Why I'll NEVER Hire Another Tradesperson

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Want some good quality trug buckets that last? Get 10% off using the promo code RAG10 at thebuildingworks.co.uk/product/reinforced-buckets/ As an affiliate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases Our Roofing Nightmare Video kzbin.info/www/bejne/h57VimSgjtGkd5osi=Fow1O5Y67foRBLcy Drainage Problem Video kzbin.info/www/bejne/apqrdnibntyHY7ssi=AinoWlqCo_L5MCrK Roofing Timber Work With Robin Clevett Video kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmqXnauFhsp1r9Esi=4U-VIzuolOJ4Z-ax Want to be a CONTENT CREATOR like me? I have an online Content Creator Course - featuring 2 hours of content covering video ideas, thumbnails and titles, monetisation, filming, editing, FAQs, sponsors, earnings and loads more! Includes exclusive access to a forum where you can share ideas or ask for help, advice or feedback from a community of other video creators. Available now at bit.ly/b_h_c_c_c 🔨 MY TOOLS 🔨 For links to the tools I use, plus some of my favourite consumables, finishes and more see links below. As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases UK affiliate store: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/ragnbonebrown US affiliate store: www.amazon.com/shop/ragnbonebrown 🤝 HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL 🤝 Support with KZbin channel membership: kzbin.info/door/VyE_6jEtVZGmYGXtUOL5FQjoin Support with Patreon: www.patreon.com/ragnbonebrown Support with PayPal paypal.me/ragnbonebrown Shop With Amazon using my affiliate link: geni.us/iWD3K 💰 SHOP 💰 Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KeithBrownMaker teespring.com/stores/rag-n-bone-brown-merch 🎧 WORKSHOP BANTER PODCAST 🎧 kzbin.info Also available on Spotify, Apple, Google and most other podcast platforms 🔗 LINKS: 🔗 Website: www.ragnbonebrown.com Facebook: facebook.com/ragnbonebrown Instagram: @ragnbonebrown Email: [e-mail] Second KZbin Channel (non woodwork videos): kzbin.info

[@MattBerryCustom]

Just received the tubs, there was a delay but that was entirely my error. Exceptional quality, been carting hundreds of kilos of concrete up my tiered garden this afternoon and can testify that they are apparently indestructible. Don’t mess about, buy some today. Big thanks to you Keith and the lads at The Building Works. 😊👍🏻

[@RagnBoneBrown]

​@@MattBerryCustom Sorry to hear that Matt, I'm sending this to my point of contact now and will get back to you

[@RagnBoneBrown]

​@@MattBerryCustomdropping you an email... 👍

[@TickTakashi]

Earlier today a friend of mine asked me why I'm insulating my garage DIY instead of hiring someone. I told them almost word for word that "I will never hire another tradesperson" as well. The simple fact that I actually care about the quality of the result means that, 9/10 times, I end up doing a better job than a hired tradesperson - despite having little/no experience. This video really resonates with me. I have had several awful experiences with contractors recently, and I've been using YOUR videos to learn the DIY skills in order to fix them. I'm so grateful that people like you go through the effort to create easy to understand educational videos and put them up on KZbin so that I don't have to be stuck with half-assed jobs by tradepeople who just don't care. Last year, I didn't even know what concrete was made of. This year I have: - Installed my own drains. - Poured a new garden path. - Cut out, fit and glazed new French Doors. - Added a new downpipe. - Put down new garage flooring. All thanks (very directly) to your videos. Massive, massive, massive thank you.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

♥️ thank you so much

[@Bigroomboy]

You are bob on. Especially with insulation where the quality of fit and attention to detail makes or breaks the performance of all those expensive materials.

[@weeeeehhhhh]

Not only will you learn a new skill, you'll pick up some tools, and likely have more money to spend on better materials. It's important to remember that poor DIY jobs aren't the end of the world. You'll usually get a good story out of it. You shouldn't expect perfection, and you're rarely getting perfection from the "professionals"

[@ChristopherZygmant]

" I have had several awful experiences with contractors " - Haven't we all, completely agree with the sentiment here.

[@NAFO_Badger_Brigade]

Stunning achievement - well done!

[@Matt-kl1pg]

It may not be perfect, but it's miles better than it was before. Considering it's not your trade, you should be proud of what you achieved.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@Gman4633]

As always, inspirational and helped motivate me to crack on with the DIY tasks I keep thinking maybe I should pay someone. Thank you 🙏

[@alexanderkupke920]

Absolutely agree with that, especially bearing in mind, doing perfect concrete work is a trade that takes years to build up the skills and the feel for the tools, so with that result, I would not stress out about minor imperfections at all.

