Is this taking the Michael?

[jgw1]

Asked a plumber for a quote to move a rad in Beaconsfield.

The new rad is to go at the other end of the room, 4.5m away. The joists run perpendicular to the required pipe run. I said that I didn't want plastic pipe and that I wanted the joists notched and the pipework run in copper. So ~13 joists to notch as they are at 35cm spacing.

The quote has come back (late) at £340 and includes that I should

1. Drain system (I said I would do this as part of the work - save an hour or two on the price)
2. Lift the floorboards
3. Supply radiator and valves (I said I would do supply these as part of the work)

Plumber will then run pipe, test and commission.

My opinion is that the plumber doesn't want the work. Thoughts?

 

[nicro3]

Get a couple more quotes to compare with his.

 

[kay-jay]

Seems steep to me considering your supplying the gear and doing half the work by lifting floorboards.
No idea where beaconsfield is though....

If you were just supplying the gear and he was doing all the work then its probably the higher end of average. Imo

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jgw1]

Yeah we had another quote for the same amount, with supply and fit and no drain. However we didn't particularly like the plumber, although he did turn up on time and give a quote in a reasonable time. He tried to sell my wife the idea of buying a pack of seven rads for the house rather than the one that we actually need for the move.

 

[acecharly]

You mean you werent going to help him fit it for that price aswell

 

[jgw1]

It does feel like that. Perhaps I should become his apprentice. I am happy to drain the system and save a few £, I could actually probably do the pipework tbh. But I am not set up for floorboard lifting and joist notching. Also there is a flat downstairs so if I **** it up it isn't only me affected.

Am I right that there is nothing in the job as I have described it that is a complete ballache, OK notching 14 joists is a hassle, but par for the course right?

 

[acecharly]

Its a simple job and although it hasnt been said directly mate id say your being ripped off personally. To say your going to drain the system and lift the boards is taking the mickey a bit its part of the job. Its also asking for trouble afterwards when a customer has drained down incorectly (depending on the system). Or are you ment to be filling it back up and comissioning it yourself. As for notching the floor all he will do is get a saw make two cuts and knock the piece inbetween out with a hammer unless he does it as we are taught and round the inside of the corners of and ensure the correct depth, which to be honest ive never seen done in practice. Get more quotes unfortunately knobody on here can give you a price openly it causes trouble but id say your well over with this.

 

[TBServices]

It does feel like that. Perhaps I should become his apprentice. I am happy to drain the system and save a few £, I could actually probably do the pipework tbh. But I am not set up for floorboard lifting and joist notching. Also there is a flat downstairs so if I **** it up it isn't only me affected.

Am I right that there is nothing in the job as I have described it that is a complete ballache, OK notching 14 joists is a hassle, but par for the course right?

If I'm completely honest, i would rather turn up and do everything myself so I know it's been done right, and would probably expect you to be a nightmare customer. I'd also prefer to supply the materials so I know I'm getting the quality I'm used to. I wouldn't offer any discounts on my usual rate.

Draining down is a 5 min job usually, and by supplying your own gear, you're a) Taking a little profit from your plumber, b) providing materials of unknown quality and c) not saving any money.

That said, the quote seems high, but he probably thinks the job will be a pain and doesn't want to take it unless its worth the hassle.

 

[jgw1]

I said the brand and dimensions of the rad and the valves (Stelrad and Pegler) and specifically asked him if he is happy to fit them. Don't think that that is unreasonable nor anything of a nightmare customer there.

 

[petercj]

Sounds like he's put it down as a day's work - not cheap, but not really OTT imo.

He probably hasn't allowed less for you draining down - while he's waiting for the system to drain he would be pulling up the boards, so no real saving.

Best way would be to get a couple of more quotes, and see what you get.

Simple jobs can still be time consuming.

 

[jgw1]

Am following up on another quote. It's a bit of a cheek to ask me to lift the boards I think though. Not sure I can do that without just smashing the tongue with a chisel, plus there is a ceiling underneath for my neighbour.

 

[clarky101]

Maybes he didn't wanna run it in copper and didn't partially like you...like you didn't like the next plumber....and so upped the price so you wouldn't use him...

 

[acecharly]

This is what your paying a professional for to do the job rite with the rite tools.

