Potato peels down the kitchen sink. Loose hair swirling through the tub drain. The little plastic soldier your toddler gave a bath in the toilet. Clogs happen. When water isnt draining as quickly as it shouldor, worse, isnt draining at allyour first move could be a call to a plumber. But if youd prefer to save money, time, and aggravation, reach for a drain snake.

Also called a plumbing snake or drain auger, this handy tool is simply a long, thick, flexible wire that snakes into drains and pipes to chew through clogs quickly and efficiently. But these blockage busters come in different types and sizes, depending on the recommended use. To help you choose and use the right drain snake, whether for a stopped-up toilet or a slow-moving sink, weve got the 411 on what to look forand rounded up the five best drain snakes recommended by plumbers and homeowners alike for effectiveness and ease of use.

Drain snakes come in a few standard lengths and thicknesses. For the average homeowner who needs to unclog a sink, tub, or shower, a 25-foot cable between and 5/16 of an inch thick is sufficient to tackle common household issues. If you live in a multi-story home with bathrooms upstairs, look for a snake with a 50-foot cable capable of reaching clogs in longer pipes.

For a more serious clog in your homes main water pipes, blockages further down the kitchen sink drain than your typical food clog, or problems with washing machine drainage, a tougher drain snake designed to handle larger pipes with bigger clogs is called for. Sometimes called medium drain machines, these powerful tools typically have a thicker cableoften inch in diameterand extend up to 75 feet to reach down deep into plumbing lines.

There are two basic types of heads at the tip of a drain snakes cable: cutting heads and coil heads. Some drain snakes allow you to switch out the heads, but most have one fixed head.

Most of the drain snakes used by the average homeowner have a small crank thats turned by hand to advance and retract the cable. These manual drain snakes are fine for occasional use around the house to unclog simple blockages in your kitchen or bathroom sink, tub, or toilet. If you expect to use your drain snake on a regular basis (perhaps you live in an older home with temperamental plumbing, or have family members unsure of what should not be put down the drain), or you need to tackle major clogs in water mains, downspouts, or washing machines, you might prefer the extra muscle and reduced hand strain of an electric drain snake. These tools advance and retract the cable at the push of a button, and power their way through very stubborn clogs. Youll pay for that oomph, however: As a general rule, while manual drain snakes are fairly inexpensive, youll pay three or four times that amount for an electric plumbing snake.

Here are five drain snakes for a variety of uses that win rave reviews for getting the job done quickly and relatively easily.

Whether the clog is in your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower drain, or tub drain, the RIDGID Power Spin can come to the rescue. Its manual crank sends the 25-foot, -inch cable twisting and turning its way down your pipes, while the screw-shaped head chews through semi-solid clogs and also catches and retrieves hair, paper, or other fibrous gunk. But if you want a little more power than a hand-crank can provide, just attach the drain snake to your power drill, and voila! Now its an electric plumbing snake. Reviewers praise its effectiveness and the convenience using it either manually or with a power drill.

While almost any drain snake can clear clogs from a toilet, theres a risk of scratching or damaging the porcelain bowl in the process. Not so with the RIDGID K-3 Toilet Auger, which has a vinyl protective sheath over the metal cable to prevent unsightly scratches. This drain snake is also specifically designed for toilets: Position the rigid 30-inch tube inside the toilet so the rubber foot rests right at the bowls outlet, and then crank the three-foot cable down and through the twists and turns of the plumbing. The kink-resistant, super-flexible cable is long enough to reach simple blockages, and the bulbous coiled head easily breaks through soft clogs so they can flush away, but catches and retrieves more solid problems, including diapers, wadded toilet paper, flushed toys, and dropped jewelry. Pleased buyersnotethat it made quick work of busting through even stubborn clogs that plungers couldnt budge.

One of the most common causes of slow-draining bathroom sinks and shower or tub drains is a wad of shed hair in the drainpipe. Luckily, the FlexiSnake Drain Weasel is designed to catch and retrieve balls of hair and gunk from a sink, shower,or tub drain. Crank the handle to send the 18-inch flexible snake down the drain and let its bristly tip, covered with micro-hooks, grab onto clumps of hair. Once the clog is gone, you can toss away the head of the snake (five replacement snake heads are included)no need to store a dirty, gunky tool. Reviewersrave about how effectively it works.

