Blog
Finding a Good Tradie
October 24, 2022
So, how do you find a good tradie?
Although this post may be long, I can guarantee you that by the end you’ll [hopefully] be more educated and have greater confidence in picking the right tradie for your needs.
We are tradies ourselves and its never nice to hear directly from our customers that they have been the victim of a dodgy tradie. It’s distressing for them and we can see how weary they are of ever engaging the services of a tradie again.
- A good tradie KNOWS their trade. A dodgy tradie THINKS he knows their trade.
- A good tradie is committed to their customer long after they’ve won the quote.
- A dodgy tradie isn’t.
- A good tradie communicates.
- A dodgy tradie barely contacts you.
- A good tradie offers quality work.
- A dodgy tradie does sloppy work.
- A good tradie might cost a little more.
- A dodgy tradie will cost you a lot more.
- Where can these ‘good tradies’ aka ‘unicorns’ be found?
Ask on local FB community pages. People love to talk, they’ll quickly recommend a good tradie that they’ve had a great experience with.
Check with local architects or draftsman. They’ll often have a book of trusted tradies in your area.
Educate yourself on what you need so you’re in a position to ask the right questions.
Trust your gut instinct. If you don’t click with your tradie or you just don’t get a good feeling about them or if they’re too good to be true, then move on.
Research your recommendations. Have a look at their Facebook Page, website or ‘google my business’. Read their reviews. If they’ve been given a negative review, how did they respond? Was it professional?
Visit the Fair Trading NSW website or the website of the relevant body in your state. Check to see if they’re licensed for the work you are engaging them for. See if they’ve had any citations against their business or any complaints.
Great news – you’ve found your unicorn of a tradie and now you want to engage their services. What next?
Don’t be afraid to ask for proof of their insurance. A good tradie will readily provide you with their current Certificate of Currency. Remember, you are the client, they are now working for you. They’re in your home and if something should go wrong, then you want to know they have the appropriate insurances to cover it
If the service you are requiring is a larger sum of monies then request a contract. A contract will outline the scope of works to be carried out so there is no confusion. Read it carefully before signing.
Most tradies will request a deposit. In most states a tradie can only request a 10% deposit, never feel pressured to pay more. If you’re unsure, check your states governing body website. Once the deposit is paid, some trades may request an additional sum to cover the cost of materials to be paid on the start date or just before.
If you have concerns throughout the job, speak up. Most of the time the tradie is aware of it and is working on correcting it.
At the end of the job, walk through the job with your tradie. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, speak up! If you’re happy with the finished product, tell them and tell your friends and your community.
We hope that this information provides you with the confidence to engage the services of your next tradie!
Feel free to share your experiences or stories below so others may benefit from what you have learnt. Good or bad :)
Let’s talk about your project
Fill out the form, or call us to arrange a free roof assessment and written quote
Home Page Form

Skylights can absolutely transform a dark home into a brighter, welcoming space that finally doesn’t feel and look like a cave. But the reality is, a skylight is still a penetration through your roof. That means the result depends on your roof’s condition and type, and how precisely the flashing and waterproofing are designed and installed. In Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, where salty coastal air, sticky humidity, and wind-driven rain quickly expose any weak spot, “good enough” installation rarely holds up for long. Installed properly, skylights are a real improvement to your home. Installed poorly, they can turn into a recurring maintenance headache. In this guide, you’ll get a practical breakdown of the pros and cons of skylights, how to tell if your roof is a good candidate, what actually drives cost, and what you can do to protect performance long-term.

A fresh roof can change the whole feel of a property. It sharpens street appeal, helps protect the surface from weathering, and can be a smart “value uplift” move before you sell or refinance. If you’ve been searching online for ballpark numbers, you’ve probably noticed the big problem that roof painting cost figures rarely match the quotes people get in real life. That’s because pricing isn’t based on square metres alone. Roof type, material, pitch, access and existing condition are just some of the factors that can swing the total cost dramatically, even between two homes that look similar from the street. It’s also worth watching out for those “ CHEAP roof painting ” services that look great upfront but cut corners on prep, priming, or repairs, because when the coating fails early, peeling or patchy finishes can mean you end up paying more to fix and redo the work properly. So yes… it’s an “it depends” answer. It’s not that tradies are dodging the question. It’s the reality of quoting safely and properly, especially where coastal air, humidity and organic growth (lichen, moss) can add prep time. In this guide, you’ll learn the biggest cost drivers, what’s usually included in a professional roof painting or restoration scope, and how to get an accurate, itemised quote for both residential and commercial properties.

Summer in Coffs Harbour can feel relentless. Hot, humid days, warm nights and top-storey bedrooms that never quite cool down. Add in rising power prices and constant AC use, and it’s no wonder homeowners are looking for smarter ways to keep their homes comfortable. You’ll see big promises online, “Slap on a heat reflective coating and your roof, house and power bills will all magically cool down overnight.” But the reality is more complex. Quality cool roof systems can make a real, measurable difference only when they’re used on the right roof, applied properly, and backed up by good insulation and ventilation. In this guide, we’ll give you a clear breakdown of the question “ Does reflective roof paint work ?”, what it can’t do, and how to decide if it’s the right move for your Coffs Harbour or Port Macquarie roof.







