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Dan Robinson · Last edited by Dan Robinson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:35 pm; edited 1 time in total

Was just about to turn on a new boiler I installed a while ago.

(cue slow motion scene of hand moving towards the power button).

When I hear the Sparky downstairs shouting:

"NO NO, GAS, f****g GAS, STOP, f*****g GAS"

I jump off the ladder and sprint down two flights of stairs (not a bad effort considering my heavily infected and in growing toe).

The builder is there holding an 1” barrel gas service pipe which he has just ripped out of the concrete floor. Gas is p*****g out, blowing dust and plaster everywhere. The Sparks and I went sprinting down the hallway outside – I shout "that’s it" as I point to the street service cock cover plate as the Sparks tries ripping it up with his bare hands – I jump clean over him and sprint to the van to get my long stop cock key. We use that to prise open the cover plate and manage to turn off the service cock.

We got back into the house and numbnuts is stood there holding this piece of pipe with a bemused look on his face saying:

“but she told me that zis pipes is come out”.

Not impressed we called National Grid. Sparks has to go home. The poor s** had his first epileptic fit last week and lost his driving license – the doctors told him to avoid stressful situations!!!!

4 lads from NG roll up just under an hour later – worryingly unsurprised about what happened, except that we had managed to get the gas off ourselves.

It's amazing what can happen when you have the brown afterburner kicking in!

Bosnian Bill there goes:

“I thinks it vas good we no use cutter no?”

Well no s**t you plank !– I told you yesterday that it was live and that the one next to it was for the kitchen!

2 hours later NG are digging up the pavement ‘cos I managed to persuade him to snatch a cap over the service pipe before the service cock to get rid of the connection – he originally wanted to dig up the whole front garden and leave a stump in a new meter box on the front of the house – costing easily a grand or more. For some reason there was two service pipes form the street dating back from when the house had been split into two council flats. NG couldn’t say why, but did say that the bill would have been enormous if it was a single service pipe as they would obviously have to run a fresh pipe in form the street.

The poor customers get home from work to see a whopping great big hole being dug outside their house; no builders in site, and flashing yellow lights everywhere.

I used to be fairly pragmatic about the influx of Poles et al – but I have been to too many abortions recently and it’s starting to get me down. This job was going to be done by my regular builder – but he refused to start until the party wall agreements were in place – customer couldn’t wait that long so cut a few corners.

They’ve also knocked out a chimney breast – and I can reach through to next door’s flue liner. Nice!

Moral of the story for home owners? Like some appliances and boilers they're cheap for a reason. A high quality finish does not mean a good job has been done underneath. Employ a contractor who knows the rules and regulations. If a trade tells you that something has to be done that affects another trade - make sure that everyone understands! This customer nearly lost their house and there could have been 4 deaths to contend with all because their builder did not understand simple instructions.

ITPC

Dan Robinson · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:52 am Post subject:

I very much doubt they had insurance - and I had a beady eye on my toys. They seemed pleasant people otherwise - which I suppose is another reason for their success over here.

ITPC · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:25 pm Post subject:

Dan Robinson · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:19 pm Post subject:

ITPC · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject:

Dan Robinson · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:42 pm Post subject:

There were two supplies - one metered, and one unknown to the water authority. The meter's supply only feeds to ensuite showers.

The (huge) bath, maid's bathroom, wash hand basins, WC's and sinks are on the second supply that has no stop cock, and no record with the water company - not to mentionthe fact that it is a massive lead pipe. Effectively the builder got a fresh supplied install and connect only the new ensuite up to it.

Considering the wastefulness of the family (two adults, three sons, and a live-in maid) that do not care how much water/gas/electricity they use; I would be a little more concnerned if I were the water company.

They also had the immersions of both their Megalfo's turned on for over three years. Rolling Eyes

MARTINJ · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4 Location: DEERFIELD, IL

dan, your point is well taken. Penny wise and pound foolish is the wrong way to go when your biggest asset, family and prized possessions are at stake. The trouble remains finding not only skilled individuals such as yourself, but those who are also honest and treat hapless homeowners with respect, just as they would their own friends and family. You apparently possess this all too uncommon mix of attributes and, as a result, I say, God bless.

Take care.