Tough clogs require tough solutionsjust what youll get with the TACKLIFE Drain Auger. This battery-powered drain snake has enough muscle to push through all manner of clogs in pipes with widths between to three inches in diameter, which includes all types of sinks, tubs, showers, downspouts, and most garden irrigation systems. The cable is 25 feet long with a corkscrew-shaped head, and the lithium-ion battery charges quickly and remains charged until the job is done. Theres even a small LED work light at the base of the handleno need to hunt down a flashlight. Handy homeowners praise its ability to tackle clogs that otherwise would have required a plumbers services.

When dealing with a clog beyond the reach of the typical drain snake, you need the extra length provided by the Cobra Products 50-Foot Drain Auger. Its flexible cable is -inch thick andits corkscrew head plows through most common obstructions. Be aware, however, thatmanually cranking an extra-long drain snake takes quite a bit of muscle and perseverance. Many reviewers mention their surprise athow well it conquered even tough clogs in both indoor and outdoor plumbing.

More here:
5 Best Drain Snakes for Clogged Sinks, Showers, and Toilets - BobVila.com

For those who have never heard of it, the Peter Principle is a concept in management developed by Dr. Laurence J. Peter which basically states that people are promoted in a company organization until they reach their level of incompetence. An employee gets promoted based on their success at a job until they reach a position where they (paradoxically) are no longer good at the job; where the knowledge and skills that made them successful at their former position are just not what is required for success at their new position.

It took business management leaders in America a long time to recognize this was happening (the book that introduced the principle to the world, The Peter Principle by Dr. Peter and Raymond Hull wasnt published until 1969) and still longer to address it, which is why the embrace of servant leadership by our Contractor of the Year, TDIndustries all the way back in 1972 is just one of the many remarkable things about the company. (You can read our full feature here.)

On the company web site you can find a video that features Jack Lowe, Jr., son of company founder Jack Lowe, Sr. In it he talks about the companys turn to servant leadership, which came about after a series of company-wide, small-group meetings.

In it he says, We discovered we were doing a lots of technical training, in plumbing or engineering or accounting or whatever it was, and no training in leadership. And as complicated as plumbing or accounting is, its nowhere near as complicated as people. So we were having people promoted to plumbing foreman because they were the best plumber or accounting manager because they were the best accountant, and they were failing, or having trouble. So we started leadership development built around servant leadership in the early seventies.

Its a profound change of mind-set to see yourself, as a leader, through the eyes of your employees. To manage not as a disciplinarian or even really as a director, but as a teacher, a source of knowledge and experience, and above all as a role model; to have your success as a leader be more than the numbers on a spreadsheet, but instead be the growth and development of the people on your teamand hopefully setting them on the path as servant leaders in their own right.

And its the perfect approach for an employee-owned company like TD, where everyone is a partner, all sharing in one another's successes which in aggregate become the companys success. The quality of the work TD performs for its clients is really a reflection of that company culture.

Its a business model that extends outward, beyond TDIndustries to the wider community. With their work first to integrate and later support the local schools, with their work fighting homelessness in the Dallas area, with the time company partners spend volunteering, you can see how they have embraced the idea of community leadership through community service.

The best part of working in the trade press is being able to shine a spotlight on those companies and individuals that are really doing amazing things for their clients, their employees, and their community. In that spirit, we are very proud to name TDIndustries our Contractor of the Year.

Read the original:
TDIndustries and Defeating the Peter Principle - Contractor

Q: We plan a simple kitchen update by changing things like the faucet and cabinet hardware. Along that line, is there anything else you can suggest to give our kitchen a fresh look without getting into a complicated install?

Betsy, Washington state

A: When you mentioned changing out your kitchen faucet, that gave me a good idea.

A hot trend right now is installing a modern-looking kitchen chandelier with hints of antique styling. This type of lighting fixture design usually lends itself to most kitchen layouts.

Kitchen chandeliers have become so popular that some faucet manufacturers have started to market the chandeliers with metal finishes that perfectly match the kitchen faucet. So if your present electrical setup can adapt to this type of light fixture, a new kitchen chandelier can really brighten up your mornings.

Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of the book Ed Del Grandes House Call, the host of TV and Internet shows and a LEED green associate.

See the rest here:
Plumber Q&A: Chandeliers are moving into the kitchen - The Union Leader

To those of you who wonder (often using your outdoor voice, by the way) why I write so often about President Trump, let me give you a hint: He recently said Americans have to flush the toilet 10 to 15 times because modern, low-flush toilets dont work. This problem, which exists only inside Trumps tortured noggin, is what keeps the leader of the free world up at night. Toilets. That dont work. Except they do. Really well.

