Quote for building work - reasonable?

[woody1]

Asked a small local builder for a quote to replace timber windows in 3 dormers with uPVC, and masonry paint the front and side facias.

Obviously it will need scaffolding to access them, which significantly adds to the cost.

Quote was £8,400 (inc VAT), which sounds a bit rich but who knows these days.

I can buy the windows myself for under £300 each, and obviously the facias won't require much masonry paint (£50 tops).

Anyone have a gut feel for how much a job like this should cost?

Thanks

[ladymuck]

So it's £7k pre-VAT.

As a commercial outfit they probably have to pay for the disposal of the old frames.

How long do they think the works will take? I'd estimate two days, maybe three, depending on how many coats of paint are needed after prepping the surface properly for a good result.

Here's a link (scroll down a bit) for some estimates of how much scaffolding costs: https://www.westsussexscaffolding.co...ffolding-hire/

[WTFH]

Let's say £2k for scaffolding hire (that's a wide area to scaffold), £1k for the windows, sills, levelling, filler, cement and paint, probably 15 man-days (3 people for 5 days) at £150pd is £2.25k. Cost of tools, equipment, maintenance, fuel etc £750. There's £6k ex VAT on a back-of-a-fag-packet estimate. How much profit would you allow them to make?

But then again, if you want to do it yourself for £350, knock yourself out, because professionals are a waste of money (Unless you're an IT contractor, in which case professionals should be paid far more).

What was it Red Adair used to say? "If you think professionals are expensive, try hiring amateurs"

[WTFH]

How long do they think the works will take? I'd estimate two days, maybe three, depending on how many coats of paint are needed after prepping the surface properly for a good result.

1 day to put scaffolding up - it's not just going up to one window but all the way across the front of the house.
3 days to do the work.
1 day to bring the scaffolding down.

[woody1]

But then again, if you want to do it yourself for £350, knock yourself out, because professionals are a waste of money (Unless you're an IT contractor, in which case professionals should be paid far more).

I had no intention of doing it myself. I only looked up the cost of windows on-line to see how much they are these days. Was expecting them to be a lot more with inflation and all that.

Anyway, for comparison, I'm getting a quote from a local windows firm just to replace the windows, and a painter/decorator to do the masonry.

[ladymuck]

1 day to put scaffolding up - it's not just going up to one window but all the way across the front of the house.
3 days to do the work.
1 day to bring the scaffolding down.

Makes sense. I was thinking about the 'doing' and forgot about how long it might take to put up and take down.

Also, there is a tendency for firms to just leave the scaffolding up as it's easier than taking it down and storing it until it's needed for the next job

[NotAllThere]

Also, there is a tendency for firms to just leave the scaffolding up as it's easier than taking it down and storing it until it's needed for the next job

Certainly it was when we had our house painted earlier this year. The scaffolding went up a few days before the painters turned up and was taken down a week after they'd finished. At least it allowed me to inspect the roof!

I was in fact quite surprised that the cost of scaffolding was so low.

[jamesbrown]

I would swap for the £90K + VAT I've just had quoted for my bay window repairs

Better get selling some banana suits, gricer.

[woody1]

Better get selling some banana suits, gricer.

This isn't General. If you must, please keep your puerile name calling and insults over there.

Thank you.

[ladymuck]

I would swap for the £90K + VAT I've just had quoted for my bay window repairs

Bay windows are notorious for damp issues. Good luck!