advice for people having issues with their new homes and difficulties with house builders as well as helping potential buyers reduce the risk of possible problems if they do buy.