For those of you who missed it, let me explain. Trump went on one of his patented weird out-of-body ramblings the other day in which he said, Were looking very strongly at sinks and showers ... people are flushing toilets 10, 15 times, as opposed to onceyou cant wash your hands so little water comes out ... you have many states where they have so much water, it comes down its called rain.

Yes, friends, thats the President of the United States on water, rain and how dirty his hands are. But lets not talk about Ukraine right now. Those of us who pay close attention to Trumps tirades are used to his proclamations of something being very strongly looked into and usually we just snicker and move on, but this? This created not a snicker but a full-on face-plant into some pretty decent penne with vodka sauce. Which is to say, do not listen to Trump while eating because its a choking hazard.

I feel that very strongly.

Trump, in remarks to a Small Business Roundtable at the White House last week added this gem regarding showers: You turn the faucet onand you dont get any waterwater comes dripping out, very quietly, dripping out.

Do what?

Sorry. What I meant to say was DO WHAAAAAT?????

Look, I get it. Water pressure is awesome. I stayed at an Air BnB recently where the shower pressure could best be described as old man spitting onto sidewalk every 30 seconds. But generally, this is pretty rare.

What on earth is he trying to flush because please understand: If Trump gets all emo about a bigly problem, its something that personally affects him on the daily. Only things that cause Trump even a hint of personal woe are all that matter to him.

If it causes you pain in your daily life, well, thats not going to make the cut in Trumpland. Say you have your food stamps slashed to the point you have to feed the kids mustard sandwiches for dinner, well, thats a you problem. Which means it doesnt really matter to him. Besides, he needs that money to pay for his dumb wall that doesnt work.

One wag suggested Trump is probably upset at how many flushes it takes to get the entire Constitution down the drain. Indeed.

In light of his weird water theories, how can I NOT write about this president? In the immortal words of that great mafia kingpin, Michael Corleone, Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

Wilmingtons Celia Rivenbark is a NYT-bestselling author and columnist. Visit http://www.celiarivenbark.com.

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CELIA RIVENBARK: Plumbing the depths of why I write so much about Trump - StarNewsOnline.com

New York City, NY: December 2019 Published via (Wired Release) The Plumbing Fixtures & Fittings Market reviews offer thorough statistics about the worldwide enterprise comprising of valuable figures and stats. Further, the report provides facts starting from the bottom year (2019) and stretches till the forecast length (2020-2029). Moreover, research completed by professional experts in their domains strives tough to make the Plumbing Fixtures & Fittings marketplace report successful. The document is essential for normal for the key contributors as well as for the brand new entrants inside the marketplace that gives in-intensity market insights. This Plumbing Fixtures & Fittings research file has set a bench-marking example for this type of dynamic marketplace that explores several recommendations and sensible growth strategies when it comes to the marketplace.

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Attractive Market Opportunities in the Plumbing Fixtures & Fittings Market By 2029 - Sound On Sound Fest

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - After giving Dolce Pan a warning, a Madison County health inspector returned to the bakery on Governors Drive on Tuesday. The eatery was previously written up for improperly handling beef, chicken, and pork. On Tuesday, the inspector found the pork and beef were kept at proper temps and products in the cooler were all dated within seven days.

Samurai's Steakhouse in Athens was inspected on December 6th. The inspector found the Asian restaurant had a dirty soda machine. Samurai's scored an 87.

Chili's Grill and Bar in Florence was inspected on December 3rd. The inspector wrote up the restaurant for not maintaining hot water at 110 degrees and they say the dishwasher wasn't sanitizing at the proper concentration. Chili's scored an 85.

Chicken Salad Chick opened its new restaurant in Florence this week on Cox Creek Parkway.

"Florence has been a long time coming," Chicken Salad Chick marketing manager Megan Worley said. "Our doors have basically been knocked down to bring a Chicken Salad Chick here."

Stacy Brown started the venture in 2008 at her home in Auburn.

"She started selling it door to door. All it was meant to be was a magnet on a car going door to door," Worley said.

They may have a humble beginning, but popular demand is putting it modestly. In the last 11 years, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to over 140 locations in 10 states.

"We specialize in 12 different kinds of chicken salad made fresh every day at every single store," Worley said.

Chicken Salad Chick received a permit to operate from the health department. They haven't yet been given a full inspection score.Worley says next month, Chicken Salad Chick is opening a restaurant in Cullman.

Read more:
Dolce Pan cleans up its act, Chilis needs to call a plumber in this weeks Restaurant Ratings - WHNT News 19

This winter is predicted to be the coldest the country has seen in decades, with some forecasters claiming it'll be the worst to hit the UK in 50 years.

