New bathroom fitted - labour only, so why so much?

[tim procter]

We've just had a new bathroom fitted. We bought and paid for the 3 pc suit, I just needed plumber to remove existing bathroom fittings/tiling and replace with new 3 pc fittings, re-tile walls and floor.

Our bathroom measures 7ft x 9ft. He had to fit & install cabinets, wash hand basin, toilet and shower tray/surround, re-tile half height of wall behind cabinets, fit sheeting to shower walls and tile floor - all as were originally fitted.

Like I say we bought and paid for all tiles, fitting, electrical work - everything...we just needed it installed.

Foolishly, I never kept a tally of hours he worked, but all in all it won't have taken more than 7/8 full days.

Our bill is £2450 plus VAT....£2960 incl. - no breakdown of charges, just says bathroom fit & re-tile.


Half way through job, he tells us he's taking our workman off the job to finish someone else's as he's had one of his employees go off work so he's temporally short staffed...we agreed to this as we werent that desperate for it to be finished, and could understand his problem. Two weeks later they return to finish...

Bear in mind also that this chap has fitted three new bathrooms in our house over the last two years, and has been recommended to our friends for work on 5 occasions this year, which resulted in work awarded.

 

[Rickster123]

Hi, Did you not agree a price before work started?

 

[stevetheplumber]

i wish i could find a customer like you

 

[AWheating]

what was the total number of hours worked and the rate per hour?

you are a fool to yourself if you did not ask for an estimate before the work started. As for wether its over priced without the full story i would not want to comment.

 

[SimonG]

It's hard to say anything as for tiling and installation I did one recently for 1750, but have one booked in for February at 2600. All depends on the job.
I will say though that I would never have started a job without the customer having an estimate. If you just let him get on then it's been a bit of a lesson.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

should actually be 2940 inc vat they're calculator must be bust

 

[Nat]

The price sounds about right to me. I have just priced a very similar hob for around the same price. Don't forget about all the fittings, pipe, board, timber etc. This adds up to many hundreds by itself.

 

[Nat]

Now if I was pricing 'hobs' at 2.5k then I would be ripping people off!

 

[wheeto]

they're calculator must be bust

Like your grammar-check :ninja:

 

[Puddle]

As said,hard to say ought without seeing but 8 days,does not seen excessive ,you must have had some idea of his charges from other bathrooms he has done in the past for you ,sounds like they would be to a high standard

If you wanted a little discount due to the other work he got through you,you should have mentioned it

Seems to me you have known each other a while,you like this blokes work as do your friends who have had work done by him

You will find its hard to find someone you can trust and that ticks your boxes,do not throw that away,sit down with the bloke,put kettle on and sort things out and move forward positively

imho

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i know i know their calculator must be broken lol

 

[marleyco]

There would have been a lot of work involved but if you break it down into sections, ie strip out bathroom, 1 day, fit suite, 2 days, tile. 2 days, units 1 day. Add 2 days for extra's. Call it 250 a day, about 2000 plus v.a.t. I'd still have done it cheaper, more so as you'd put work his way in the past

 

[SimonG]

+ pan connector, iso's, traps, tile adhesives, grouts etc etc

 

[WaterTight]

Exactly. It's quite possible (given the fact the OP knows what this guy has charged for work in the past) that he is trying it on to the tune of 200-500 or so on this job. We can't know whether he has or - if he has - why. But if the OP can tell us he bought and supplied pan con, iso's, traps, wastes, copper tube, waste pipe, tap connectors, adhesive, grout, flexi's, screws, fixings, timber, sealant then I think most people would guess it was on the pricey side. Otherwise, and without photos, details, we can't know.

 

[PlumbingBud]

Im just starting off in the trade, and try to aim for a "Ton-a-day". However, I am relatively inexperienced, and so I may take longer or do a lesser quality job that a top tradesman. I have very few living expenses as I moved back in with the folks, so no mortgage or bills as such.
It seems a tad expensive to me, but if the guy was good then it was surely money well spent.
Again, you should have gotten a quotation, or at least a ball park estimate before work was started.

