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Bathroom refit-Is this ok?

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24

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  • keystone
    keystone Posts: 10,916 Forumite
    Canucklehead wrote: »
    'Snow day' down here: don't worry...we'll be off out shortly for a walk in the winter wonderland.:D
    Me too. Child just come home - school now closed so its off t'park with dog in tow so we are all out of SWMBOs hair.
    P.S. I'm confident you can cope in the meantime.;)
    Ooh - Ta. :o

    Cheers
    The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits. - Einstein
  • minibbb
    minibbb Posts: 342 Forumite
    Ive just bought a good quality bathroom suite for £580 from a local plumbing merchant inc carron bath and shires toilet/basin. A decent Mira element mixer shower can be bought for £150 on ebay. I bought some lovely Laura Ashley tiles online for £12 sq meter.

    I'd be tempted to source the suite yourself therefore buying exactly what you want without the company charging you extra for themselves.

    Use a plumber recommended by a friend or check out checkatrade. My plumber is charging me £1200 to replace the rotten bathroom floor, fit the suite, tile and box where necessary.

    I reckon you can save a fair bit if you source the bits yourself and pay only the labour. I got quotes from the larger local companies who do the plumbing,plastering and electrics themselves and they came out much more expensive than using seperate smaller companies.

    Good luck!
  • keystone
    keystone Posts: 10,916 Forumite
    minibbb wrote: »
    I reckon you can save a fair bit if you source the bits yourself and pay only the labour.
    You'll probably be surprised to learn that thats actually quite wide of the mark if you want the job doing properly.

    In running his business any tradesman will have arrived at whatever balance of competitiveness and net income works for him. If he's trousering large amounts of excess money, no matter how charged for, he'll eventually run out of work.

    If he's not taking enough to pay his bills. eventually he'll go bust.

    So assuming he's reached equilibrium, his mix of earnings will be £X from labour and £Y from markup. If you deny him the latter he will simply increase the former - he will have no choice in the matter if he wants to stay in business so your labour cost increases which you may well offset by buying cheap tat and think you have got a bargain.

    For equivalent specification materials (he will not want to supply cheap Chinese tat that won't last) overall you will be paying more, as you'll have materials at a higher base price than he would have paid for those equivalent materials, plus his displaced markup anyway.

    Simples.


    Cheers
    The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits. - Einstein
  • The_Blue_Hatter
    The_Blue_Hatter Posts: 158 Forumite
    Van1971 wrote: »
    Was meant to ask you, which shower mixer are you going for? I was told that Aqualisa or Mira are the best, but they cost quite a lot. Decisions, decisions...


    The mixer I am having is a Triton. Its is not the best brand but I generally take baths. My plumber advised that Aqualisa is a very good brand but like you say, expensive.

    I had another quote come through this morning for £4250.00 and I would have to find my own tiles on top so I have opted for the £3300 quote which includes tiles and am waiting for a date which will be in January. With the quote im going for I have seen the suite in the brochure and on the internet (the brand is Moods) and I saw the tiles in his company showroom which are a stone effect with a travatine (?) border and matching floor (look nice). I took the liberty of asking if he worked as far as Barnet and he said he would.

    How did you get on with your 2nd quote?
  • The_Blue_Hatter
    The_Blue_Hatter Posts: 158 Forumite
    keystone wrote: »
    Suspect the cheapest possible suite and tiles in that. Its very thin tbh. Andy's all-up price including quality goods is far closer to the mark.

    Cheers

    The brochure he showed me had cheaper suites in. The brand I am getting is Moods so im guessing its a couple of steps better than the suites ive seen in B&Q. The tiles he has in his shop as "special offer" which im sure means he bulk buys for cheap!!