 

[petercj]

Am following up on another quote. It's a bit of a cheek to ask me to lift the boards I think though. Not sure I can do that without just smashing the tongue with a chisel, plus there is a ceiling underneath for my neighbour.

If it's standard T&G, a new board shouldn't cost much, and it won't matter if you butcher the old one. If you have a circular saw, set to shallow depth (just under thickness of the board) and run down each side.

Should bring a the cost down considerably.

 

[jgw1]

The cost already inlcudes ME lifting the boards.

Quite possibly he didn't like me, not that bothered if he did or not, the purpose of posting is to try and get a sense of whether his quote is reasonable. From the posts here it appears it is at the high end, with me lifting the boards that would be an OTT quote.

 

[TBServices]

I didn't realise he requested you lifted the boards. Apologies! That makes all the difference. I'd sack him off

 

[Rickster123]

It sounds as if he's priced it up based on the fact he didn't want the job. That way if you said yes he's had a result.

 

[Barry98]

or there could be more to it

 

[petercj]

The cost already inlcudes ME lifting the boards.

Quite possibly he didn't like me, not that bothered if he did or not, the purpose of posting is to try and get a sense of whether his quote is reasonable. From the posts here it appears it is at the high end, with me lifting the boards that would be an OTT quote.

Sorry, missed the bit about you taking the board up, it does sound as if he's taking the mick in that case.

As someone has already said, sounds as if he doesn't want the job.

Recommend you ring round a few plumbers, ask how much they charge an hour, tell them what you want, and see what they say.

 

[gassafe]

The plumber still has to supply the copper tube, fittings, plus inhibitor upon refill. A little steep maybe, but I would not use the words rip off. He still has to find the existing f & r plus alterations to get onto these pipes.

Maybe he saw a £50,000 car on the drive & decided to add on a little...

 

[jgw1]

Thanks, wil do.

 

[jgw1]

Actually there is a rather nice car on the drive, pity it just isn't mine (block of flats)!

 

[petercj]

Should have seen what the plumber was driving!

 

[stevetheplumber]

cutting in to pipework in one flat with another under neath can be a bit of a mare and if its not a sealed system filling can also take time

 

[villa_tom]

It sounds as if he's priced it up based on the fact he didn't want the job. That way if you said yes he's had a result.

thats was I thought. To be honest though if I go to any private job (and I don't do many) and someone said ill do this and that and you only have to do this I'd probably quote £4 million. I could not work this way and it would do my head it.

 

[TBServices]

thats was I thought. To be honest though if I go to any private job (and I don't do many) and someone said ill do this and that and you only have to do this I'd probably quote £4 million. I could not work this way and it would do my head it.

The was my point about the nightmare customer.

 

[secret squirrel]

how can it be a rip off?

he was asked to give a quote and he gave a quote!

Simple as that, maybe expensive, may have seen a couple of issues.

Either have the job done or not! simples, I'd do it for less but thats not the point.

A quote is just that,

IF he said I;d do it for £200 then the bill was £340 then thats not right, has he done that?

 

[Phil]

Actually there is a rather nice car on the drive, pity it just isn't mine (block of flats)!

Tradesmen hate working in flats, it takes us all morning to slog all the gear up the stairs, mulitiple trips to the van which is no doubt miles away from the front door that you have to chock open with whatever it in your pocket usually my notebook. All this wastes time and eats profit.

If he clocked you as a customer that would 'hover' then he would add money, I don't mind a 20 min chat but there comes a time when we should be left to it.

 

[TBServices]

Tradesmen hate working in flats, it takes us all morning to slog all the gear up the stairs, mulitiple trips to the van which is no doubt miles away from the front door that you have to chock open with whatever it in your pocket usually my notebook. All this wastes time and eats profit.

If he clocked you as a customer that would 'hover' then he would add money, I don't mind a 20 min chat but there comes a time when we should be left to it.

Bang on the money.

 

[hammers4spanner]

Sounds like he's put it down as a day's work - not cheap, but not really OTT imo.

He probably hasn't allowed less for you draining down - while he's waiting for the system to drain he would be pulling up the boards, so no real saving.

Best way would be to get a couple of more quotes, and see what you get.

Simple jobs can still be time consuming.

Days work £340!!!!!!!

time to put my rates up !!!