Croatia is suffering from a shortage of quality craftsmen, and there is always work, and always will be. Fewer young people are choosing to pursue a trade upon reaching adulthood, meaning a good carpenter or electrician is now valued more than ever. Two plumbers described to Slobodna Dalmacija what fieldwork looks like and why appointments are becoming increasingly difficult to secure.
The first plumber states that there are fewer and fewer craftsmen, but plenty of work. There is sufficient work throughout the year, the market is quite active, and skilled craftsmen are overbooked. The second plumber agrees: there are craftsmen, but no free ones. Everyone who knows the job is swamped, and prices are going up.
Timelines depend on the type of job. For emergencies, the first plumber arrives immediately, and such interventions are resolved on the same day. Anything posing a risk of damage is considered urgent – pipe bursts, flooding, or blockages where water or sewage is escaping. For other matters, the timeline is approximately five to six days, depending on the job. Minor repairs that do not require much time are often squeezed in at the end of the working day. The second plumber says that if it is not urgent, one must wait a minimum of two or three days, and it can easily take a week. It is even worse in summer due to the higher concentration of people in the city.
The price is often determined only after arriving on site and assessing the actual situation. The first plumber says the exact price can be stated most accurately when he arrives on site, inserts a camera, and sees what the problem is. For more serious issues, such as unblocking a vertical stack across multiple floors or cutting pipes, the price ranges from approximately 150 to 200, sometimes up to 300 euros. Repairing a water heater depends on the model and parts being replaced, and typically involves the cost of parts plus around 30 euros for labour. For simple descaling or minor interventions, the price is around 40 euros.
The second plumber notes that the bill for coming out and resolving something basic ranges from 50 to 100 euros, while slightly more serious interventions cost 150, 200, or even 300 euros. Prices are dictated by time and complexity. If you have to break things, search for faults, or replace installations, the price jumps immediately.
Both warn that there is a shortage of people. Trades have been undervalued for years, and without these people, there would be no housing, no tourism, or nothing. If this does not change, as the second plumber says, we will wait for craftsmen longer than we wait for doctors.
