Old job revisited

[hereticus]

Interesting one today !

I fitted a conservatory roof about ten years ago and, given the product, training, and quality standards of the time, did a bl..dy good job of it, customer was over the moon, and never any service calls or comeback on it.

Today I re-fitted the same conservatory roof - new occupier in the house making changes - and, as I took down the old blinds, I was amazed at what I/we used to get away with but accepted as being adequate at the time. If I fitted a roof to that standard today, I should be shot. Also, the original job involved 15 blinds and was a backbreaking full day's work to fit. This time I got it down to 11 blinds (two duos so really only 9 to fit), and finished the job in 3.1/2 hours. It looks the dogs b.ll.cks, and I know that the job has been done to a much higher standard than before.

So what does this demonstrate ? Firstly, that the product has improved substantially - especially in the choice and availability of brackets and fitting options - how did we ever manage without L profile, strap brackets, duo blinds, etc ? And secondly that my own skills in planning, measuring, and fitting a roof have improved considerably over the years, and that my standards and expectations are also much higher.

We all moan about aspects of product and quality standards but, when you see a comparison like this, perhaps its not all bad news.

[dolly]

3 1/2 hours.
Can you come and do my fits please? ;D

[hereticus]

dolly said:

3 1/2 hours.
Can you come and do my fits please? ;D

Dolly - they are not always that quick. The thing with a roof is that it takes as long as it takes - you can't rush it, but if you work methodically then you get quicker at it. When scheduling a roof fit I generally calculate at 25 minutes per rectangle, 40 minutes per shape, and the total time thus calculated allows for unpacking the blinds, tidying up afterwards, etc i.e arrival to departure.

Some are easier than others - fitting to wood is easier than PVC, external fit is much easier than internal fit, shape 'P' is easier to set loose filos than other shapes, etc - but usually this calculation allows enough time and sometimes I finish sooner. Today's job had the advantage that I could use some of the original screw holes, but the disadvantage that I had to take down the old blinds first, so it balances out. In my schedule I had allowed five hours today so I guess 3.1/2 hours was a good result.

[farmer]

hereticus said:

Interesting one today !

I fitted a conservatory roof about ten years ago and, given the product, training, and quality standards of the time, did a bl..dy good job of it, customer was over the moon, and never any service calls or comeback on it.

Today I re-fitted the same conservatory roof - new occupier in the house making changes - and, as I took down the old blinds, I was amazed at what I/we used to get away with but accepted as being adequate at the time. If I fitted a roof to that standard today, I should be shot. Also, the original job involved 15 blinds and was a backbreaking full day's work to fit. This time I got it down to 11 blinds (two duos so really only 9 to fit), and finished the job in 3.1/2 hours. It looks the dogs b.ll.cks, and I know that the job has been done to a much higher standard than before.

So what does this demonstrate ? Firstly, that the product has improved substantially - especially in the choice and availability of brackets and fitting options - how did we ever manage without L profile, strap brackets, duo blinds, etc ? And secondly that my own skills in planning, measuring, and fitting a roof have improved considerably over the years, and that my standards and expectations are also much higher.

We all moan about aspects of product and quality standards but, when you see a comparison like this, perhaps its not all bad news.

WILL AGREE ON THE PLEATS, BUT,
have the vertical headrails improved have the venetian slats got thicker or thinner, can they sew roman blinds straight yet, are the roller mechanisms smooth and quite like our competitors, do they cut the barrel tubes to the correct legnth ? could be here all night, pile em high sell em cheap, so i am doing.