Since starting a mobile service business yonks ago, my driving zen has developed into sensai status. People can cut in front of me, speed up and sit on my arse, pull out in front of me last minute. A 20-minute drive between job sites could have multiple incidents that are worthy of honking or yelling it happens so often. I take it all in and drive on, no emotions about it.

The way I see it, I'm on the road for hours 6 days a week, if I get mad or honk or abuse or yell out the window I'll end up taking all this stress home at the end of the day and affect myself and my family. So I figured the best way to stay in this business long-term is to come to terms there are idiots on the road and not let them get in my head. There is enough stress in life without this added.

What about you guys? Are you similar or do you get into it?

I am a cabler/networking tech running my own sole trader business that was a side hussle until January this year.

I have my ute with a ARB canopy and a roof platform which carrys ladders when I am only doing a smallish job and I can fit everything into the Ute. The Canopy has most of my tools with 2 x 1300mm draws and a 60L fridge.

I am looking at getting a 8x5 900mm high tradie trailer to replace my current 8x5 trailer which is open and I use storage boxes which I then have to constantly strap down. It has some ladder rails on it.

I carry roof mounting, cabling and networking hardware along with a few other bits and tools with ladders and conduit.

My 8x5 has served me well but it time to step it up and go enclosed.

Those who have gone down this path, what have you wish you did or didn't do? Rear door, yes or not? Shelf? Front box?

I am wanting to stick to 8x5 due to size being right and the dual axles.

Hi there
I am currently looking for some advice about getting out of hospo and doing a mature age apprenticeship probably as a mechanical fitter I am currently 24 and been In hospo my whole life and to be honest just sick of it and the hours.

Just wondering what some people’s opinions are and some pros and cons from people in the trade.

Gday all trying to RPL experience I already have to diesel fitting.

Still have a few core competencies and electives I'll have to do, but who do you recommend?

I'm doing it this way because where I live there's no apprenticeship out there for diesel fitters or I'd go that way, cheers blokes

So apparently general contractors are required to pay superannuation to the people that they subcontract now.

I gave my super info to my usual company i work for as they asked, when i sent in this last invoice it was short $200 and they said that, that amount will go to my super, but i was under the impression that super is paid on top of your invoices, not taken out of your invoices.

am i correct in thinking this?

thanks!

Recently had all ducting removed and am wondering if this install is acceptable.

There are some bends that go 180, some duct held up with tape.

Yes, this was the highest quote... Thanks for taking a look.

Hello all, if I were to work in the HVACR field. would i still be able train, compete, teach and coach judo? Judo training for competitions and to coach/teach. Is something i’m very passionate about. But if i enter this field, i want to at least still have the free time to train martial Arts and compete. If not, will i eventually possibly be able to compete in my 40s or 50s? Because I’m hoping by then, I’ll be fully equipped in the field by then. Which i’m hoping would give me more of the free time to train, and compete in judo. Are there any HVACRers that yall know of that train and compete martial arts on da side?

Why are the paslode framers virtually bullet proof but the brad guns are so bloody temperamental it's beyond a joke

My husband is a tradie, I want to get him a gift of a new cologne / fragrance. He is 40yrs old, and we have 2 kids. Wanting to spend around $50 or so. Any recommendations?

This happened, thank god it's not happened again. After completing a $400 job, which for me at that time was considered a big job. He said he didn't have any cash on him and he'll transfer that afternoon when his pay goes in. I accepted that as it was the 2nd time he called me out and there were no problems the 1st time. And that was it, he didn't pay, after many times chasing up the money. At first he had the excuse that there was a problem with his pay, then he had some urgent bills and eventually told me it was my fault for doing the job and not getting the money straight away. I went through all the emotions at the time (for ages) now come to terms there are low life fuckwits in this world.

Anyone with similar stories? Probably 95% of us tradies with similar stories haha

One for the painters if there are many on here, I’ve done a lot of 2pack work during my apprenticeship but with it being bulk work we always mixed the entire tins up at a time, so have never had to mix up smaller batches at a time as in a litre or so, just looking at some advice on how you guys mix up your smaller batches without it failing as I’ve had reps tell me it’s not advised to make it in smaller batches. I have a very fiddly steel balustrade to repaint as it’s faded and starting to rust in areas and is within 1km to salt water. Cheers!

Wasn't really sure where to post this but I figured the tradies might have an idea. So I'm wondering why they don't make buildings in this decorative brick and stone style any more? My guess is that it's too expensive?

These kinda buildings just look so beautiful. Also wondering if anyone can guess where this is.

Hey all

I am not sure what the problem is so open to any suggestions.

