Just starting out, a few questions

[tafkap68]

Hi, newbie on here so be gentle with me!

I'm just starting out on the self employed route and have a couple of questions which I hope can be answered:

Guaranteeing work - I want to offer my customers a 5 year guarantee and need advice as to how to word the guarantee on my invoices. I want to keep myself covered against things out of my control and problems which didn't arise from my workmanship.

Tanking - when offering tanking to customers what is the most concise way of explaining the benefits. If a customer asks what tanking does, how do I explain it in laymans terms.

Thanks!

 

[trevortine]

I would just explain to them that your work and your work only is guaranteed. So many times i have went into bathrooms where a joiner has put ply down with a hand full of ring shanks and its not the required thickness. I insist on screwing every 6 inches. Things like that can let you down if not addressed ie floor movement leading to failed grout and adhesive joints. As for the tanking mate , it basically gives you a watertight barrier between the adhesive and wall whether it be plaster or plasterboard, a must in shower areas.

 

[Concept PHT]

I would be very careful with the guarantee thing too. 5 years is a bit long in my opinion. Although the workmanship should be A1, you may be creating a rod for your own back when it comes to Mr Smith saying he doesn't want tanking on a power shower area, (to cut costs) then the tiles fall off after 12 months. First person he is going to blame is you. It all then starts to affect your reputation, even though its not your fault.

I would only offer a guarantee on work that is being carried out to British Standards, and if your not working to that standard (i.e the customer doesn't want to pay for a correct job to keep costs down), then offer a very shortened version with an explanation why.

 

[tafkap68]

Thanks for the advice. I think I will just offer 12 months guarantee but as advised I will limit this if customer doesn't want work carried out to my advice.
Btw, would you only recommend tanking in a power shower area or with the average shower too?

 

[Concept PHT]

All shower areas to be honest. But most people don't want to pay for the correct job to be done. So you can get away (50/50) without doing an 'electric' shower area. But it is a definate must for power shower areas. Otherwise walk away from the job.

Good luck

 

[tafkap68]

Thanks for the advice

 

[Concept PHT]

- screwing every 6 inches trevortine? OOhh sailor!! lol