[@beeftitans91]

As a 'tradesman' who has done groundwork for 25 year's i can say that our trade is ruined by scammers and halfwits. There is a lot more that goes into things than people realise from the skills to the knowledge to the tools and other things. Hate it when people get ripped off. Happy to advise anybody that wants to reach out.

[@TAH1712]

That's a fair comment. The skill to do it right shouldn't be underestimated - something that's 'Pretty on the eye' isn't necessarily going to last. The vast majority of customers don't want or really can't pay what a proper job really needs, so that's where the chancers step in.

[@griswald7156]

@@TAH1712the trades men want money,so they agree a price then without consulting you work out a way thats cheaper and less bother to them.. Could be just the overordering scam…where they van off with the excess materials you’ve paid for.. We had a good £200 switch disappear which they said needed replacing…but they seemed to find value in it..one minute it was there the next it was gone…if they take something off and you want it ,hide it before they do abracadabra with it…

[@CharlieReZa]

where are you based Beeftitans? Im on a confusing slope and need some professional advice !

[@beeftitans91]

@@CharlieReZa based in Manchester. Happy to try and help you.

[@Toyotaamazon80series]

​@@TAH1712Indeed, most of them want champagne work done for cider money. Miserable bastards! 🙄🙈

[@stephencave187]

It's a driveway, you're not plastering your living room wall. A few trowel marks don't matter. That's a great job Keith. Well done too to your dad n bro. Bet they're more reliable than a fair few tradies. 👏🏻

[@LoSongz]

I like it when men and women know how to get things done by themselves in different ways. Well done

[@tuesboomer1623]

I recently spent untold hours online researching contractors for a patio, walkway, landscaping project to finally get to work on some deferred maintenance projects which were put on hold while we were raising the family. We no longer have the physical ability to DIY large projects. Competent, responsible people are out there but it's definitely like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. I have no idea how we would have found the two excellent, local, family owned companies we hired without the internet on which they could showcase their own, legitimate work. The search is much, much longer than the duration of the job. Your project turned out great! You are very resourceful and have accumulated a lot of knowledge which is your most valuable asset when you attempt these projects. You are slowly turning your property into a valuable asset.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you

[@yannisb2178]

I once got a carpenter to have a few internal doors fitted, mainly due to time constraints. I didn't have the time to do a thorough research. The guy had stripped most of the screws and chipped 2 of my brand new doors. When I showed him he said not to worry about it because it will be painted. Fair point but it's the lack of respect to people's money that's pisses me off. I also asked him to fix a damaged casing and he just put filler on it! I ended up doing this work later myself and I did it the way I wanted. This is why I try to do most of the jobs on my own. It may not be perfect but it will be cheaper and how I want them

[@blank-dr2kx]

Superb job mate diy isn’t meant to be perfect. Yes it’s about completing the task to deem it fit for purpose but it’s also about knowing you did it yourself, it’s about you knowing every square inch of it because you were on your hands n knees eye to eye with it. Sense of achievement and pride that you had a go and succeeded in the task you required the most at that time . Top job mate

[@imaginitivity7853]

My wife thinks I enjoy doing DIY. I don't. But I hate paying people to do a lousy job that I end up redoing myself even more.

[@tomf4547]

That's the truth. Thought I'd give a local 'plumber' a chance last month. Job was to move a radiator. After FIVE hours I threw him out and finished it myself!

[@xerr0n]

i always thought of myself as a perfectionist before but its not that. im a passionate person who has also twirled around with people who just don't seem to go any deeper than a few centimeters on a problem, its been mind numbing and -spinning. i started to hate the 80/20 rule for that because it seems more like 80% of the easy part of the job for 100% of the pay, while the hardest and really the longest 20% will be left to the next bloke who would have the misfortune to have it. ill just do it myself if youre not gonna do it properly.

[@ossieljuarez1936]

I feel the same way about tradesmen. I rather do the work myself and learn something in the process.

[@TAH1712]

The learning to adapt to all the problems unveiled as you proceed is the most rewarding aspect to DIY. Hardwork never killed anyone but don't forget your hardhat!

[@Rubeno_]

To be honest, and this is the very first video i've watched of your channel, you're doing yourself short by telling yourself you didnt do a perfect job. This looks 100's of miles better than before you started on this. I loved the end result and you made a great and clean video about it. Explaining a lot of your steps and why you're taking these steps. Again, amazing end result!

[@teresabell1014]

You did a great job. Great that you have a brother and your dad ! People like your channel because you are open and honest about your experiences. 😊

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@TheLindsay720]

That looks wayyy better than I was expecting from the disclaimer before the reveal! And from the complexity of the job too. Well done, Keith!

