" I can't do the skirting in the bathroom today, the chop saw isn't here."

" What do you want that for?"

" To cut the Mitres."

"Use a jack saw."

" You can't cut mitres with a jack saw!"

Ten minutes later, two perfect mitres fitted and caulked. "Thats why I'm the boss. Snigger"

The first ever DIY job I did 18 months ago was to fit taurus pine skirting after a quick tutorial from the father in law (30 years trade as a cabinet maker), a borrowed mitre saw and a jigsaw for scribing.

Was well chuffed with the results, got the bug and never looked back. For small and not too complicated jobs I invest in the tools, get some advice and get practicing.

To the OP, it's all been said but definitely sounds like you found the right person for the job and you made a good judgment. But the words of caution were well founded just check out the rogues gallery there's some absolutely spectacular skirting in there that shows just what cowboys are out there LOL!

i think jozeffo it would sound more impressive if you had missed out the word "CAULK!!!!!!!"

haha i was chatting with the fella that owns the house next door to ours. hes doing it up at the moment. asked me about skirtings as he doesnt want to pay out to get the stuff ran that matches (i wouldnt even know the name of the skirting in our house apart from that its 9 inch stuff)

i told him about some 9 inch stuff i fitted recently. ogee skirting from arnold laver. but it was slightly different from the ogee stuff i buy anywhere else. it was a touch awkward to scribe as theres a few very small details that arent on normal ogee. all my scribes were spot on. the bloke next door said ahh thats what caulk is for.

haha maybe on certain occasions. but id far rather have it fitting as close to perfect as possible personally.

The mention of doors reminds me of a job a friend asked me to do a while ago. Hang a front door with frame, Mortice sashlock and fit the letterplate.

Being fed up with doing jobs for mates rates I gave him a price of around £90 and heard nothing back. Found out he'd got somebody to fit the frame and hang the door (with all locks mentioned) for I think it was £40, only thing was my friend then asked me to fit the letterplate for him as whoever hung and fitted the door etc 'could not do letterplates'.

I hope you charged him £ 90 for the Letter plate. Tight Aunt.

Yeah did do, he wasn't happy paying it! lol

i think the dictionary definition of mates rates would read :

when ones friend takes the proverbial

its frustrating. i tried to help out a friend doing a house up. did him mega mega cheap mates rates. then found out he got an interest free loan rather than a mortgage lol