Construction Industry and pay rates

chopper6 wrote: »

She couldnt do it herself because she's pregnant.

Even at that it show how useless her friends are

gaius c wrote: »

4 screws in a wall? 10-15 mins work maybe?
How long was the drive to and from the house? 20 mins each way?
That's the bones of an hour. 40 quid an hour isn't actually that extortionate in such a case (basically wasting his time and I'm extremely skeptical on builder costs in general).

You can't allow for tavelling time for sole traders. Just like you cannot allow for what they have to put aside for Holidays, lean periods when they have no work, putting a bot aside in case they get sick, or a bit for a retirement nest egg. You also have to ignore employer's PRSI.

There's a similar argument to be had about legal rates for simple admin tasks like photocopying deeds and whatnot that would appear at first glance to be extortionate.
It's expensive because you're taking time from them that they could be using to do more important (and valuable) work.

Qualitymark wrote: »

Interesting theory of doing business. You're entitled to screw (as it were) someone you feel should be able to do the work you're hired to do?

I am not in business however nowadays loads of young people are helpless. most are incapable of driving a nail or in this case the poster's friend and nobody she knew were capable of putting 4 screws in a wall. As well they failed to price the job, before getting some one to do same. How hard can it be to ask a local chippie, ''look I need 4 pitcure hung'' or whatever the crews are for.

I have got caught myself where I need a tradesman in hurry to do something and I was limited in my ability to price around. I took it on the chin and it was for more than 40 yoyo's. As another poster made the point the lad that did this had to come do the job and get home again. What if this took over an hour of his time.

Go into B&Q and try to buy a small pack of screws or nails it will cost 3-4 euro for most packs. You would buy 10 times as much for a tenner. I do not see lads down outside the door protesting about it. And if you did you get a lot of sympathy I think.

People who need small jobs done need to learn to do them themselves. I know a lad that will do that type of work, he is an electrician, he said he is amazed the amount of times he goes into houses to do a small electrical job and the house wife asks (and pays him) to hang picture, mirrors fix a wardrobe door etc. When pricing a job he charges 70 euro for the first hour and 30/hour after that. The reason being is the first hour has to cover his time pricing work and getting supplies.

Having said all that I be slow getting him to put a screw in the wall for me.

Sheldons Brain wrote: »

When I moved into my house there were picture hooks here there. In one case the wall was obviously hard so they picked the softer spot, ie into the electrical conduit over the plug. I expect your friend would not have done that.

In General on ground floor electrical wires come straight down from ceiling to switch and plug sockets. On first floor they can vome straight up or down. General rule do not put a screw, nail or pitcure hook 4-6'' above either side of these.

I did not say he was a friend I said I knew him. I have few friends I know a lot of people.

If you read my original reply to Chopper post I made the point about buyer beware. A lot of people here that are PAYE workers ( I am one myself) forget about how much it costs to pay there wages. Even some one earning 15 euro/hour will cost his employer over 20 euro/hour before we allow for ancillary costs.

It is not so much about ethics as it is about what the market will bear. Go looking for grinds for second level subjects and most are well in excess of 20/hour and that is in there own home with student coming to them. Some do multiple student grinds at 10-15/hour. This is for repeat regular business. Ethics and money are poor companions. It a case of buyer beware.

Packrat wrote: »

From the reports, those guys are "self employed" with a subbie under the "tax deducted" scheme.

How it works: Main contractor, in this case Rhattigans subcontract a package to a subbie for a fixed price under the new form of govt contract. He then gathers a crew of these guys, and puts them on "self employment" at lower rates per sq metre or per block or whatever way he thinks he can make a profit.
Main contractor pays the subbie (after 60 days if he's lucky) less whatever rate Revenue tell them to deduct (between 0 & 35% depending on how his status is with them)
He pays the gang weekly or fortnightly, - again deducting whatever rate revenue tell him to.
Revenue/ various accountants add up the tabs at year end and either refund or bill people depending on how they did.

Rhattigans have a huge number of these schools to build over the next year, and the unions (who are broke as a joke) want to reestablish some control over the industry.

Most lads working under this system would prefer a weeks wages, but (understandably after the debacles of 2008 - 11, most subbies would rather stop than employ people "direct" ever again.

The bottom line is that NOBODY is making money here, the GCs are still struggling to survive under vastly reduced rates, the subbies (average company lifespan is about 4 years) are barely making a living, and the lads on the lump are getting more than the dole.

Time and a return to profitability/ normal (pre 2000) building industry will sort out most of these issues.

Ideally,it is in the Construction workers best interest to be working direct for the main Contractors (in that case) Rhattigans.
This is admittedly unlikely-there seems to be a class divide as to whom can work for these big companies now.

kceire wrote: »

€100 per day, sure that's good money and that's all I have and currently earn over the last 5years or so?

CRH, the building materials company is posting record profits and has places 1st on this years company performance list. Also the construction sector as a whole have posted a 41% increase in turn over this year.

It's always going to be the different for different groups. Whether they are private or public sector, people are hit differently depending on salary and out goings.

Why would you state that employees get no sick pay or holiday pay? Every employee in this county is entitled to sick benefits?

You try tell that to a subcontractor!

JPB2000 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm looking for some information regarding what the going rate is for experienced tradesman.
I have just moved back to Ireland so I've been out of the loop and cant seem to find good info.
(I know things are still not great but I have secured contracts) We would carry out work in the retail and residential sector. These would be full time employees with an annual salary paid monthly. But also what would they realistically expect per hour.

I am looking to employ the following:
Maintenance Technician
Fully Qualified Electrician with at least 3-5 years experience
Should be willing to carry out general property maintenance also

Maintenance Technician
Fully Qualified Plumber with at least 3-5 years experience
Should be willing to carry out general property maintenance also



Maintenance Technicians
Handy men that has experience in a variety of trades, ideally plastering, painting & decorating, landscaping etc

You'll give the good general tradesman about 18 an hour if he's not near Dublin. That would be gross whether on "self employment" or as an employee. In Dublin, - add about 20% and subtract about 20% of what work you expect to get out of him. ;-)
Not sure about plumbers or electricians. More I'd imagine.