switching to plumbing

[plumb-tech]

Hey guys,

Just Wondering who has come from an office job and is now plumbing?

Do you think it was the right decision?

What do you like/dislike about it?

Cheers

 

[lame plumber]

its nothing like the papers say, pay is up and down, plumbing on its own doesn't earn you enough money, omho and to get experience will take most to long as you need cash coming in to survive. I survived doing property maintenance whilst converting to heating and plumbing and had rents fm property to live on, dont see how you can do it if you have family etc to support.

 

[plumb-tech]

I'm not too bothered about money as I know how much I can earn, I was a plumber for 10 years but moved to working in a finance department in an office thinking i would be happier in that job, but finding it extremely boring and feels like the day drags. Sitting at a desk all day is killing me. Money would most probably be better if I stuck at it as in 3 years I could be a chartered accountant but not sure it's worth it if you aren't happy.
just did my dad's tax return and he did really well last year doing plumbing.

 

[tomplumb83]

If your dads a plumber you're half way there, what you worried about?

 

[AWheating]

long hours, poor money............... whats not to like

 

[plumb-tech]

long hours, poor money............... whats not to like

Why everyone says poor money. If your doing long hours and poor money you must be selling yourself short.
as a plumber doing normal hours you should be earning between 30k to 40k minimum, if not your doing something wrong

 

[AWheating]

depends on many factors, yes if your doing good private work for customers who are willing to pay good money then you can make a go of it. If your going to subby or work an area with alot of cheap installers you will be better off with a direct job. Going day rate around my parts is £100-£120 a day. 30k is a bad wage for a self employed person, take away running cost and your close to a wage of 20k you really need to be at 50k to equal a good direct technical job imo.

Normal hours dont exist for most self employed plumbers, you have to be flexible and give up weekends and nights alot of the times. if you have young kids etc... and want to spend time with them or family it can be hard at times. (i dont have kids yet)

i guess you get what you put into the job at the end of the day.

the biggest shock from an office job would prob be the cost just to turn up at the customers door, the time you will spend working unpaid. turning up to a place of work with your lunch box and a newspaper and turning up with 20k's of equipment and expenditure is a big difference.

 

[kay-jay]

as a plumber doing normal hours you should be earning between 30k to 40k minimum, if not your doing something wrong

that mate is a crock of poo.
i completely understand your logic but the sad fact is that there are simply just too many plumbers these days. every man and his dog went chasing the pipe dream after the govt. said plumbing was a cash cow.

the reality is too much competition. we could all earn a decent wage in normal hours if there was the work available. sadly too many quality plumbers are sat waiting for the phone to ring, far too often

 

[plumb-tech]

When I say 30-40k I mean profit after expenditure, don't understand why this thread has turned to money I know what I can earn as my dad has just had to quit as a plumber due to having a stroke and he was charging between £60-£75 per hour and was busy all the time.
As long as I can earn a minimum of 30k I'm happy, not doing it for the money but more for the freedom and being my own boss again, if it was about money I would stay in accountancy.

strange you feel u don't have time for kids as I felt I spent more time with mine when I was a self employed plumber, would occasionally take them to school, pick them up, have time off to take them to appointments, go to the sports day, etc now I'm in an office have to be here between 9-5.30.

 

[tomplumb83]

I wish I was in your shoes plumb-tec.
If you gave most plumbers half of what your dad was earning they'd snap your hand off.
Unless youre in central london?
If that's the money you can earn, i'm suprised you haven't quit your office job a long time ago.
You could even afford to employ somebody to do the work for you?