I was working with another contractor last week at one of my clients homes and the talk turned to new building regulations that are coming into effect, memberships, licensing and finally black market builders. He had not seen my website and as the talked turned to cowboy builders I felt a lot of tension from him. He asked if he’d end up with a Cowboy Of The Week Award if there was a problem with the work he was doing? My answer to that was simple. If the job is done professionally, safely, to the current building regulations and with a guarantee then you don’t have anything to worry about. A cowboy builder isn’t someone who makes a simple mistake. A cowboy builder isn’t someone who damages something he shouldn’t have. Everyone screws up at some point and everyone makes mistakes.

A cowboy builder is someone who makes up his own rules whenever required to avoid doing something properly and safely. A cowboy builder bends the rules, takes shortcuts, uses the wrong material and generally does whatever they need to in order to finish as fast as they can whether the job is safe or not.

So back to my contractor. If the pipe work that he has just installed leaks and he comes back to repair it then there is no problem. If the pipe work leaks and he starts avoiding the calls and then changes his mobile number then there’s a problem.

HOW TO SPOT A COWBOY:

• Mobile number on business card (no home or office number listed)
• No address on business card
• No qualifications (membership to appropriate group i.e. FENSA, NAPIT, ECA, NICEIC, Gas Safe Register)
• Most will give a ludicrously low price (they’ll usually bump it up as time goes on)
• Won’t give any price guideline before starting work
• Leaves job site A LOT for no apparent reason (the pattern is likely to get worse)
• Does a little work here and there but doesn’t actually finish anything

Beware of these types of builder, electricians, gas fitters or plumbers. The average builder is honest and like everyone else is just trying to make ends meet. There are those however who are looking for a dupe to take in. If you’re unsure of who to hire ask advice from someone who knows or go to a professional body such as Gas Safe register, NAPIT, NIC EIC, etc.

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