[@roryhunterevans2862]

Don't let perfection be the enemy of good. A good job, well thought out and well executed. You'll probably be the only one that ever notices a trowel line here or there!

[@andljoy]

That concrete slope is an embarrassment to the tradesman who fitted it. My dad ( who has worked as a brick layer and laborer in his early life) did a ramp in our back yard when i was just a wee baby (so almost 40 years ago now) so my mum could get the pram with me in it to the back door. We ripped that up oo has to be at least 10 years ago now and that concrete was almost impossible to remove the sledge bounced off it hit after hit after hit for about 20 mins before it finally started to crack. EDIT. What you have done looks amazing, i am sure it will last decades.

[@Andrewt09876]

Eeee

[@griswald7156]

Yes the professionals use a few less bags of cement than is needed…3 bags times £20 thats £60 extra in his pocket.. And you’ve got no idea hes done it…or 3 free bags for his next job..courtesy of you..thanks Governor.. And you get a big crack in your drive for the frost to work on a few years later…then you employ another cowboy to fix it..for a kings ransom..

[@techywill]

"Professionals" cut too many corners from my experience. Unsure if cutting costs, don't care, or incompetent. I once had a fridge repairman leave wet towel in our freezer, repair people decide to not complete work that was in the contract, people argue what the numbers from insurance mean when they are clearly labeled, etc. That's why i do most of my own work, so I can learn, more care is put into work, and cheaper.

[@PaulMcGuinness]

Finding good tradespeople is hard, but there are definately those out there that are both great, and that care. That said, I've now done 3 bathrooms, 1 kitchen, decking, fencing and a shed after watching videos on KZbin from makers like yourself. Keep up the good work 👍

[@danludlam1562]

That looks so good. You don't actually know that even a competent professional would do much better - don't beat yourself up. Even as a DIYer if you paint a room, you can see every imperfection but that doesn't mean a professional doesn't have the same - they just don't have to see it every day!

[@alfnilsson6352]

Just a couple of maintenance tips. Check the silt trap more often than once a year, they tend to fill quickly. Check the drain once in a while, sometimes it does not rain enough to flush particles away and it clogs. Thanks for your nice videos!

[@njuham]

To my critical over-judging eyes that driveway looks really good, it has the 60's California bungalow driveway look about it.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@davidking5765]

If you chuck gravel into your mixer and add some water then you can use a sieve to collect the gravel and allow the muddy water to run away - clean gravel!

[@adieel10]

A good tradesman certainly is like gold dust! A tradesmen doesn't have to be brilliant at every job, good would suffice.... Pair good with Integrity, reliability and punctual, you will automatically be elevated to brilliant!

[@thenullco]

Proper job, mate. I'd be very proud of that. Something extra satisfying about fixing drainage.

[@TAH1712]

yep - water torture can be very cruel!

[@andyc972]

That turned out pretty good considering the circumstances Keith, it's quite a tricky space and slope(s) to manage, what a great family turning up in your "hour" of need, of course we know you've helped them out too ! Despite all the hard work fitting the soak away, digging up the old surface and mixing and laying all the concrete, of course you then still take on a load of extra work riddling and washing the gravel - I applaud you Keith !

[@kasroa]

Turned out great and no doubt looks better than if the tradesperson had ended up doing it. My favourite thing about DIY is that you always know what lies beneath the surface, both literally and metaphorically. If I cut corners I know where and why. If a tradesperson cuts corners (99% will), you usually find out the hard way when it's too late.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Very true

[@youtoob1811]

I've been doing my first house up and have used tradesman from pretty much all domestic trades in the last 18 months. I can say without equivocation, almost all the tradesman I've used were poor.... The "adequate" ones are the exception, not the norm - regardless of their reviews online. Just yesterday I had an electrician round to spur wall lights from existing sockets and convert them from single to double sockets. At the start of the job I offered my laser level so everything would be in-line and he declined the offer, instead using the existing socket tops as his "base" - of course they were out.... So he managed to miss the fact the existing sockets were not level with one another and even didn't check the chases came to the same height where the paralell wall lights would sit. They're out by around 1.5 - 2 inches and the sockets are out by closer to 3". I'm going to have to correct the problem myself, because I don't want the dope back in the house. I have a story like that for most of the tradespeople I've used - and they were all highly rated. It's absolutely criminal how bad the industry is.

