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[BigAl]

did any anyone else watch this and want to slap the bloke with the polish builder ? - what a W@&^er!
depressingly the english workmanship was like a sow's ear!

[webby23]

I thought the programme would actually end up showing how useless the UK builder was compared to the cheaper, better, harder working Polish one.........

Sadly that wasnt the case, they were both made out to be bleeding useless.......although at least the Polish guy did his best to satisfy his client, despite making some errors. The UK builder came across as all Uk builders do, workshy, amateur and arrogant.

[andyiow]

Unfortunately I only saw the last 10minutes or so.

I quite agree with you BigAl about the male client of the Polish builder, I would to have preferred to give him a slap round the back of the head. The wrong type of heating pipe insulation, to be honest is a minor thing and I believe it was corrected. In fact they went over the top with other things that he did not have to do but they pick on one small thing.

The state of the workmanship of the British builder at the end would have had me asking for it to be remade. Rendering looked like it had been put up by children and the workmanship of the brickwork, plastering and the internal ceiling looked comical.

Its a case of would you rather pay £16k for 180+days of work on and off or £13k for 6 weeks of solid work. I would go with the 2nd even if they were £16k.

[SheWhoMustNotBeOUTBID]

Anyone who missed it, u can catch it here
http://www.channel4.com/video/brandless-catchup.jsp?vodBrand=bobski-the-builder&brand=Bobski%20The%20Builder

I did lolol, so off to watch it now

[Matchless]

The British guy stated that he was only a bricklayer so why was he taking on the job of a general contractor? He obviously lacked knowledge and experience and is very lucky he didnt kill one of his guys when cutting into the clay pipe containing an electric cable....clue was that it was an unglazed pipe...
Felt sorry for the Polish guy, client changed payment terms after signing the contract leaving him a serious cash flow problem, he did loads of extra work, excellent quality finish, a few minor problems that he put right but all he got was abuse from the client.

[SheWhoMustNotBeOUTBID]

To be honest, the treatment of the Polish builder by the British couple makes me ashamed to be British. Personally I think his end build quality was better than that produced by the British builder.  If the British couple had of paid the extra £700.., and employed a British builder gawd knows what they'd have ended up with.  In fact, I wish they had.  Just deserts and all that.

[Debs.]

did any anyone else watch this and want to slap the bloke with the polish builder ? - what a W@&^er!
depressingly the english workmanship was like a sow's ear!

I was aghast at the attitude of the Polish builder`s clients; they`d obviously read too many scare stories; were rude and condescending and wouldn`t have known good work if they saw it....by contrast the laissez faire of the "British" bodge-it builder`s client defied belief; he should have been livid from week two; but he still wasn`t at 'completion' (?) of the p*ss-take project; 6 months later!

.....as the old saying: "There`s nowt so queer as folk!"

[Plomien]

To be honest, the treatment of the Polish builder by the British couple makes me ashamed to be British. Personally I think his end build quality was better than that produced by the British builder.  If the British couple had of paid the extra £700.., and employed a British builder gawd knows what they'd have ended up with.  In fact, I wish they had.  Just deserts and all that.

The guy who employed the Polish builder was a <insert your expletive>.
He changed what the work entailed and wanted it for no extra charge.
The British builder was a prat, the job could have been done by trained monkeys to a better quality.
I have dealt with both types of builder and never had a problem but then I know who to get in on certain works as my father is in the trade and the wife is Polish .

[Phil]

The UK builder came across as all Uk builders do, workshy, amateur and arrogant.

Wow what a well thoughtout unbiased sweeping statement!!

I bet you also think everyone who comes form Pakistan owns a corner shop, or all Turkish people own a kebeb shop and are called Stavros.

Seriously dont be a tit.

Do you not think these shows choose the 'stars' for a reason. If he was like most builders and did a good job with no problems would it make good tv? Obviously not.

The people in these 'shows' reflect the minority in the industry NOT the majority, don't tar everyone with the same brush

[Richie London]

being a shopfitter joiner i work with people from all over the country, ive come across some real w*****s in my time, the same on the domestic side too. i know a few good polish ones, who are good and they get on well cause they integrate more with us and ask if they dont know, all the other ones who dont speak to you and stay on there own have been rather useless. even 2 of my m8s are that crap i wouldnt pay them a tenner a day or refer them to anyone.
if i think someones work is shite i'll tell them to there face  

[Varche]

Interesting programme and agree with the comments above. You have to wonder at why the English builder wanted to even be filmed. I can't imagine people flocking to his door in future!

I also wonder if the film makers give the householders anything afterwards in the way of compensation e.g. get the extension knocked down and done properly! The attention to detail by the English builder was appalling.

varche

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

There are a few really excellent builders,if you are lucky enough to come across one of these then you are a lucky man.
Look after this rare find well ....they are like gold dust.

Sadly most so called builders are simply "blokes with vans"...who just happen to be experts on building,demolition.patio work.water features, roofing,guttering,driveways,conservatory work,....the list goes on....these guys are highly qualified experts.(not).

So how does this type of guy become a expert builder....a master craftsman.......well it goes like this . He has a van/lorry/flatbed of some sort and decides to do a bit of the old "man with a van routine".

Next up he has an advertisement in the local paper.....and then suddenly we have our highly qualified expert....he may even put an advertisement in the yellow pages.

In summmary....if you can do the job yourself then do so....if not look for a genuinely capable and competent builder......They do exist but you have to look very hard to find one.

[andyiow]

I would only use a builder that was recommended to me. Dad has one that does his building work, however its usually a case of to get the job done you are looking at about a 4 month wait before he can start and he is what I would call an old school builder.

Dad has just has wall insulation fitted to 3 walls as the 4th wall has a lead gutter inside the wall to stop moisture making the wall that backs onto their conservatory damp. The insulation fitters had never heard of that before.

[sir moanalot]

felt sorry for the polish guy he was too nice and eager to please, pity he have a couple of ashole customers first up. the brit builder seemed to be a bodge job man- there may be an investigation int the building work on his extension !!!

[Debs.]

I would only use a builder that was recommended to me. Dad has one that does his building work, however its usually a case of to get the job done you are looking at about a 4 month wait before he can start and he is what I would call an old school builder.

Dad has just has wall insulation fitted to 3 walls as the 4th wall has a lead gutter inside the wall to stop moisture making the wall that backs onto their conservatory damp. The insulation fitters had never heard of that before.

...can he not build any other things?