Sorry to hear about your problems with an FMB Builder, unfortunately this situation is arising too often.

My view is that the FMB needs purging of these rogue traders and it should start at the top by kicking one of it’s management board directors out, whose firm was exposed on TV for shoddy workmanship, demanding £30,000 for incomplete work and then changing the locks on the customers home locking them out. When a FMB Management Board Director behaves in this fashion, what hope is there ?

The FMB must act and be seen to be acting against these rogues, FMB’s claim of being ‘THE SIGN OF BUILDING QUALITY’ simply does not hold any credibility any longer.

I could mention a lot more things that FMB members do and talk about in meetings that would shock you to the core.

I am an FMB Member trying to maintain standards in workmanship,customer service, business ethics, health & safety and employment relations, however a revolution in the organisation of The FMB is required to cut out the rotten wood and restore and uphold the standards FMB Members are supposed to have.

There is some great info on this website: http://www.newkitchenideas.com Let us know how you get on.

My history
Studied NVQ2 Electrical manufacture (installations) and GNVQ2 Electrical Engineering in 1999. I didnt get an apprentiship and had a series of dead end jobs untill I decided in Jan 2007 to become an electrician. I worked in the industry since then taking any work I could find. Ive worked on schools, hospitals, houses, chemical plants and even a marina. I paid for all my courses myself and took the time off work unpaid to do so. I compleated C&G PAT, then my 17th edition wiring regs, NVQ3 Electrotechnical Installations. With this recession moving in end of 2008 and being unemployed because of it I decided to do the Part P qualification and go self employed. I took the qualification and passed in march 2009. The course was very dumbed down and some of the questions didnt even make sense as you would simply not go about installing in that way… The course was run by a Plumber (nothing against Plumbers) and I was suprised in the lack knowledge he had. I was to demonstrate to him my knowledge but instead I felt he was learning from me…

I am still confused as to what is notifiable and what is not! I asked a friend who is in NICEIC (which has 4 levels of membership), building control and the book “the part P doctor” and got different answers to what is notifyable and what isnt. My friend told me periodic inpsections in dwellings require building control to be notified… Building control said “No but the person must be “compitent.”".

I didnt think allot to the Part P defined and allied scope (I had to take both apparently) nor in the manner it was delivered.

Here is one of the questions from Part P.

You are have to join a 10mm single core Earth cable which is to be sealed in a floor which will not be accessible for inspection afterwards. What sort of joining medium would you use?

Options where something like:
“Choclate bloks”
Juntion box
Thru crimp
Solder

I thought about it and said you wouldnt. You’d pull a new cable in… Why would you join an earth which should be an uninterupted single piece of cable?
Some of you may say “ah but the customer cant afford a new cable… or its cheaper…” Striaght from the regs: the budget of the client shall not be taken into account when selecting materials…

Part P is a waste of time and money for everyone involved (except the Gov amd the Part P “SCHEMES”). It ties the hands of electricians, confuses home owners and adds hundreds of pounds to jobs. Part P is not difficult to pass and therefore not a barrier against bad and dangerous practice. Cowboys arnt going to bother and allot of homeowners dont care as long as its cheap, works and doesnt cost them allot.

Having or not having Part P qualification means nothing. Ive seen bad electrical work carried out by electricians with and without it. Its hit and miss and down to personal character, experience and training…

You wouldnt do a GCSE after an A-level to prove your knew what you were doing, so why are they making us sparks do it?

The competant person scheme is not a simple ‘training course’. It is a scheme that annually checks a tradesmans workmanship, along with their business procedures. In order to ensure customers are not getting the wool pulled over their eyes, by lazy, fly-by-night sparks, that wont get registered.

And by the way ohms law is, voltage is equal to current multiplied by resistance.

Am I allowed to rewire my own house and submit the installtion for test [by others] to comply with part P building regulations. I am competent to do this but since retiring regulations seem to have changed greatly. Can anyone explain? A reply posted or direct to my e-mail would be appreciated. robin.brown999@live.co.uk

Their work has included:
Installation of two new bathrooms
Replacement of a large and complex roof with solar panels that heat hot water;
Repair and problem-solving for a range of other jobs including electricity,
gutters and drains, plumbing, interior and exterior decorating and woodwork.

JuggleFrogs

In addition to the terrible workmanship - he built the building too high out of the ground - too high as well - retrospective planning was required. Building control would not sign off his work due to defects and problems. A chartered structural engineer condemned aspects of his workmanship.

The office of fair trading are powerless - Trading Standards who hand out the Trustmark membership are just as useless.

The consumer has no power except through the courts.

Alan D

A lot of people do not realise that applications for listed building consent can include internal work too and how far reaching some aspects can be.

Never mind…can’t live with regrets. :I

I have a degree in textile design, an A level in art & design and a GNVQ.

Thanks for the nice words about my houseboat. I spend 3 years building it, and have now lived in the boat for 4 years. Its great living on water - My RIB boat is situated in front og the boat, with my wakeboard ready for a sail around Copenhagen. Since the pictures was taken, I have added a 90 sqm terasse on the top of the boat. including outdoor shower and plenty of room for a large dining table and the grill

I would suggest caution when approaching any company and do your homework on them, bearing in mind a lot of work is based on relationships.

Architects have to be registered with the Architects Registration Board and the use of the title Architect is protected by law, strangely the phrase Architectural Services is not.

I would always recommend a professional (Architect or Architectural Technician) who has insurance, skill and reputation.

There is some advice on our website re calculating fan size

We have an icon fan they are a little more expensive than normally but it’s worth the investment as they will stop a mouldy bathroom.

Here is an example of one: Icon Fan

Let me know how you get on - Miranda

Thanks for your question.

I would do it so you have five spot lights, one in the centre of the roof and four around this (like you would see the 5 spots on a dice).

It worth taking sometime to work out the placement of the four outer lights as you don’t want them too close to the wall as this can cause shadows.

For most spot lights, each light bulb can be rotated so that you get light coverage over the whole space, this can be worth tweaking once the lights are installed.

Let me know how you get on.

From Annalise hawthorne

Thanks for your message:

“My kitchen is absolutely tiny, and to increase the efficiency of the room, I really need to find units with sliding doors, as I cannot use my cooker properly, and open cupboard doors.
I have searched for kitchen units with sliding doors, but have so far been unsuccessful. Do you know of any suppliers?
I would be very grateful if you could help me to find someone who makes kitchen base units with sliding doors.”

The only thing I have seen on the market are cupboards with roller shutters these are some websites you can try.

Rehau
Blum
National Kitchens

This is an example of what I mean, tho this example is too big of course:

Roller Cabinet Example

Let me know how you get on

Miranda

Thank you for your comments:

All the information you should need can be found in this article, where there are links to take you to further information sources.

There are no hard and fast rules for the educational skills you need so I would say look into getting some training and speak with local painter decorators who may be interested in hiring an apprentice.

Best of luck with your career.

Louise

Please contact me at amcintosh588@gmail.com with any information that will help me on my way to become a painter/ dectorator.

Sincerly,
Amanda. McIntosh.

“Hi Everyone,
I am a Home builders wife, While there are times spending money is plentiful most times its put back to insure we make it through a slow time.
We are a combination, he provides the trade, and as your comment suggested I provide the behind the scenes help, emails , bookings and so much more.
I am very spoiled but extremely hard working no matter what hubby needs to help our business.”

Search BBC News North East for “Couple locked out of home” , view this clip and you will see an example of a board director of The FMB at work, how he runs his business and treats people—it’s an absolute disgrace, but the individual is supported by The FMB, one has to ask why ? and can The FMB possibly have any credibility with the consumer ?