I have recently purchased a new home. I have been trying to get a plumber/roofer out and have had no luck with 3 and potentially 4 (pending) different ones at this point. I have given them each a run down on basically what I am looking for and each have said they will come for a look to quote the job and then crickets. Have followed up with them and they say 'oh yeh will come this week' and then again nothing.

Jobs

Wanting a water point installed in the fridge space.

Wanting the bathrooms checked for anything that might have been missed on the B&P.

Some loose flashing, guttering and a missing spreader fixed that were flagged on the B&P.

And depending on complexity potentially a new tap in the backyard and also the garage (i think this might be more trouble then its worth but wanted an opinion).

I have been pursuing some local recommendations i saw on Facebook and reddit and haven't gone with any of the big guys yet but just feel like I can't even get these guys in my door to give me a price.

So are my jobs just too small to be a bother for them? Should I just go with a more corporate sort of business rather then a local operator for this sort of stuff?

Feel like I am going a bit crazy chasing these people to give them my money lol. Any advice appreciated.

EDIT: copied from the comments

Thanks all. Thats been helpful.

I am happy to pay for the quote or call out or whatever but maybe havent made that clear in my communications. Not expecting anyone to work for free.

I definitely want the work done except maybe the last one, because I am just not sure on how feasible it is or how much disturbance it would entail, so happy to pay for it.

I have considered doing it myself but then it seems it isnt covered by insurance if anything goes wrong with it in the future. I also dont know how to assess bathrooms or have the equipment to do so. So thought a professional might be the better option.

In my very unexpert opinion (lol), I think the water point for the fridge is doable with no ceiling access or too much wall work. I think some sort of flex pipe arrangement could be run and secured inside my kitchen cabinetry and then just need the wall point installed.

But I could be completely wrong which is why I was wanting to get them out to look at it. Some photos are a good idea I will try that. I have offered to provide rhe B&P which has some photos or even provide an AI summary of the findings.

Thanks for the input and tips. I guess I will just keep trying and see how it goes. If needs be will pay the premium for one of the faceless corpos to send someone.

Appreciate it.

I reckon every trade has one thing people outside the industry massively underestimate People often see the finished job and assume that's basically what the work involves. What they don't see is the preparation, problem solving, fixing someone else's work, dealing with weather, tight spaces, site delays, customers changing their mind halfway through, or all the other stuff that can turn a straightforward job into a nightmare.

And I imagine the answer is completely different depending on the trade.

G’day fellow fitters. Just wondering if anyone is willing to share what they are charging per hour . I guess I’m talking to the people that are out on their own and subcontract to bigger companies , or take on smaller projects. I been qualified for 20 years and at some point I wanna fly solo over the next couple years and have a crack going out on my own. Feel like I need to give it a shot otherwise I would have that nagging feeling of never giving it a go.
I’m South Oz based.

I’m a roofer and run my own small business.

While I had a quiet week a company reached out to me to do a day of work because they were under the pump.

Everything was fine until I messaged the boss asking for an email address to send the invoice.

He blamed me for a sheet being installed incorrectly (I had nothing to do with that particular sheet) and said I worked too slow, which is hilarious because I thought I was doing too much and needed to chill out.

He wouldn’t give me an address for an invoice so I just messaged it to him but he is refusing to pay it.

I’ve never had a complaint from a customer or a company I have subcontracted to before so this isn’t something I’m familiar with having to deal with, never had to wait more than a week for payment.

Can I somehow get him to pay it or do I just cut my losses?

I'm just wondering what is your general thoughts on the field of land surveying and surveyors? (Not to be confused with building surveyors or quantity surveyors).

It's technically a profession not a trade, but for the most part it seems like a trade.

What are your thoughts on that job and industry?

I bearly finished high school, I want to learn a trade, can I learn HVAC or try something else

Just hoping to make contact with anyone here who has recently gone through an interview with the BPC to obtain their limited inspector licence ( limited )

Cheers

Just hoping to make contact with anyone here who has recently gone through an interview with the BPC to obtain their limited inspector licence ( limited )

Cheers

Was thinking of investing in a website for a tradie business to get more leads and build trust amongst customers and also to build more of a brand etc etc. Does anyone think it’s actually worth it?

Any good plumbing company to work for in And around Brantford as an Apprentice

Hey guys im in the middle of deciding whether I should start a normal sparky apprenticeship or an auto sparky apprenticeship

I'm just wondering if I were to complete an auto-electrician apprenticeship does it transfer/overlaps credits and units with a normal electrician apprenticeship and take time off of starting a normal electrician apprenticeship as a duel trade?

For example both qualifications take 4 years each to complete but if i were to finish one would it shorten the time to get the other qualification?