When I experience something good, such as a restaurant, a book, or a film, I like to write about it here, in the hope it might be useful to others. A few of my posts subsequently get a lot of search traffic, and benefit the people in question. I still rate Chi Noodle for example (read my comments here), and occasionally manage to sneak a visit in on a trip to London where I’m recognised. It is it’s own reward (the free lunch I had once was also rather good :-).
So, in the spirit of recommending good things, I thought it might be useful for any Glaswegians who read this to pop up a recommendation for the workmen we’ve had in to date. So far, we’ve had a fireplace, electrical work and some radiators moved about. We’re awaiting a few more workmen, so I’ll update this in due course.
Our selection process was mainly through the Yellow Pages, as well as a few folk who’ve done work for family and friends. We always gave them a printout with a breakdown of the work, so they were using the same specification. We stated on that that we required a written quote, so there was no confusion. We discounted a couple of quotes who wouldn’t quote for the entire job, and based our selection on price (we had a couple of plain silly quotes), but more importantly on how well they considered what we were asking.
I’ll start with the non-recommendations, specifically the electricians. Whilst they did an ok job, and were friendly and reasonably efficient, there was some damage to our storm-doors that they didn’t mention, such that we had to complain to them in order for them to arrange for a joiner to make good the damage. I’ll not name the company (Although if you e-mail me, I’ll tell you if you really want), because they didn’t do an altogether bad job in itself. So although we may invite them in to quote for further work, we just weren’t struck enough to really want to recommend them as the best-electricians-since-sliced-bread.
The fireplace was from Glasgow Fireplaces (URL of www.firegroup.co.uk on the invoice, but looks strangely unused. We went to 41 Ainslie Road, Hillington, G52 4RU). We’re very happy with the fireplace, and everybody who has come and seen it is very impressed. There are a lot of fireplace shops in Glasgow, and we spent a long time making our selection. Whilst the final choice was probably available in all of the shops, the turnaround time and installation was seemless.
Finally, the plumber/heating chaps. Donald Fraser (Based in Pollokshields, and is on 0141 427 6905) was an affable, chatty and very efficient worker who, along with his colleague, came and went in a morning, in which time they’d plumbed in three new heaters, and replaced two with shiny new ones we’re very happy with. He was clearly a fascinating character, who enjoyed talking on all subjects (I had a couple of enjoyable conversations about books: He liked my book collection in the loft, which was nice). We’ll certainly be giving him a call when we get around to the other heating work (most likely replacing the boiler in a year or two). The clincher in our selection of Donald was his suggestion about radiator placement. Others just quoted for what we asked them, but he suggested what worked out to be a much better choice.
He doesn’t, beyond the minimal yellow page presence, advertise much, but relying more on word of mouth. So this is simply internet word of mouth. If you’re looking for plumbing or heating work in the Glasgow area, and trust me (and you know you want to), we liked Donald Fraser.
I’ll update this page over the next few weeks with summaries of the plasterer (due tomorrow), kitchen installation, and the flooring folk.
If you take up any of these recommendations, feel free to mention my name (or Frances Flood, as she did all the bookings in her name), or this website.
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March 22nd, 2006 at 9:29 pm
[...] Something that has been occupying my thoughts of late is how to voice opinions on traders and workmen without overstepping what you might call “the line”. By this I of course don’t mean voicing positive recommendations and so forth (let’s face it, nobody is going worry about that), but the negative ones. [...]
August 27th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
[...] I’d noticed it whilst cutting the hedge before, and had just thought it was drainage. However, a few weeks later and almost the entire bed is full of an inch of water, and that’s a Bad Thing in my view. So after a call to Scottish Water to discuss, they suggested it was my problem (it’s in my property), and that I should get a plumber out. So the next day I called Donald Fraser, the plumber we’d used before, and he was here within an hour, and poking about. [...]
October 30th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
I note your comments on the Glasgow Fireplace business at 41 Ainslie Road Hillington. I wish my sister had the luck you had. She purchased a fire in July from them and was quoted 4-6 weeks. 10 weeks later the gas fire was installed and it worked for one day only. This was on 5/10/07 and it is still not working. We are getting no-where even after my letter to the Managing Director. They keep saying the part is on its way. For a fire that cost £2,200 and £470 to fit surely it should not need a new part after one day. If anyone can give me advice on what to do next I would be grateful. I will update if they every get it sorted.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:17 am
Stumbled across your website when looking for Fireplace showrooms in Glasgow. Great idea. We seem to be stung by every type of workman and getting fed up of it. Eagerly waiting for your news on kitchen installation and flooring as we’ve got those to organise too.