Anyone know a good plasterer?

Following a DIY incident last weekend (money saving tip: never invite your father-in-law to 'help out') I'm having to get a tiler and plasterer in to redo the bathroom. We've all heard of the foreign invasion of workers in these professions coming to the UK and undercutting the local tradesmen and, up-until-now, I've had a certain amount of sympathy for them. 

It must be difficult coping with a flood of new supply, putting pressure on your costs and livelihood. However, this sympathy has somewhat dissipated this week after phoning several tilers to organise a quote. Picking numbers out of the Yellow Pages I spoke to two Poles, two South Africans and a Belgian.

All of them were professional, polite, articulate and knowledgeable. They were prepared to do the quotes during evening hours and were generally easy to deal with. However, the two English chaps I also spoke to couldn't have been more different.

They came across as difficult, rude and inflexible. Now, I know two people aren't representative of an entire profession, but I was surprised that on the one hand they moan about overseas workers taking their work, while on the other it appears they have made no effort to raise their game.

Michael Clarke, This is Money

DEAL FINDER: Find a great loan for home improvements

Comments

[annette Leeman]

maybe you should have tried employing a female plasterer and tiler,

[Michael McCluskey]

As you said" it is not fair to tarnish all Plumbers the same".
I am a self employed plumber for twenty years and the last 10 months has been a tough battle with all the imports of other workers entering our country.
I would like to know how many polish etc are legally verifying there work and also guaranteeing it also. It is very easy to have installers who are prepared to work all hours and send all there money back home tax free.
I am up for competition but it must be equal and it has not been lately.
This has been shared by many other very good installers.

[Michael Clarke]

Thanks for your comments Michael. I have been careful to check when people come round whether they offer a guarantee and also whether they are part of a trade body. However, to be honest with you, I wouldn't know whether they are telling the truth or not.

What is surprising is the difference in the quotes. The cheapest has so far been £700, while the most expensive is £1,700.

Annette, I'd be more than happy to have a female plaster and tiler. However, out of all the numbers I phoned in the Yellow Pages, I only got through to blokes.

Thanks,

Michael Clarke