Trade work is noble work, and also deeply lucrative work for those skilled enough to complete it. But offering services as a tradesperson of any stripe requires a steadfast approach to service and results, as well as the necessary skills.
Bathrooms are a particularly popular form of home renovation at the moment, but have experienced a 22% increase in average cost since 2021. With bathroom installs being a major financial intervention, consumers are more on-guard than ever for hallmarks of trustworthy contractors. What are some of those key hallmarks?
Safety
Safety is a paramount concern for any tradesperson or contractor, and a quality not often directly observed by clients and consumers. But poor safety can have profound implications for contractor, client and finished product alike – and if risks arising from poor job safety are realised, they will be the most visible part of the entire project.
For example, the first and most obvious consideration for safety in bathroom installation is tool and equipment safety. Poor discipline with an angle grinder can lead to contractor or client injury, which can be extremely impactful and extremely costly. Liability insurance can temper the costs to business, but will do little for reputation.
Safety should also be a central part of any modern bathroom’s design, just as much as its installation. Safety might be a leading criterion for certain clients, especially older clients renovating their home for better accessibility. Safety concerns should form the fundaments of bathroom installation though, too – something heavily impacted by the next key tenet for tradespeople.
Quality
Quality is arguably the most self-evident of consumer needs when it comes to property renovations and new installations. Quality is defined in a few ways, from the raw materials used to effect any bathroom transformations to the skill of the tradesperson in completing the renovation. It also, necessarily, includes the robustness and durability of the finished product to years of regular use.
With this in mind, the materials used to form the new bathroom should be of the highest quality. This refers both to the items that form the bathroom – the tiles, porcelain, and other installations – and the materials used to affix them – the caulking, tile adhesive and grout. With regard to tiling in particular, proper tile adhesive is crucial to ensuring a long-lasting and safe tiled finish.
Time
Lastly, time is a vital part of the overall equation and a key signifier of both safety and quality with regard to new renovation projects. Short timescales may be attractive to certain clients, but not to all – and can betray a less careful approach to the overall project.
Any bathroom renovation project should be properly planned and scheduled, in order that clients can understand the timescale for the process. Ample time should be given to important tasks, to reduce the cutting of corners and ensure a high-quality finish.