[@Toyotaamazon80series]

Construction is an unregulated industry which leaves it open to all sorts of chancers. It's been made worse by open borders/mass migration. Unless it goes back to a guild system it won't change. Don't forget the cowboy clients either. Most home owners want champagne work for cider money.

[@youtoob1811]

@@Toyotaamazon80series - Agree on the guild system - something needs to change. I don't mind paying for good work, but it seems you get cider work in either case. I had hallway landing stairs plastered (skimmed) - cost me £850 and took 1.5 days for 1 guy. After it dried the true state of the finish became clear - looked like the surface of the moon. I literally could've done a better job and it took me 2 days (and a new large orbital sander) to put right. No point getting the guy back to correct because it would require new skim or sanding and in either case it wasn't going to be a good result. £850 for 1.5 days work is not cider money, but the outcome had more apples than the local greengrocer, nonetheless.

[@Mattlawton-ft6ew]

Alot of them cant be bothered and just want to get to the pub

[@Toyotaamazon80series]

@@youtoob1811 Did you ask him for his papers? Did you check references? Did he have insurance?

[@youtoob1811]

@@Toyotaamazon80series - He had over 100 positive reviews on a popular job site in the UK. I always check sparkies are certified (I think they have to be regardless). I also think they have to have insurance to use the website. I forgot to mention that he tried to talk me into NOT bothering with capping - "you don't need it because of the RCBO" I was told. I insisted they were capped. I had another sparky who did a good job for me a while back, but when he came out to quote for this work he didn't bother sending a quote or responding to messages. Obviously didn't want the work and missed out on multiple other jobs. These aren't isolated incidents, as I say I've had many tradesmen do work for me - there's a pattern. I won't say all tradesmen are bad, or sloppy, or unprofessional - but a LOT are - like 60-70% - and they've all been highly rated. Getting one of the good guys is pot luck IMO. I came to the concolusion that most dissatisfied customers don't leave bad reviews through fear of comeback.

[@pettofficial.]

'Done is better than perfect' That's how I see it, I'm a perfectionist and would probably die before I complete some projects so sometimes I need to bite my tongue, push on and get it finished! Great job you did there 👌🏻

[@dougdavidson175]

That was a bucket load of work! Thanks to family and friends. Take care & stay safe Keith and family.

[@maxisaez20]

Always DIY has an extra feeling that become more value than hire someone to do it. Really like your job. Keep doing like that.

[@CRN8091]

Looks good mate, it’s hard to come by good and reliable trades these days.Its a problem we have here in Australia too.I always DIY where possible and videos like yours always inspire me to give it a go.

[@sgtBelson]

Good work. Feels good to DIY, and you even revitalized the gravel (oh, the tedium!). Keep us posted on the ‘big rain’ test.

[@mrfaffley4479]

Nothing is perfect and it doesn't have to be. Good enough is fine. You took on a big challenge with this one and showed tenacity and resilience to see it through. It's your driveway, you made it and if it needs maintaining in future, you will be able to do it. Great job! 👍

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks 👍

[@isabellefallon8238]

Jeepers Keith, it looks a million percent better, and it has to be more durable than the shoddy job before! It is so frustrating when you are trying to do up or keep up your home, and you are let down. We are lucky, in that a neighbour and friend is a brilliant and conscientious plumber, so he did a really neat and well thought-out job of installing a whole new heating system for us. A previous plumber had talked about needing to rip out walls and install a huge unit in our main hallway - it wasn't necessary, just the least considered way of doing it. We found a great electrician as well, through word of mouth - again, we were told floors would need to be ripped up, trenches dug, etc - nope, the work could be done safely and neatly without ruining our house. Every other experience though....put it this way, our DIY skills are forever expanding!

[@gregarrell6132]

Well done under the circumstances. Being an old ex tradie (carpenter/builder) I have done many jobs like that single handed due to financial limitations. The difference when I have engaged a good reliable concert e.g. was so nice. Now I am medically retired, my wife will nor let me take on the big jobs around home, just the more or less manageable ones. It is still hard to pay someone else for what I used to be able to do. Good on your brother and Dad for being able to help. 2 of my sons have helped me a lot but they have their own families and lives deal with. I love your KZbin channel, keep it up.

[@Nousmourronsseuls]

Great vid - thanks. I have also turned to doing nearly all my own jobs instead of getting in tradesmen. With so many excellent KZbin videos and the ready availability of tools and materials, all you need is the time and willingness to learn and give it a go. Over the years I’ve saved tens of thousands of pounds, have confidence the job has been done properly, have a great collection of tools and enjoyed a lots of good workouts away from my desk job.

[@tonywall8393]

Great video Keith! I love watching all the different projects you undertake. Well done!