The freezing temperatures are likely to have a big impact on one particular generation, with 92 per cent of the 50,000 excess winter deaths last year being among people over the age of 65.

One plumber in Lancashire is embracing the spirit of good will and is trying to do his part to combat this issue.

James Anderson, who lives in Burnley, has launched a winter campaign to provide free plumbing services to pensioners as the country prepares for the cold season.

The 52-year-old, who is a father of five, initially set up Depher after he visited another gentleman's property where another plumber had dismantled his heating system and charged 70 to do it.

Ever since then, he decided he wanted to do something to help these people who may be vulnerable and unable to afford such services. He has now helped over two thousand families.

James told LancsLive: "In 2017, I set upDepher, a community initiative to provide free plumbing to elderly and vulnerable people. We want to raise more funds throughout other parts of the UK over this coming winter. We are going into a very bad winter.

"Last winter over fifty thousand people died because of the cold weather and this year is set to be even harsher. Many elderly people struggle to pay their heating bills, and if their boiler goes, they might not be able to afford to get it fixed, meaning they are left freezing.

"I urge people to donate to our campaign so we can help as many vulnerable people as possible. We would also love to hear from any plumbers up and down the country who would like to join our scheme and volunteer their time. Please do get in touch if you want to get involved.

In September, LancsLive reported how the plumber had been praised for this incredibly kind gesture to a 91-year-old woman who has acute leukaemia by charging her nothing after her boiler broke.

James has also previously raised over 80,000 through crowdfunding and now wants to expand the scheme even wider to help those further afield. The network currently offers the service to people in Lancashire, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Scotland and Depher is keen to recruit more plumbers throughout the UK.

Dephers plumbers give their labour for free and receive 30 through the scheme to cover their expenses. If any additional paid work comes about as a result, two per cent of the fee goes to Depher and is reinvested in the business.

"I get mixed reactions," James added. "Someone thought it as a TV show. We had one woman who said 'I have never had anything for free and I didn't know what to say'. There's a lot of good people out there who need the help but are too scared to ask.

"People can go on the Go Fund Me page and donate for winter, but what I would like to suggest doing is if we could get 30,000 people to all donate 1 a month per month they would not miss that and it would keep us going for ever. Then we can people whenever they need help.

"If people can't donate this is what I'd say to them:

"Please if you can't help, check on your neighbour or friend of family. If they need help tell them to go and give us a ring. We find someone.

"It's about the community."

People who have been helped by James Anderson have written letters of thanks to him and left comments on the Depher Facebook page.

Rochelle Ireland from Falkirk wrote: Hot water and heating werent working, and I was getting nowhere. My husband is disabled and I have a joint condition, as does our son.

"As soon as Depher heard our story, and the problems, they immediately agreed to help, even though we live in Falkirk, Central Scotland. Dread to think how long it would have taken us to get this sorted. Thank you doesnt cover it - you have taken a huge weight off at a very difficult time!

Since news of James generosity broke following a viral tweet, the Depher Facebook page has also been flooded with messages from around the world praising the initiative.

Tony Natola from Illinois wrote: God bless you, your crews and all of your families for being there and helping our elders in need while Winnie Diaz from Denmark described James as a great man with a wonderful heart of gold.

Those interested in donating to the campaign can visit the GoFundMe page here.

Read more here:
Burnley plumber's good deed to help pensioners in need this winter - LancsLive

To those of you who wonder (often using your outdoor voice, by the way) why I write so often about President Trump, let me give you a hint: He recently said Americans have to flush the toilet 10 to 15 times because modern, low-flush toilets dont work. This problem, which exists only inside Trumps tortured noggin, is what keeps the leader of the free world up at night. Toilets. That dont work. Except they do. Really well.

For those of you who missed it, let me explain. Trump went on one of his patented weird out-of-body ramblings the other day in which he said, Were looking very strongly at sinks and showers ... people are flushing toilets 10, 15 times, as opposed to onceyou cant wash your hands so little water comes out ... you have many states where they have so much water, it comes down its called rain.

Yes, friends, thats the President of the United States on water, rain and how dirty his hands are. But lets not talk about Ukraine right now. Those of us who pay close attention to Trumps tirades are used to his proclamations of something being very strongly looked into and usually we just snicker and move on, but this? This created not a snicker but a full-on face-plant into some pretty decent penne with vodka sauce. Which is to say, do not listen to Trump while eating because its a choking hazard.

