At a very rough guess £1000 + scaffolding (maybe £4-500). But, depends on the length of runs etc. Are you expecting them to do the fascia, soffits and guttering? Do they have easy access? What style of guttering? Solid replacement fascia or cladding? How much remedial work on rafter tails?
Its a tricky one but I've just had a quote of £1250 for everything on a 4 bed detached. I could do it for less but have more important stuff to get on with (and I hate heights as well)
Does anyone have an idea of how much tradesmen typically charge to replace the guttering on an average 3-bed semi?
I'm trying to work out whether I want to attempt it myself. (I hate heights, so I'm not at all keen)!
THanks
K
I have been quoted £550 for guttering, soffits and facias, all plastic, recently. Semi detached Worcester area.
Dave
I'm good with heights but I bought a cheap ladder and didn't use a stand-off, which made it interesting at times. If you decide to DIY get a good ladder or a scaffold tower.
It's not really a job to DIY - unless there are 2 of you, with 2 ladders.
If you're paying someone to do it, it's well worth while going for seamless aluminium guttering. It's a bit dearer than plastic, but the labour cost should be the same - so the overall cost is only a bit higher. It looks good, will last a long time, and has no joints to leak. [In case you haven't seen it, the raw material is a roll of powder-coated aluminium strip (a foot or so wide) - and the supplier has a machine which forms this into gutter cross-section, on site - so a continuous length of guttering to fit the width of your house just 'appears' out of the back of the van!]
Go to
Materials are very cheap.
I don't like heights either so get a scaffold tower and an assistant to help.
If you just do the gutters, it is putting two screws into a clip every metre, so it takes no time, but you must get the correct drop to the down pipe.
Alternatively most areas have a small firm that specialise in nothing else but gutters and the local quote is £500 and they are in and gone in a couple of hours, all you have to do is make the tea. May be worth the money to pay them for their expertise.
Thanks to everyone for the replies. To answer the above: I don't want new fascias or cladding. I just want the old cast iron guttering replaced with new plastic guttering and downpipes. The house is on a hill, so some of guttering is up to 4ft higher than usual above ground level.
My other option is to get the existing cast iron guttering reparied. The only real problem with it is the corner pieces which have become detached from the straight runs. I guess that would be the cheapest option if I can find someone to do it. I'd DIY, but it's just to high up at the back of the house. I'd be petrified and too shakey to operate.
On the other hand, if I could get hold of one of those mobile hydraulic lift things that they use for changing tall street lamps, I'd be OK.... I wonder if you can hire those things. Anyone know how much they cost to hire?
Thanks
K
One of my brother's neighbours did this to paint his house. No idea of the cost but it was impressive to watch him paint the whole length of the house without all the shifting of ladders. I guess
Id get the cast iron stuff repaired... no way would i put plastic up if cast is already there! it will last much much longer. i had plastic stuff on my house that was put up 14 years ago and its badly faded and loose. im looking at replacing with cast iron as per what was originally there. as long as cast is maintained it will last absolutely ages.... how long do you plan to keep the house?
"Kat" wrote | The only real problem with it is the corner pieces which have | become detached from the straight runs. I guess that would be | the cheapest option if I can find someone to do it. I'd DIY, | but it's just to high up at the back of the house. I'd be | petrified and too shakey to operate. | On the other hand, if I could get hold of one of those mobile | hydraulic lift things that they use for changing tall street | lamps, I'd be OK.... I wonder if you can hire those things. | Anyone know how much they cost to hire?
You can hire them (they're called cherry pickers) - see Access Equipment in Yellow Pages. I think they would be even more scarey than a scaffold tower. At least scaff towers don't move. But then I'm the sort of person that feels sick and has to sit down just watching some of the fairground rides.
If you'd hired one before chrimbo though and done the job in a Santa suit, you might have got a crowd of admiring wee kiddies and your photo in the local paper :-)
Owain
"Kat" wrote | Thanks for the input. I'm inclined to agree. I'm planning to sell the | house as soon as all the work is completed (in 3 months time).
Then pay a man with a ladder to stick the cast iron corners back on and squidge mastic in any leaks. A surveyor is unlikely to get up a ladder so as long as it looks tidy from ground level it'll probably pass muster.
Owain
Thanks for the input. I'm inclined to agree. I'm planning to sell the house as soon as all the work is completed (in 3 months time).
K
I recently saw a couple of guys from a window replacement company swapping out a large 1st floor bay window using an extraordinary contraption comprising two normal extension ladders, one either side of the bay, and a large horizontal platform apparently attached to the ladders at the front, and supported at the back by a large metal adjustable strut angles downwards towards each ladder, attached to it about 6-10 feet lower down the ladder. I've never seen the like; I'd have thought it highly dangerous and unstable but these guys seemed quite happy; the company was a bona fide outfit, and the struts/platform were obviously 'genuine', not home-made bits and pieces. Anyone else seen this kit?
David
Come to think of it, that's probably true since thwy probably wave around in the air somewhat. Trouble is, I can't get easy access with a tower scaffold sonce theres a downhill pavement at the edge of the house and a ground floor extension at the back. It looks like a ladder or cherry-picker job (since a full conventional scaffold is more than I want to get into).
I'l prolly get that anyway, knowing the nosey parker mentality of my district.
K
That's exactly what I'm thinking now.... Might even last longer than a "plakkie" gutter.
Happy Crimbo!
K
I've seen that too (and forgotten till you mentioned it). Yes, anyone seen this kit and know if it can be hired and for how much?
KLobster snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com typed
LONG long ago these used to be called suicide brackets. You attached a bracket to each ladder then strung a scaffold board between the two. Ive used them when I was much younger, defiantly not the thing to be doing on a Monday morning with a thick head. The modern design used by the DG lot seem safe and tame in comparison. :-)
-- Mark
Is this what you mean?:
"Kat" wrote | >>| On the other hand, if I could get hold of one of those mobile | >>| hydraulic lift things | >>You can hire them (they're called cherry pickers) - | Is this what you mean?: |
What I was thinking of seems to be called boom lifts in HSS-speak, though I couldn't be bothered to wade through their website treacle.
Owain
So it is - sorry about that - I wasn't aware.
Yes. Actually, contrary to what I said, £151 for a day's hire is probably much handier than having a scaffold erected.
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