[@karlpopewoodcraft]

Looks absolutely immaculate to me Keith awesome job done. Looked like hard graft as well, family to the rescue!!

[@AndrewMcQuillen]

Great Job Keith. I came to a similar conclusion a while ago, about trades people. Unless there's a law stopping me like gas fitting, I'll have a go myself. And surely it should have been a TRUG of war😂😂

[@jscook54]

That looks great! I am impressed with your variety of skills and determination to carry them out.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@BigBrogann]

I love your videos! I’m fortunate enough to buy my dream home as my first property but my biggest regret was not buying a house with loads of potential and doing it myself, the amount of trades people I’ve had that has done a shoddy job or not finishing it is unreal, but like you said. When you find the right tradesman you need to keep hold of them. But from now on I think I’ll do it myself because like you said, sometimes the care that you put into a project is more and it’s more satisfying because you know you’ve done it!

[@twasb2000]

Good job and plenty of hard work. One easy detail when concreting is to use a 10-20mm triangular fillet nailed to the top of the shutter as a guide to give the finished level and to produce a chamfer to stop the edge breaking up. Thin layers of concrete can debone and break up so use a bonding agent between layers and some rebar studs (with 3cm of cover). The screws you used can also be done by drilling a hole and bashing in the same diameter rebar, this gives a longer anchor length (30 to 40 times the bar diameter works)

[@oliverking9951]

Great job! The most self-critical people are skilled/experienced DIYers. You'll know this already, but no one else will see/notice all those tiny imperfections your eyes are immediately drawn to 🙂 Totally agree with the sentiment that no one else is going to care as much about the standard as you are. It's such a shot in the dark when you employ an 'unproven' tradesperson, and you just have to keep your fingers crossed that they're one of the good ones!!

[@greenambles]

Thanks for this. Clear and detailed so less daunting. I have a big (for me at least) project ahead of me removing 2 big sheds, laying a level concrete base on top of the current sloping one then building a garage/garden-room.

[@melmartinez7002]

Great job! I really share your frustration with tradesman - though in my case it's mainly in just getting then to call me back when I'm just trying to hire them. So frustrating how hard it is to find someone who will take my money. And of course, some are less reliable and skilled than others. And your point about how so many tradesman simply will never care about the quality of the work like you will is so true and has a very real impact on what the end result is. Like you, I end up doing almost everything DIY. The driveway looks like it came out great. The only thing I might have done different is maybe to add some rebar, especially to the long narrow pour along the drain. That might crack on you if a heavy vehicle goes over it - definitely let it cure for months before you put any extreme load on it.

[@V8PropaneBurner]

I'm sad to say I too have had terrible experiences with 'builders' and other tradesman, and feel just the same as you. KZbin channels such as yourself and Robin have been a huge help in learning how to when my own knowledge has reached its limits. Keep up the good work.

[@Jessie-i6s]

Your all family must be happy and proud to having you and all your good work when you removes all concrete just with the simple tool. Yes, the concrete is terrible in most of case for home/gardent word like our one.

[@mathewgallimore1484]

I really feel your pain. I've had my own catalogue of trade person related issues whereby I'm left with very substandard or incomplete work that has cost me more in both time and money. I've vowed to DIY everything possible going forward. You and the Aidenproject have my deepest sympathy and empathy.

[@_Damian_.]

It's always a labour of love when you DIY and you're bang on that tradesman are likely to not care and just want to get in get paid and get out. I've learned so much over the last few years and now take on jobs I wouldn't have dreamt of at one stage, and it's down to watching channels like this giving me the confidence to have a go. It might take me 4x as long to complete but I get there eventually and the results are often not bad at all tbh!

[@katherinecarroll3706]

Wow that looks fantastic.Awesome job. I agree it is so hard to find good professionals that care about quality work. I am retired so when I do have to hire someone I am there watching over their shoulders and asking questions.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks 👍

[@cobberpete1]

So how was your back(s), after all that hard work? I'm with you Keith, I do as much as possible myself. Part of it is because they charge an arm and a leg. No problem with a rough texture finish. It helps with grip. Think about Winter when you have snow and ice.

[@verygoodboy2688]

Keith I'm with you here... For those of us who enjoy trade work as a hobby, I find the extra time is worth knowing it's done right over hiring out whenever possible. Other than a neighbor of mine who did some landscaping for us, I've yet to be satisfied with any work I've hired out

[@annie-centrepiecefurniture]

Looks amazing!! So neat and tidy, can’t believe how easy the old cement came up so easily, so that speaks volumes! Great video as always 😀👏

[@kingsrd1]

Looks a bit rough, but will look better over time. Much better than the first attempt which looks like it didn't have enough cement in it. Tip for putting in the drainage channel - put them on little blobs of ballast, get them in position, straight and level etc. Fill in around after as they won't move around popping up all the time. Regarding tradesmen one tip is to know exactly what they intend to do and exactly how they intend to do it before the job commences, then there can be no confusion. You can also hold back a third of the money until completion, never pay all the dosh upfront!

