A mobile welder brings the workshop to you, which matters when the job is a gate hinge, a broken railing or a trailer chassis that cannot easily be moved. Around Gravesend, Northfleet, Meopham and the Medway towns most of these calls are small repairs that take an hour or two. This guide explains what to expect, what it typically costs and how to tell a competent welder from a chancer.
Most site work is repair rather than fabrication. Typical Kent call-outs include cracked or sagging gate hinges, rusted-through railings and handrails, broken garden furniture, trailer and horsebox chassis repairs, tow bar brackets, security grilles and the odd farm implement. A van set up for mobile work usually carries an MMA (stick) set and often a MIG or TIG set with a generator, so it does not need your mains supply for anything heavy.
There are limits. Aluminium and stainless steel are harder to weld well outdoors because wind disturbs the shielding gas, so a decent welder may take those parts back to the workshop or bring windbreaks. Anything structural to a building, such as a steel beam or lintel, should be specified by a structural engineer first and may need Building Control sign-off. Vehicle chassis work must be done to a standard that will pass MOT, which is worth mentioning when you book.
Expect a call-out charge or minimum booking rather than a pure hourly rate. In North Kent that minimum commonly sits somewhere between 80 and 150 pounds and typically covers travel plus the first hour on site. After that, an hourly rate of roughly 45 to 75 pounds is normal, with materials, consumables and any galvanising or paint charged on top. A straightforward gate hinge repair is often finished within the minimum charge. A trailer floor or a run of railings with several breaks will run into a half day.
Prices depend on access, whether the metal is clean or heavily corroded, and how much preparation is needed before a sound weld is possible. Rusty steel has to be ground back to bright metal, and if the section is too thin to weld the honest answer is to let in a new piece rather than bodge it. Ask for a fixed price for the defined job wherever possible, and ask whether VAT is included, as many sole traders are not VAT registered while larger firms are.
Anyone can buy a welding set and put a sign on a van. Sensible checks take five minutes. Ask what process they will use and why, and expect a clear answer such as stick for thick rusty steel outside or MIG for cleaner material. Ask for photos of similar recent jobs, ideally in the same area, and whether they hold coded welding qualifications if the work is structural or on a vehicle. Coding is not essential for a garden gate, but it tells you they have been tested.
Confirm they carry public liability insurance, which matters when hot work is being done next to your fence, car or hedge. A professional will also talk about fire precautions without being prompted, such as moving anything flammable, damping down dry ground in summer and staying on site for a short while afterwards. Finally, agree in writing what is being repaired, the price and whether finishing such as priming is included, even if that is just a text message.
A little preparation saves time you are paying for. Clear at least a metre of space around the repair, move cars away from sparks, and take down anything plastic or fabric nearby. If the item is portable, such as a gate leaf, having it unhung and laid flat on blocks is a real help. Let the welder know about access issues in advance, such as narrow side passages in older terraced streets around Gravesend or parking restrictions near the town centre.
Send a couple of clear photos when you enquire, including one close up of the break and one showing the whole item. That lets the welder bring the right rods, gas and steel section, and it reduces the chance of a second visit. If you want the repair to last outdoors, ask for it to be wire brushed, primed and painted, or for a galvanised replacement section where the original was galvanised. Bare welds on mild steel start rusting within weeks in a damp Thames estuary winter.
For small repairs in the Gravesend and Dartford area a few days is typical, with same-week slots often available. Genuinely urgent jobs such as a security gate that will not close can sometimes be done sooner, usually at a higher call-out rate.
Not safely, and not to a good standard. Moisture causes porous welds and is an electrical hazard, so most welders will rearrange or put up a temporary shelter if the forecast is poor.
Yes, provided the weld is sound and the surrounding metal is not corroded beyond acceptable limits. Tell the welder it is for a road-going trailer or vehicle so the repair is done to that standard and, where needed, the correct plate thickness is used.
Tell Michael about your job. Drop a quick message with what needs welding, where it is and a photo if you have one. He will come back the same day.