http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog A Builder's Perspective On Building Services Today Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:22:20 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en "We were delighted to have chosen Paul Barker as our contractor to undertake the refurbishment and upgrade of our manufacturing facility in Oxfordshire. Understanding of our need to continue manufacturing throughout the build period, Paul had a flexible and realistic approach to organising the work. He and his ... http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2011/10/happy-customers/ [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="110" caption="Paul Barker"][/caption] Welcome to Paul Barker Building Services Ltd.  I'm Paul Barker and I have 33 years experience in the building trade. This time has been spent mostly in renovation works in both the residential and commercial arenas. All of the guys working for me and myself take ... http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2011/10/hello-world/ I read with great sadness about Cyril Jenkins 88. This gentleman died in Bristol just a few months after getting ripped off by cowboy builders. I hate this term because they are not builders they are just scum who have no building ability. In fact they are just thieves that ... http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2010/05/its-not-just-the-money/ [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Rubbish"][/caption] I was looking today at my yard. from the car, well I had to it was raining! I thought it would be nice if it were perfectly tidy and clean and perfect. Well it's not - ok! With all the good will in the world ... http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2010/03/what-a-waste/ A little while back when I was young and nimble....... OK ages ago then, I was on an external decoration job with Vic my old cohort. Vic was a great character when working with me. In a previous life he had worked for Champion spark plugs. For Vic it was always ... http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2010/03/thank-you-would-have-done/ If you have a floor up for any reason to do work, think about insulating under the floor as not all heat is lost upwards. http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2010/01/top-tips-1/ It is not something to shout about but please read on and consider what you would have done in my shoes. Many years ago when I was a slip of a lad (how many years ago?!!) I worked for an old gentleman called Mr. Lawton, he was 89 years old. I ... http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2010/01/ok-so-i-lied/ After me bleating on about us old hands needing to keep up with the changes it was good to be asked from my newest recruit. He came and asked me if he could finish his course that he was half way through when the company he was working for went ... http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2010/01/youth-enthusiasm/ [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="233" caption="Damp"][/caption] Although I have been in this business for a little while now there are always new things to learn. With my present company and my previous family firm, dampness has always been an issue. It comes from everywhere like it or not. It is an old ... http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2010/01/never-stop-learning/ Happy New Year! I was talking to a client today whilst he was going through the ever more complicated procedure of getting into people's houses legitimately and sorting out the alarms. This one is peculiar to say the least. I relayed to him about my father and his brush with the ... http://www.paulbarkerbuilding.com/blog/2010/01/police-alert/