[@JoeGP]

a slab like that really should be at least 4 inches thick and even reinforced with rebar, at least that's how the guys I usually watch do it (Odell Complete Concrete), but let's hope it lasts.

[@mingueyox]

I feel you for the "professionals" situation... I moved from mainland Europe to West of Ireland a couple of years ago and the professionals situation here is out of this world to me. As I am not fortunate enough to know the good ones other than watching their channels, I came to the same conclusion... I am happy to "DIY" everything myself from now on... Thank you for your videos and your channel 👍👍👍

[@MattBerryCustom]

Hi Keith. I’m with you, I’ll never hire another “professional” trade again. Currently laying the same drains myself around a greenhouse I’m building (half height rendered block). I’ve had to learn block and brick laying myself as here in north wales the only brickies that are not booked up for a year are charging up to £400 per day and looking at their work it looks like they went to the Stevie Wonder trade school. On the concrete thing you did a great job and that’s a considerable area to do by hand. Something I learned building houses over in the states is to mist over all your concrete with water every day for a week to prevent it from drying out too quickly, I know, it seems counterintuitive. It significantly improves the strength and makes dust free concrete. Take it easy my friend. 👍🏻

[@garyparker5516]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with tradesmen. Your work looks fabulous and your family have really helped out. Great to see and awesome video

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you so much!

[@blaugrana-jw3dd]

In french we say "On est jamais mieux servi que par soi-même" idk how to translate that properly. But it basically means "you'll never be better "served" (get things done) by anyone than yourself" if that makes sense. Greetings from Switzerland!

[@benprice3719]

Good work! For future jobs, you can use your cement mixer to clean gravel a bit quicker. Just pour in water, mix, then pour out the dirty water. Repeat until it's clean enough.

[@LewHarriman]

So true.. it's very rare to have a tradesman like Robin, who really cares about quality. It's in his DNA.. he can't do a lousy job. I put it down to competitive pressure.. "I really care.." is tough for the homeowner to credit, when the bids come in and one bid is quite a bit higher than the others. In theory... you pay extra for quality installation. But as the late, great baseball player Yogi Berra observed: "It theory, there's no difference between theory and practice... but in practice.. there is." So many times we pay extra in pursuit of quality, and are then quite disappointed by the result. As you say.. for things that matter... probably better to do it yourself, when you have the time to learn and the time (and money) to screw it up yourself... and then do it all over again, right!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Yep, if the sayings "pay peanuts get monkeys" or "you get what you pay for" were true, I'd have no problem spending more for quality work, but it doesn't seem to apply to the trades, sadly

[@bradw256]

Looks great! Yeah, it sux when the "professionals" do a lousy job for no other reason than they were cutting corners. Job well done . . .

[@ramroad2008]

An edging tool is just for creating a pretty edge. What you need to keep the edges from breaking is “form oil”. If you don’t want to pay for it, save oil engine oil from changes, or vegetable oil from cooking. Brush it on your forms and they come off like butter.

[@benclark1123]

Keith, amazing job. You should be proud. It’s such a shame that there’s trades people out there that bad who give customers that sort of experience but also the good ones a bad name. Well done.

[@kneedownbrown]

Good enough is perfect! I sense your frustration with being let down. However your channel has always been about getting the best out of the materials you have to hand. Well, you got the best result with the manpower and expertise you had to hand. You got it done and that deserves some respect.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks for that!

[@AndreaArzensek]

It is light years better than it was before! You did the best you could and it turned out just fine! Greetings from Croatia 😊

[@W2APS]

Best tool for breaking up the ground is a chisel end digging bar. Heavy length of steel about 2m long. I've used it on my clay and flint ground to excavated all sorts of holes. Highly recommended.

[@1959ticktock]

Hey Keith, your job may not be perfect, but it has two great benefits over using a tradesman. First you did it with family, and that brings you all together, and I am sure will be a treasured memory as time passes. Second you know all the bodges you carried out, and can go straight to them and fix problems when and if they fail. It takes huge amounts of time to find other peoples' faults. Oh, I've been ranting about builder's buckets failing within months (it seems) lately. So I've ordered 3 from the Building Works. Thanks for the recommendation and discount.