    I am taking him up on £3300 on a 50% up front, 30% on start date and the rest on completion so I have some safety net. I'll post something in January to let you know how I got on!
  • keystone
    keystone Posts: 10,916 Forumite
    The_Blue_Hatter wrote: »
    I had another quote come through this morning for £4250.00 and I would have to find my own tiles on top
    That would be about right including tiles and a reasonabl quality suite.
    so I have opted for the £3300 quote which includes tiles and am waiting for a date which will be in January.
    As previously stated its too thin and you'll be getting a cheap suite with that price I suspect.
    With the quote im going for I have seen the suite in the brochure and on the internet (the brand is Moods)
    Ha! If its the Eco suite its costing your man less than £180!

    I'll wager your labour is about the same for both quotes but you are not comparing apples with apples suitewise. I'd be asking the more expensive guy to quote the Moods Suite as an alternative and see what that does to his price.

    Cheers
    The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits. - Einstein
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    That is very kind of you to ask, thank you! :) The second guy came round last night, he said he will price everything up and let me know, but that the earliest he could do it is mid January. That is ok with me.

    I have already chosen tiles, toilet, sink, bath, all I need to make up my mind on is the shower, will look at the ones recommended on this thread.

    Stone/travertine is very classy, great choice. I had it in my previous house, loved it. This time I am going for black for a change. Hopefully I can afford underfloor heating, that would be fab :j
    Will let you know what the second quote is, if not I might call your guy :beer:
  • The_Blue_Hatter
    The_Blue_Hatter Posts: 158 Forumite
    keystone wrote: »
    That would be about right including tiles and a reasonabl quality suite.

    As previously stated its too thin and you'll be getting a cheap suite with that price I suspect.

    Ha! If its the Eco suite its costing your man less than £180!

    I'll wager your labour is about the same for both quotes but you are not comparing apples with apples suitewise. I'd be asking the more expensive guy to quote the Moods Suite as an alternative and see what that does to his price.

    Cheers

    The suite is not the eco it is Naples. On the basis I am probably looking to be out of this house within 2 years, what would be your opinion of the Moods brand?

    I shall ask the more expensive quote to use the Moods suite and see what he says.

    Cheers
  • keystone
    keystone Posts: 10,916 Forumite
    The_Blue_Hatter wrote: »
    The suite is not the eco it is Naples. On the basis I am probably looking to be out of this house within 2 years, what would be your opinion of the Moods brand?
    Thats even cheaper (£ 150 including VAT :eek:). I have never fitted one so have no practical experience of it TBH. However my experience with similar internet sold offerings is that they are not so good, quality control is non-existent and customer service apalling. However you only have to kick your installer as he is supplying it and things go wrong and if it serves your purpose for a matter of two years then why not? I wouldn't be looking at it if I were you for a longer stay because you'll be doing it all over again before too long.
    I shall ask the more expensive quote to use the Moods suite and see what he says.
    and /or vice versa might be an interesting comparison for you to help you make up your mind. Test each one as well by asking to see portfolio of work and for verifiable client references 0 which should include a visit to have a boo.


    Cheers
    The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits. - Einstein
  • The_Blue_Hatter
    The_Blue_Hatter Posts: 158 Forumite
    keystone wrote: »
    Thats even cheaper (£ 150 including VAT :eek:). I have never fitted one so have no practical experience of it TBH. However my experience with similar internet sold offerings is that they are not so good, quality control is non-existent and customer service apalling. However you only have to kick your installer as he is supplying it and things go wrong and if it serves your purpose for a matter of two years then why not? I wouldn't be looking at it if I were you for a longer stay because you'll be doing it all over again before too long.

    and /or vice versa might be an interesting comparison for you to help you make up your mind. Test each one as well by asking to see portfolio of work and for verifiable client references 0 which should include a visit to have a boo.


    Cheers

    The cheaper quote is actually from a kitchen and tile showroom (do bathrooms but dont display them) so technically my whole purchase will be bought from a shop and I wont have to deal with the internet (which is a bonus!).

    I'll ask for the like for like comparisons tomorrow and see how I get on. Thanks for the advice!
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