Gas Installers
The advice from Government concerning gas installers is at the
DirectGov the
Government web site - choosing traders & service providers
Bricklayers
Use brickies that:-
- completely fill the bed joints and perps - this makes stronger walls
- use mesh instead of wall ties to key internal walls
- do not leave snots - which will irritate the plasterer who follows (this does not
apply to fair faced brickwork which should have very neat joints) - see following photo
- clean cement off the cavity wall ties
- clean cement out of cavity trays.
The advice from Government concerning electricians is at the
DirectGov the
Government web site - choosing traders & service providers
Plasterers
Use plasterers that:-
- clear up after themselves (plasteres tend to be messy and don't clear up)
- clean spot boards (if they have borrowed them from you or your brickies)
- take care when plastering to the floor - to NOT inadvertently bell out the plaster. If
they do, the carpenter will have to remove the excess in order to get the skirting boards on
- similarly, to leave plastering flush with the door linings so that the architrave goes
on the wall flush
Carpenters
Ensure you use the same carpenter for 1st fix and 2nd fix - take the example of hanging
doors. The carpenter will have to put the door linings in nice and plumb or else he/she will be
faced with truing up the door so that it hangs properly.
Roofers
Use roofers that:
- take care to gauge battens accurately for slate roofs - so that the slates are also
gauged accurately and in straight lines
- take care to gauge the battens so that the top row of slates have the same gauge
as those lower down (this might mean that the first row of slates needs to be cut shorter -
but this won't be noticeable 'behind' the gutters)
- ensure the ridge tiles are put on symmetrically.