I feel that very strongly.

Trump, in remarks to a Small Business Roundtable at the White House last week added this gem regarding showers: You turn the faucet onand you dont get any waterwater comes dripping out, very quietly, dripping out.

Do what?

Sorry. What I meant to say was DO WHAAAAAT?????

Look, I get it. Water pressure is awesome. I stayed at an Air BnB recently where the shower pressure could best be described as old man spitting onto sidewalk every 30 seconds. But generally, this is pretty rare.

What on earth is he trying to flush because please understand: If Trump gets all emo about a bigly problem, its something that personally affects him on the daily. Only things that cause Trump even a hint of personal woe are all that matter to him.

If it causes you pain in your daily life, well, thats not going to make the cut in Trumpland. Say you have your food stamps slashed to the point you have to feed the kids mustard sandwiches for dinner, well, thats a you problem. Which means it doesnt really matter to him. Besides, he needs that money to pay for his dumb wall that doesnt work.

One wag suggested Trump is probably upset at how many flushes it takes to get the entire Constitution down the drain. Indeed.

In light of his weird water theories, how can I NOT write about this president? In the immortal words of that great mafia kingpin, Michael Corleone, Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

Wilmingtons Celia Rivenbark is a NYT-bestselling author and columnist. Visit http://www.celiarivenbark.com.

See original here:
CELIA RIVENBARK: Plumbing the depths of why I write so much about Trump - BlueRidgeNow.com

The Association of Contracting Plumbers (ACP) and the UA Plumbers Local 1 (UA Local 1) work hard to ensure a high standard skilled union labor and efficiency to New York City projects. For over 125 years the ACP and Local 1 have been the backbone of New York Citys infrastructure, protecting the health of all New Yorkers by installing and maintaining plumbing systems.

The partnership between ACP and UA Local 1 will offer cost savings to New York Citys booming construction industry, while delivering best-in-class talent to projects and ensuring rigorous standards through their exceptional worker training programs and employee benefits to attract and retain talent.

Contractors employ UA Local 1 on projects throughout the industrial, commercial and residential sectors of the construction industry. There isnt a major project in NYC from lifesaving hospitals to world famous sports entertaining centers in which union Local 1 plumbers and ACP contractors are not involved. From underground installations to fixtures and equipment, the plumbers of UA Local 1 are committed to delivering projects the right way, every time. Members and apprentices are offered continuing educational classes on a regular basis to ensure everyone is up to date on changes, trends and the latest advances in the plumbing profession.

Local 1 Members graduate from the United Association-certified and -accredited Joint Apprenticeship Training Program, a five-year process that requires participants to gain more than 10,000 hours of on-the-job training, as well as 1,070 hours of classroom education from certified instructors. The program produces some of the most talented plumbing apprentices in the industry, offering UA Local 1s clients a workforce with unmatched expertise.

UA Local 1 and ACP work closely together to identify complex and challenging projects to guarantee the plumbing quality of New York Citys most important structures and to ensure that member professionals are always at the forefront of industry best practices and new technologies. This partnership and project strategy helps keep UA Local 1 and ACP competitive, providing confidence to CMs and owners.

The diverse unionized plumbing workforce includes highly trained plumbers and contractors spanning all five boroughs, and they share a common goal of striving to provide unparalleled expertise. By upholding high training standards for all members, unionized contractors and plumbers have led the construction industry and helped ensure the quality of the built environment for the people of New York. The extensive training that members undergo is critical to the health of not only the workers, but to the millions of New York City residents using plumbing delivered by ACP and UA Local 1 every day.

UA Local 1 and ACP also take pride in the benefits offered to employees of the organizations, including full health benefits and 401k plans, combined with livable wages to support their families, and ensure that top talent is cultivated in the union workforce. Offering employees, a clear pathway to the middle class through competitive benefits, UA Local 1 and ACP prioritize the experiences of workers, ensuring they are provided with every necessary tool to foster their mastery of industry standards. With an apprenticeship of nearly 50 percent minorities and women, ACP and UA Local 1 strive to harness the talents of a diverse and expansive group of trainees.

Together, UA Local 1 and ACP provide the most efficient implementation of plumbing and contracting projects for New York Citys developers, with the highest standards of quality and safety to enhance New York Citys market, and the health of residents everywhere.

The rest is here:
ACP & UA Local 1 Unite to Bring Expert Unionized Plumbing Teams to NYC Developers - Commercial Observer

Posted December 13, 2019 05:36:50

Ryan O'Flynn is a man with a pool he isn't allowed to fill with water, because his building surveyor can't sign off on the project.