My only gripe would be that he left the job half way through to do another one.

 

[sparra1100]

Im just starting off in the trade, and try to aim for a "Ton-a-day". However, I am relatively inexperienced, and so I may take longer or do a lesser quality job that a top tradesman. I have very few living expenses as I moved back in with the folks, so no mortgage or bills as such.
It seems a tad expensive to me, but if the guy was good then it was surely money well spent.
Again, you should have gotten a quotation, or at least a ball park estimate before work was started.

My only gripe would be that he left the job half way through to do another one.

ton a day you be lucky mate and relatively inexperienced,am gsr and dont get that unless its a boiler swap in 2 days

 

[Hardy1]

to be honest with you mate-not being rude in anyway- he must of known by doing his inspection what the job encountered, so not being rude or anything times have changed from when you could have a bathroom fitted for £1000, next time have a couple of quotes done from 2 or 3 fitters then you will get a better understanding of the job and what work it involves, everyones bathroom is different.

 

[Hardy1]

and if you've used the guy before, you should be aware of his charges by now.

 

[Guest123]

As Puddle says, sit down with the guy and talk it over peacefully. Remember the guy was recommended to you so he will want his reputation to stay intact and for you to pass his name on.

 

[wnjswozo]

old adage always get three quotes,i dont think thats dear ,its the going rate for a quailified ,apprentence trained,insured ,legit
plumber who,s come recommended.i hate doing bathrooms because they tie me up to long,so i ,m expensive,so if i get them they are well worth doing,we do a lot,all recommends,but give me heating,boiler breakdowns,i love them

 

[tim procter]

Thanks for the input everyone...what I have learnt from this is, no matter what else - I should have got quotes instead of me presuming he would be on similar lines cost wise as to previous jobs he has done for us. Talking of previous jobs, in late 2009/2010 he fitted a four piece bathroom for us...more than twice the floor size, probably 4x the amount of tiling, fitted a jacuzzi bath at the opposite end of the room and supplied and fitted electric underfloor heating for just over £2000. I just presumed that looking at the different sizes of room, and what I considered less owrk to do, the cost would be around £1500-£1800 total.

I will definalty be sitting down with him and try to sort out amicably as we have 2 more bathrooms and a kitchen to do in the near future.

To clarify a few points...I have paid for the following:
the 3 pc bathroom
all tiles
grout
bathroom cupboards
radiator
all electrical

Plumber has supplied:
Labour
pan con
iso's
traps
wastes
copper tube
waste pipe
tap connectors
flexi's
screws
timber
sealant

 

[Halesowen1]

I suppose £1500 is a reasonable cost for the work and fittings involved.

 

[REDSAW]

geez, how many bathrooms do you have, is it a hotel?.

i can find polish plumber for £50 a day, but the work not too good.
you get what you pay for and if its good then its worth it.

prices and costs of running a legit business have gone up since 2009.
the work depends on what type of materials are used too. i did a bathroom in tarrazo? 2x2 tiles not long back and took 2 days just cutting them (£25 a tile so no mistakes), the 9x9 b'room cost £5k labour.
there is also a possibility that the last job he did you was at cost just to keep busy.

finely, chelsea prices are high?.

 

[SimonG]

Good point redsaw, my prices fluctuate depending on how busy I am. Currently charging top end due to amount of work on.

 

[tim procter]

Problem all sorted. We sat down with plumber and asked for an itemised bill, which he brought with him.

Eventually, he admitted he had made an error in the billing and agreed to pay him £1800...alot better than £2940!!

A lesson learned...I will be asking for quotes!

 

[Rickster123]

Thats one hell of an error! I must get a calculator like his for my invoices!

There are some honest plumbers out there then!!:innocent:

 

[mrlennie]

Wow he would have maybe looked better if he'd have stuck to 2800! what a mistake to make!

 

[dontknowitall]

Great saving but he won't want do any work for you - even if things are meant to be under guarantee!!

 

[Bernie2]

Problem is there is no agreed average national price for anything. Business in the UK is primitive, its beware or the sharks will get you.