Advice

[malagabob]

Decided to have outside walls of our house painted. Had a painter who had done a similar house in my street to come and give me a price. He took a look at our house pine end. It’s a narrow side entrance space for erecting ladders. I understood that. Ladders would have been too steep. I’ll organise scaffolding I told him. Agreed a price. But I can’t do it for at least 3 weeks he said. OK I said.
Two weeks went by I txt him. Should I organise scaffold for 22nd July. The end of the 3rd week. That’s OK he said. Scaffold arrived. I with the help of my son to get top sections done completed in a few hrs. I txt the painter told him scaffold had arrived and was ready, plus To come make a start on areas he could manage, front back etc. I’ll be there Monday 26th he said. So that’s 4 days of a 7 day scaffold hire laying idle. I have to strip the scaffold ready for collection on Wednesday 28th for collection 29th. I’m afraid this dry weather will break and him saying Can’t work in the rain Monday. So that could be £120 scaffold hire down the pan and hiring an extension. What’s your views.

[Bobbisox1]

I sympathise Mbob, Customer service has all but disappeared , I’ve been on hold for over an hour with my local council for bulky waste collection, I’ve give up now
I really hope this bloke doesn’t let you down

[burlyshirley]

Did he actually agree to come on 22nd and has now put it back to 26th? If so, I think you would be perfectly entitled to point this out to him and explain how much the scaffolding is going to cost and how inconvenient him starting later would be ..

[Ken4155]

I sympathise with you Bob. If there is any prep work to be done, can you and your son not do it while waiting for this shyster to start the job. That way you may not have to pay any further hire charge on said scaffolding.

[malagabob]

I put in a txt that I sent him would it be ok to get scaffold for the 22nd he said OK. If it wasn’t he should have said make it later. That would have been fine.

[burlyshirley]

Then do as I suggest and tell him it's not convenient to start on the 26th. It may not work, but you can try.

[davebro]

I'm surprised. I would have asked a price for the whole job including the painter arranging the access.
I would not want to climb scaffolding unless it had been put up by a recognised/reputable/insured scaffolding firm. Elf & Safety?

[Smowball]

If you’ve got a txt with him saying 22nd was ok then I’d point this out to him! But agree with Dave about the safety aspect - there’s no way I’d climb up scaffolding that hadn’t been erected by a professional company.

[malagabob]

I’ve been or was in construction for 50 plus years. Built aluminium scaffold as part of my job, which included PASMA courses. The certs probably have run out. I’m a bit rusty and stiff now at 74. But can still do it. Only slower. lol.