British Plumber in Arizona
#16

Thanks,
I owned my own bathroom remodeling company in England for 8 years,
We moved here due to my dad being here for 14 years and love it here.
What I'm struggling to find is a company (like mine was)
That did the complete bath remodeling.
So I looked into plumbing servicemen jobs because there is a few jobs here,
I had 3 interviews with different companies, and choose one for a day trial,
First question they asked me is do I have experience in sales???
Over here the plumbers work on commission and try to sell other problems in the house to get better commission.
I walked away after the day trial, I felt like we were searching for little problems to rip the customer off.
The plumbing is a lot different in az to the uk,
Bath tubs, toilets, drainage fitted different to England.
Different kind of Pipes.
I can't find any online to read up on general plumbing in az.
I'd love to find a british plumber who has set up over here.
Thanks
I owned my own bathroom remodeling company in England for 8 years,
We moved here due to my dad being here for 14 years and love it here.
What I'm struggling to find is a company (like mine was)
That did the complete bath remodeling.
So I looked into plumbing servicemen jobs because there is a few jobs here,
I had 3 interviews with different companies, and choose one for a day trial,
First question they asked me is do I have experience in sales???
Over here the plumbers work on commission and try to sell other problems in the house to get better commission.
I walked away after the day trial, I felt like we were searching for little problems to rip the customer off.
The plumbing is a lot different in az to the uk,
Bath tubs, toilets, drainage fitted different to England.
Different kind of Pipes.
I can't find any online to read up on general plumbing in az.
I'd love to find a british plumber who has set up over here.
Thanks

#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace










Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 10,970












I hired a British plumber in CA about 15 years ago. He had his own business. Unfortunately, I don't have his contact info so other than to say it's possible, I can't help much.

#18
BE Enthusiast





Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766












I think I have to disagree, just going through the residential contractor licensing thing myself and I would 99.9% say that the 3 trades that do need state licensing are electrician, plumber and ac.....painters,handymen etc need county licenses but the big 3 need state certification
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr...lectrical.html

#19

I think I have to disagree, just going through the residential contractor licensing thing myself and I would 99.9% say that the 3 trades that do need state licensing are electrician, plumber and ac.....painters,handymen etc need county licenses but the big 3 need state certification
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr...lectrical.html
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr...lectrical.html
To be a contractor? Then yes a license is absolutely needed. But to become a regular journeyman electrician / plumber no.
There are stipulations on how many licensed journeymen a contractor must have on jobsites, and this varies depending on whether they are an EC or ER and if the site is residential or commercial/industrial. outside of this the contractor can hire as many unlicensed electricians as he likes. This is something my union (IBEW) and NECA has been fighting for a while down here.
Last edited by jibsymalone; Feb 27th 2014 at 1:49 pm.

#20
BE Enthusiast





Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766












ah gotcha, yes you are 'hiding' under their license so they are the responsible ones.................

#22

I can speak only for California. Plumbers are not licensed as plumbers. However, plumbing CONTRACTORS are licensed.
Sometimes, construction unions might be involved for some jobs: http://www.ualocal469.org/
Sometimes, construction unions might be involved for some jobs: http://www.ualocal469.org/

#23
BE Enthusiast





Joined: May 2008
Posts: 572












I can speak only for California. Plumbers are not licensed as plumbers. However, plumbing CONTRACTORS are licensed.
Sometimes, construction unions might be involved for some jobs: http://www.ualocal469.org/
Sometimes, construction unions might be involved for some jobs: http://www.ualocal469.org/

#24
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2014
Location: Barboursville WV
Posts: 8


Yeah im in the same boat as you. I was a plumber in Northern Ireland and some things are the same but the vast majority is different or the way they do things are different. Im currently working for a plumbing company but ive been told i have to get a plumber in training card. I dont think our British qualifications are accepted over here

#25
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2014
Location: Phoenix, Az
Posts: 3


Yeah im in the same boat as you. I was a plumber in Northern Ireland and some things are the same but the vast majority is different or the way they do things are different. Im currently working for a plumbing company but ive been told i have to get a plumber in training card. I dont think our British qualifications are accepted over here
Are you working a day hourly rate or commission work?
Only plumbing work I can find is commission.
Also the hourly rate less than uk rate for a plumber í ½í±Ž

#26
Forum Regular




Joined: May 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 265












Yeah im in the same boat as you. I was a plumber in Northern Ireland and some things are the same but the vast majority is different or the way they do things are different. Im currently working for a plumbing company but ive been told i have to get a plumber in training card. I dont think our British qualifications are accepted over here

#27
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2014
Location: Barboursville WV
Posts: 8


J Bentley, im getting an hourly rate. Its alot less for sure, they are paying me an apprentice rate even though i know alot more. I guess it is what it is but i mean i dont know if i want to go through another 4/5 years of an apprenticeship again. I might consider doing something else

#28

I think the only qualification you need here in GA is to be overweight and have a lot of bum-crack showing when you bend!!!


#30

I know at least one in CO. I think he pretty much started from scratch and has to be licensed etc to pull permits. Has his own business.
Plenty of DIY books and then of course code books.
Then there are a few guys who do remodeling but pull in plumbers/electricians etc.
Plenty of DIY books and then of course code books.
Then there are a few guys who do remodeling but pull in plumbers/electricians etc.
