Friday, April 18, 2008

Plumbing options....

I can't believe it. Blogger just shut down as I was in mid flow.... and even though it said saved, it clearly ATE my post.

Where was I??

Yesterday, while we were out shopping for bathroom tiles etc, I looked around the showroom, and saw a lovely bath. It was deeper than normal, and I do like deep baths. I mean, for heaven's sake, who really wants to feel as though they are reclining in a paddling pool when they get into the bath to relax with a book???? I prefer to be submerged. The great thing about this bath was that it came in different lengths, and the price stayed the same. So you could choose one to suit both you and the shape of your bathroom. And my bathroom is indeed in need of a make-over. Urgently. I am too, but we will not go there right now, will we.....

The set, including basin and loo, taps etc was £529. This is all hypothetical, people. £529 is exactly the same as £1 000 000 right now. I am getting to my point..... Not bad I thought, for everything you need in a new bathroom. My friend has a bathroom double the size of mine, and had just ordered tiles for walls, floors, mosaic trim, and stone mosaic for the wet room part, and the bill was in the hundreds. Note I said hundreds. So I cheerily asked the man in the shop..what would it cost to take out my old bathroom and put this new one in in the same place? No additional plumbing etc. And using one tenth of the tiles my friend had ordered (for hundreds). Take one out. Put new one in. Oh he says..... it shouldn't come to more than £6 000. WHAT??????? You read right. £6 000 pounds. £5 000 of which is clearly labour. When I returned to earth after rotating around the ceiling fan a couple of times, I looked at him, and said quite calmly,when I could breathe again.... "I do believe I am going to google how to be a plumber when I get home." For a maximum of 2-3 days work that is outrageous. And this is a shop known for reasonable prices. £6 000!!!!!!!!

The moral of this story, is do NOT send your child to university. Send them to plumbing school instead. They will be the super rich of the future.

It can't be that hard to switch off the water, unscrew all appliances, screw in all new appliances, and switch on the water, now can it? Hmmm. Tiling is a doddle. I have done that before. Woodwork? No problem. I can do that too. I may just go and remove the bath panel and have a look......

If you happen to hear news of a flood in middle England........

7 comments:

Vee said...

My bet is on you, Linds. I think you can do it, truly, I do. And, I agree with you, not everyone is best served to go to university. The tradespeople are the ones living pretty high. Further, you have been looking for a career change! ;>

Jan said...

Ok...clearly I am going to have to invest in some currency exchange software so I can see what that amounts to in American dollars! LOL! From your reaction, I'm betting it's alot! : ) Our bath is in need of a makeover as well, but I just can't see investing so much money into a room where I just don't spend that much time and I'm the only one that sees it!! Oh, but I would adore a deep, lounging tub! *sigh* Maybe another time!
Jan

Needled Mom said...

I do believe that you can learn how to do most of that by watching some of those DIY bathroom renovation shows. It truly is not that hard. I just removed my toilet and replaced the wax seal this week due to a leak. It went well and wasn't that awful to do. Go to the library and check out a few good books and you will save yourself tons.

Pam said...

Good luck to you, Linds. I'll be cheering you on from here.

BTW, good advice as to the direction I need to send my children for their future careers. Plumbing school it is! Even for the girls . . . I'm sure their delicate hands would be extra nimble at changing faucets and unclogging the "loo."

someone else said...

Hmmmm....., should I bring a set of oars with me?

Anonymous said...

You may not know this but you actually inspired me to do the whole fix it yourself thing. I tried. I failed. I'm not blaming you, honestly. It's not your fault you are an inspirational writer. It's certainly not your fault that I aspire to be like you (and I don't even know you)."If Linds can do it, you can do it!" was my recurring chant as I grabbed the screwdriver. My poor vacuum cleaner! Still, If you're willing to keep at it. So am I. We could start a 'fix - it- yourself' blogging community.All silliness aside, I salute you!

At A Hen's Pace said...

Oh, Linds, I wish you could come with me to the paint store and help me pick out paint, and stain for the hardwood floor, and a loveseat. I HATE these decisions! You have such a can-do attitude. You're an inspiration!

And I have often thought that if one of my children became a plumber, it could be a good line of work!

~Jeanne