[@andrewcanning1327]

I think you've done a great job , don't blame you at all for the diy approach as so many so called trade experts are more interested in the money than job satisfaction nowadays

[@core-element]

I DIY everything. I like brushed finish, I think it is best not to let the end of the bristles cut into the finish. I drag the brush sort of backwards and upside down so the bristle sides pull along the surface and leave smoother lines, much like laying off paint with the side if the paint brush. Oh and the strong thick plastic bristle type of broom works best.

[@rpaasse6453]

Well done. You are always your own best tradesman. Thats my motto after having to do it all over again after the socalled tradesman was done. Not connecting pipes, screwes driven in air, windows build in and leaking, drive way ( yes me to ) after the rain i needed a canoe to get to the other side. In the end you know who is good, in my case 2 out of 10. So, i'll keep my money and do it myself.

[@philipwilliams8114]

You’re a good man Keith. That’s a smashing job. I’m ex-trade and your experience breaks my heart. As you say, there are some good fellas and lasses out there. I don’t know what the answer is as most people don’t have your skill and nous, but your vids show what good looks like. The world is a better place for Keith Brown 👍

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks!

[@Myrmidon-pd7vs]

You know, this might just be a regional thing but my Dad always called a Mattock a 'two-bore'. I use it almost universally for any job that involves disturbing earth, they're great even in the garden for digging out compacted soil or breaking up chunks of turf.

[@GabrielIonescuisro]

Really love this kind of "around the house" work, you come with some good and doable ideas for the average diy-er. Cheers! 👌

[@WoodCreations8681]

Job well Done! Keep the videos coming. I have noticed here in the States, in general, the tradesmen don't care as much as the homeowner. They make the project look good to get paid, but long term, it's shotty work. That's why I have tackled all of my own projects.

[@c.a.g.1977]

Really don't beat yourself up on this, it actually looks pretty good, IMHO. The concrete guy probably stood you up because he had no interest in doing a small but difficult job. You DIY-ed it, and nailed it, with you father and brother. Good job, you guys, well done!

[@SnowsLife]

WHY IS THIS BUCKET THING NOT AVAILABLE IN CANADA? Colin furze used it to excavate his tunnel system, but I cant find anything like those plasting basket/bins/round thingies. They seem reaalllly strong.

[@elderlemon8020]

A man after my own heart. Want it done properly - do it yourself. Well done R & BB

[@alastairstewart5527]

Nice job. In the past I have cleaned up dirty gravel in a cement mixer, just chuck it into a clean mixer with some water and detergent and leave it running for 10 minutes.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Great tip!

[@havenview]

Give it a winter and any misgivings in the way you finished the concrete will disappear If your gravel starts shifting and gets annoying look into "gravel grids" which you can lay to help retain it

[@adamh8655]

I am loving the consistency with which you have been posting new videos recently. I just wish they were longer!

[@markhannan4712]

You’ve done. Great job better than the so called professional. It’s good you got help from your family it’s good to see especially your Dad well done to him . I had a tradesman lay my patio within 6 months the pointing fell apart and the patio came loose so I will have to lift and relay myself with the cost of all Sotheby’s cement etc to pay out again stressed out

[@melchiorpieterbeukes9179]

My motto as well. Fed up with paying for things that need to be re-done any way. Well done, it looks amazing.

[@markc1793]

I think as long as you're physically able, and it's not something that's needlessly dangerous/illegal for you to do yourself, DIY is 100% the way to go. Over the years i've lots track of how many professionals have either just not shown up, ripped me off price wise or have done a shoddy job. I've been fortunate to find a couple good ones along the way, specifically one amazing electrician, but almost every other job i've had a pro do, i've either been let down by the quality of the end result or it's looked good only for me to then find out it doesn't really do the job it was meant too.

[@PhillWyattProjects]

That looks like a big job to undertake so I appreciate your determination and hard work. It looks good and solid. I always avoid using tradesmen for similar reasons unfortunately.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@guydempster5459]

love watching you doing some backbreaking work with my feet up .. on my tea break from doing some back breaking garden work ..

[@RealGeorg3]

All things considered you've done well here. If I had one recommendation, for the concrete aspect of jobs like this it might be worth looking into a mix-on-site truck. Companies like mixamate (others are available, to quote the BBC). They come and pump off the quantity you need, made to order right there. As long as you have reasonable vehicle access they can save you a lot of hassle. You could well be familiar with all the options and on balance preferred doing it manually. Anyway, as I said, you did well. You included a few little details that were good to see, like the concrete screws to tie old and new together. A tradie would have never bothered. Its a shame that the trades in this country are such a mess.