Mr O'Flynn, a Melbourne plumber, is just one of many people who had construction projects underway when building surveyors ran into insurance problems earlier this year.

Surveyors are having difficulty renewing their professional indemnity insurance because of the building industry's flammable cladding crisis.

In Mr O'Flynn's case, his safety fence needs to be inspected once it is complete, so he can then fill the pool he has built at his home at Ascot Vale, in Melbourne's north-west.

But his surveyor has pulled out of the project.

"We may not be able to swim in summer it is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous," Mr O'Flynn said.

He said he was told by his surveyor that they had to change insurance policies during his pool build.

"Their excuse was that their insurance premiums have gone up so much that they had to make cuts on what [inspections] they could actually insure," he said

Philip Watt has a building surveying business in nearby Essendon and has been in the industry for 40 years.

Earlier this year he had to shut down his work for three weeks because he couldn't get professional indemnity insurance without any exemptions something insurers have become reluctant to offer surveyors.

For Mr Watt's clients, it caused all sorts of delays building their homes.

"They couldn't go past a mandatory inspection stage, so once they got to the end of the frame they couldn't go any further," he said.

In August a ministerial order was issued in Victoria, allowing surveyors to work with insurance even if it contained exclusions for non-compliant materials.

Similar moves were made in other states.

While that allowed surveyors like Mr Watt to return to work, it did not solve all of the profession's problems.

Mr Watt's insurance jumped by 800 per cent in a single year when he did find a new policy.

He said it had been usual for surveyors with small businesses to pay about $10,000 a year for professional indemnity insurance, but many are now paying close to $100,000.

Mr Watt's new insurance also comes with extra risks. His excess has jumped from $10,000 to $100,000.

"I don't think many businesses would sustain one or two claims of that amount it would certainly knock you around," he said.

The higher excess, and the associated risk, are affecting the kinds of projects his business will take on.

"There have been some projects we have not quoted, others we have been selective about how we have approached the project, because some projects are more risky than others," he said.

Mr Watt is now receiving calls from clients of a nearby surveyor who has been forced to close.

He said many surveyors were unwilling to take on projects that had already started, because they were worried they could become liable for the previous surveyor's work.

The Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) surveyed 400 building surveyors across the country about the effects of changes to professional indemnity insurance on their businesses.

The AIBS said 11 per cent of building surveyors said they were no longer doing surveying work because of insurance issues.

A further 9 per cent of surveyors reported they had reduced the scope of work they would provide.

AIBS national president Troy Olds said the survey results revealed the scale of the industry's problems.

"It says we are in a crisis, and if 11 per cent of building surveyors are no longer able to work, we are starting to see the building industry no longer able to find professionals," he said.

The AIBS survey also found nearly 60 per cent of building surveyors had increased their fees to cope with rising insurance costs.

One surveyor wrote that he would be increasing his fees by 300 per cent next year to cover the additional insurance costs.

Mr Olds said he was aware of two firms that had taken on insurance premiums that they couldn't afford, just to stay in business.

He believes that trend will continue.

"It will get to the point where unrealistic insurance policies just won't be able to be taken and people will have to make the final decision to close their offices," he said.

Geelong builder Mark Little said it was becoming harder to find building surveyors.

"I am constantly getting calls from builders saying, 'Who did you use as a building surveyor?'" he said.

"It can create delays because of the volume of work getting pushed through to such small percentage of surveyors."

Federal Minister for Industry Karen Andrews will meet with her state counterparts on today to discuss surveyor insurance.

"Queensland and New South Wales have been leading work on possible solutions and this will be considered as a priority at Friday's Building Ministers Forum," Ms Andrews said.

"Insurers also need to step up and meet their existing obligations and lift their exclusions on professional indemnity insurance to ensure certifiers who are doing the right thing can continue to operate."

Both the insurers and the Victorian Government are calling for a national approach to resolving the insurance crisis.

Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the "only way to get real change is to deal with it a national level".

Insurance Council of Australia spokesman Campbell Fuller said there was still a crisis of confidence in the building and construction sector.

"It would be irresponsible and impractical for insurers to reassess their risk appetites and their products, including cladding-related exclusions on professional indemnity cover, based on promises and not nationally consistent action," he said.

Topics:insurance,building-and-construction,fires,melbourne-3000,moonee-ponds-3039,essendon-3040,geelong-3220

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Building projects halted as surveyors face rocketing insurance costs due to cladding crisis - ABC News