PLASTERING ADVICE
How to avoid the cowboys
With the amount of people now advertising plastering services it can be very difficult to find an honest reliable plasterer to carry out your work. There are a few ways you can narrow the odds of getting a bad plasterer. Don't be afraid to ask them a few questions, if they are the real deal they will be happy to cooperate.
If they are registered with the tax man then they should have a CIS card (Construction Industry Scheme). This card will also have their photo which can help to make sure they are who they say they are.
Ask
if they have any photos of past jobs or even ask if they have done any work locally that you can visit.
Can
they give a reference from someone they have worked for, a home owner or better still an established builder.
Finally and most obviously don't pay anyone up front. If it is a big job then paying for materials up front is ok but no more. If you are unsure about giving them any money up front then ask them the materials they will need and order them yourself from a builders merchants. You can get the materials delivered to your home without having to pay the plasterers until you have seen their work.
Ask for an invoice for the job with their home address on it. If this address is genuine then they will probably not just disappear over night.
Follow these simple guide lines and you will greatly reduce the chance of getting a poor plasterer or any poor tradesman for that matter.