[@michaelosullivan8325]

As long as you’re happy with it, no one’s opinion matters and for DIY, and for the savings you made great job love your videos

[@cakepanda]

Fantastic project Keith. I echo your sentiments - have had some terrible work done by 'professionals' in the past, so I end up doing everything myself too!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@DannyStuart]

Couldn't agree more with your take on tradespeople. We had a very similar experience with our garden having hired a landscaper to do some pretty serious work but who apparently couldn't be bothered to shell out for a few extra bags of cement, leaving us with a very expensive mess which was several steps back than before we started. After failing to show up to sort it several times, I decided that the quality of the work was so poor that I didn't want him within a country mile of my garden anyway. We ended up sorting it ourselves. Apart from all the reasons you mentioned, it just wasn't worth the stress and the negative feelings - you should feel proud when you look at your home improvements, not frustrated and regretful. Hiring a tradie really does feel like a roll of the dice, and I'm sorry to say that we've had more negative than positive experiences. Between the finished result being better with the DIY approach, added to the fact that you save money and learn a skill at the same time, it's become a no brainer for me now. Great work on the driveway. I just found your channel and love your down to earth approach - I'll be watching more.

[@satanismybrother]

you guys did a great job, and I can really sympathise wrt poor work from tradespeople. It's absolutely gutting when you spend a lot of money just to feel you have been ripped off and have to do the job again. It really does feel like there is a competency crisis in the trades right now.

[@hughjass8430]

My Dad was a fitter and a hugely talented man who could turn his hand to anything. Growing up, he did almost everthing DIY related himself. When he passed away, and I began engaging tradesmen for various tasks, it was quite the eye opening experience. Professionalism and even the smallest bit of pride in the work is not at all the norm, in fact its mostly the opposite. Its an absolute minefield out there and the best advice Ive gotten is only hire based on personal recommendation and if at all possible hire someone local as they dont like to shìt on their own doorstep.

[@anthonycengia6593]

Good job and it's a similar story no matter where you are in the world with contractors, or just people in general. One thing I think is worth checking is the amount of aggregate you use in your mix. Where I come from concrete has a lot more stone in it. That mix of yours looks more like mortar. That's just an observation not a put down

[@noname-jr9bk]

Hi I've been watching for some time and I admire your grit and determination towards home DIY! I completely agree what you said about trades people, there a nightmare, ripoff and majority of them are poorly skilled with bad attitudes full of tattoos and talk like their saving the planet. Keep up with the DIY do it yourself👍

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Like your self I'm a DIYer and to be honest you have done a great job on your driveway and a brilliant job on your drainage. You should be proud on what you have done, Great video

[@_J.F_]

I did a very similar drain job on my drive about 7 years ago except I wasn't aware of those sump units so didn't put one in. I do try to avoid getting too much mud and debris down the drain and (touch wood) the system still continues to remove water as quickly as it appears from above but if I was to ever do a similar job I will definitely put one of those sumps in.

[@ronangilloway]

That looks great, don't be so hard on yourself or your work. I know people who will criticise, but unfortunately that goes with the territory when you put these types of videos online. Loving all your videos, thank you for sharing

[@connorh9423]

I understand your frustration with trades, I'm a groundworker/ landscaper by trade and I put effort and care into every job I do. That concrete work by the 'professional' was a bodge job, any concrete driveway work I've done I have have always had a minimum of 5 inches of c30 grade (or about a 1 to 4 or 1.3.5) concrete with a broomed or roller texture finish. Judging by how it looked in video its seems closing to a c15 or about a 1 to 5/6 concrete and is nowhere near thick enough and should not have a hand troweled finish. And don't worry about your finish, considering you haven't done much of it it's still looks legions better than some of the concrete work done by professionals out there bit I would question the longevity of the concrete due to its thickness.

[@paulprescott7913]

Smashing job, well done to all involved. The problem with the lack of decent tradesmen is a very deep conversation. But in a nutshell not enough young people coming through the system.

[@denisoriordan6739]

Great job Keith. Couple of thoughts. On a slope like that, you probably need some sort of reinforcement for the concrete, to withstand the tension of a car driving up. Sheets of mesh might be overkill, but even some sheep wire would add a huge amount of strength. For next time, it might be worth looking into hiring or borrowing a ‘bull float’ to trowel out about 900mm wide. Extendable handles out to about 5m. You can get a brush attachment for the same system. Definitely available to hire. You might be emptying out that trap once every 6 weeks in the winter. Also!! I’ve withdrawal symptoms from the Podcast too. #WorkshopBanter