Roofing quotes...

Blimey.

I've been moaning out this before, having had quotes to retile and insulate (75mm and 50mm "celotex") a 11x7.5m bungalow coming in at 15-23k

I have just had 2 back from people how have introduced themselves to me via the MyBuilder.com webite (a kind person here suggested MyHammer.com, which lead me to MyBuilder.com which seems more popular in East Sussex).

1st quote - 9.5k but I get to supply tiles, lead and celotex so I can get the best price - 9.5k includes my expected prices for my side of materials.

2nd - "estimate" (though I've been assured it is the expected amount should there be no hidden problems) - 8.8k all supplied and fitted.

The next nearest was Rod Burt (recommended here) coming in at around 15k all in.

Both were to the same written specification. Both prices fully inc.

Number 1 - nice gents, not many "reviews" on MyBuilder and they do a lot of landscaping (which do have glowing reviews), so roofing is not their full trade.

Number 2 - seemed decent. Is a plasterer by trade, runs a Ltd company employing others which states Plastering, Roofing, General Building. At least 2 reviews for full reroofing work which were good. 18 other reviews that seemed good.

Now I have to appraise these.

Number 1 is a fair price considering I would have to do a lot of supply logistics, which is a bit of a PITA.

Number 2 almost seems too cheap - materials, scaffold and skip weigh in around 5-6k by my own pricing (major materials costed with 1k for all the random stuff like battens, nails, vents, mortar etc).

But I have had my perception warped to some degree by the insane quotes previously.

What does the panel think? Any steps I can take to help make a sensible choice? Employing builders is not my favourite activity and I usually expect the worst, so I would like to get through this job relatively unscathed, so I can get back to the DIY elements :)

Cheers,

Tim

Reply to
Tim Watts
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It always pays to project manage the job rather than going for an all-in estimate. If you don't have the time, I'd go for the cheapest quote and then you won't feel so bad about giving them a bit extra towards the end. I've never subscribed to the "you get what you pay for" philosophy, especially when it comes to tradesmen/builders

Reply to
stuart noble

Thank you Stuart for voicing what I was thinking.

If I got the more expensive bloke, it's just as likely costs could increase, unless we have a signed-in-blood contracted price.

I'll be watching it happen as I have to fit windows as soon as the cills are dressed, the BCO will be popping by, and they know I'll be around and the BCO will be visiting.

So bar any of the fiddly wibbly bits, I should be able to spot any problems early. Not that I can exactly fire them on the spot with my roof stripped, but I can get things on track before it's too late - and I still have the leverage of final payment.

I've gone off the DIY supply because I foresee some problem, such as late delivery of materials, or early delivery followed by a 3 month delay in them starting, leaving me with 5 pallets of tiles and a 12ft pile of celotex lying around.

I'll do a couple of local bits of local checking on the Hastings firm as it is a Ltd - but I'm sure he'll come out just fine.

Cheers!

Tim

Reply to
Tim Watts

I am always rather doubtful about anyone who comes in significantly cheaper than the average. There is usually a reason and one that doesn't work to the customer's benefit. If, for example, he is deliberately quoting as cheap as possible because he needs cash flow, he might not be in business long enough to finish the job.

Colin Bignell

Reply to
Nightjar

Hmm - he said he *could* start in 3 weeks.

I wonder...

Reply to
Tim Watts

Take the cheapest quote/estimate - the rest are ripoff merchants...they want

9.5k for labour and you supply the materials?? - it's a fortnight's work for two men, and as you said, you've calculated the outgoings to 5 - 6k, which, with the 8.8k price, leaves about 3k for wages, and to me this is still high.

If you go with the first outfit, you've got no comebacks when they make a bollocks of the job, because whatever problem(s) there are, it'll be your fault for supplying 'substandard' or 'wrong spec' materials

Reply to
Phil L

Also, your pricing will be a mile out, these guys will get trade discounts on almost everything, and the extra grand you factored in for vents, mortar etc won't be spent because they usually have a stock of sundries left over from other jobs....I'd be surprised if I couldn't get everything for that roof for less than 4k

Reply to
Phil L

Thank you Phil -

What was interesting is that one of the quoters (not these, a previous one who came in even higher) said the my prices on celotex were good (ebay, £18/sheet for 50mm) - it makes me wonder whether some even bother negotiating or whether there are enough rich customers in the southeast that they don't care...

Reply to
Tim Watts

difficult, a 6k saving is not to be sneezed at and roofing is not the most complicated of jobs, and you seem to know enough to make sure they do a proper job, but "estimate" i would not except that from a firm i had not used before YMMV. They have either done this type of job so many times before that they can cost it accurately in their sleep, or not.

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Reply to
Mark

The bloke in question clarified that the price was fixed, barring unforseen problems - which is unlikely as much fo the structure is uncovered from the inside.

I would certainly not argue if we discovered rot around a chimney (one of the most likely places) though..,

It's always tricky with builders - I have been boned by ones I knew, so there is no guarantee with anyone...

Reply to
Tim Watts

By way of follow up:

I had quotes of 9-10k from general builders, 15k from a local roofer recommended here by name, and some stupid quotes of 20-23k from larger outfits.

General builders make me nervous - bad experiences. Whereas I've usually (bar a registered gas fitter or all people) had good experiences from specialists.

So I spoke to the 15k chap and when I put my concerns to him, he took nearly

1k off the quote. He is VAT registered so we do have that burden (included in the price).

My gut feeling is that was the right choice. The cheap guys were too cheap and that makes me very very nervous with a job like this that should last several decades.

Ths chap at least should not be hurried, and when I put one overarcing concern in regarding the foaming in of the celotex, he said "you'll be on site - we will do it until you are happy". That attitude makes me feel warm and fuzzy :)

So - this is just a followup for the archives, not really for debate. I thank everyone for their opinions - all very valid. One particular wisdom that I think is sensible is "slice off the top and bottom bands and look at the quotes in the middle".

So we have a provisional start of 26th Nov - cold, but at least we'll hopefully be warm for January when it gets bloody cold.

Cheers!

Tim

Reply to
Tim Watts

FWIW i think that was the sensible choice they have been in the roofing business for 35 years that i know of and still seem to get almost all of their work from recommendations, not adverts. I would be interested to hear how to job progresses.

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Reply to
Mark

I will happily post a follow up :)

Reply to
Tim Watts

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