New boiler/bathroom quotes

IM

Afternoon all,

We've just moved into a new place, and had a couple of quotes I'd appreciate observations on.

The central heating boiler is essentially knackered - and in addition is housed under the kitchen worktop (or 'hotplate' as I call it :rolleyes: ).

We have had quotes to replace and resite the boiler with a combi. This will in turn allow us to remove the tanks which are in a cupboard in the bathroom, allowing us a bit more space, and to install a shower/new bathroom.

I've copied the two quotes in full below....

Upgrade central heating system

"To remove existing base kitchen cupboards to gain access to old boiler, remove boiler then re-fit cupboards. Make good hole in external wall where the old flue was located, remove wall cupboards to allow installation of new boiler, adjust pipe work to accomodate new boiler installation, supply and install new Worcester 37 CDI condensing boiler, digital time clock, remote room stat and new thermostatic radiator valves throughout. The boiler will be located to allow for boxing in when new kitchen is installed"

Materials & labour charge £2,800

Bathroom installation

"To remove existing bathroom and airing cupboard, knock off plaster and tiles back to brick work. Plumb in new pipe work, construct stud wall to accomodate shower valve, dry-line walls ready for tiling, install new bathroom suite supplied by the customer, ply-line the floor supply adhesive and grout then tile all walls and floor using customer's tiles. Install spot lights. Supply skip and remove all rubbish"

Materials & labour charge £2,900

Two questions I guess...

a) How do those two prices sound (we're in Manchester if that's a factor)?

b) Anything you think I might want to add/clarify? (I know I want to specify that they properly flush out the old central heating pipework before firing up the new boiler. I'll also specify exactly what we'll be supplying, vs. what we expect from them)

Many thanks in advance

IM

Rosebery_2

Bathroom sounds about right when considering everything that has to be done. Notice it doesn't include a fan - which you must have. Does it include RCD protection for the lighting / fan circuit? Is he going to tank the wet area aroud the shower? Is he going to skim before tiling or tile direct onto plasterboard.

On the boiler front I'm not quaified to comment but two things jump out at me from your text.. First when installing a new boiler then the system MUST be flushed out to clear solder / flux, copper swarf etc residue.

The rad fitted nearest the room stat should NOT have a TRV fitted.

Also if its going on an existing system then the bolier manufacturers warranty will depend on the system being fully flushed to remove all the detritus of ages in order not to wreck the heat exchanger. Your man should know this and there should be no reason to insist on it. He should do it automatically.

Have you got competing quotes against which to measure these. Thats the best way of finding out if they are competitive in your area.

Cheers
.

IM

Thanks for the reply.

I already had the fan and the plastering/waterproofing issues on my list to add.

We will have a dedicated RCD circuit - another one of the issues in the house is an old-style fusebox. The guy said we had to get that sorted before he'd touch anything.

As you say, I suspect the CH flush is implied, but I will make sure I state it clearly if we go with this quote.

Got another guy coming in on Saturday to give an alternative quote.

IM

I'm re-writing the quote as a list, and then refining/adding to it.

I want to specify that he doesn't use standard plasterboard/ply-board, but instead uses waterproof board and/or applies a waterproofing treatment before tiling.

Without a handy episode of 'Holmes on Holmes' on Discovery to refer to, what is the best way to word it without specifying a brand/product?

andyhop

normal plasterboard is fine, just make sure the walls are tanked with wp1 kit or tanking membrane

Rosebery_2

Yes normal plasterboard is fine, tanked for the shower area or he could use aquapanel for the shower.

What's he going to prime the plasterboard (or plaster skim if he's skimming) with before tiling?

Cheers

andyhop

Primer g for mapei or bal prime for bal items

Do not use PVA

You need a acrylic primer

Rosebery_2

andyhop wrote: »

Primer g for mapei or bal prime for bal items

Do not use PVA

You need a acrylic primer

There - now you've gone and spoilt it. I was waiting for the PVA reply then suggest that the OP finds another tiler who knows what he is doing!!

Never mind.

IM

Thanks for the replies folks. I've augmented the quote wording to clarify things and hopefully avoid ambiguity.

How do you think this sounds...?

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Central heating boiler

• Remove existing base kitchen cupboards to gain access to old boiler
• Remove existing boiler, control panel and remote room stat
• Re-fit cupboards
• Make good hole in external wall where the old flue was located
• Remove wall cupboards to allow installation of new boiler
• Adjust pipe work to accommodate new boiler installation
• Undertake full flush of existing system
• Supply and install
  • new Worcester 37 CDI condensing boiler
  • digital time clock
  • remote room stat
  • new thermostatic radiator valves (number?) throughout (excluding radiator closest to room thermostat)
• The boiler will be located to allow for boxing in when new kitchen is installed

Bathroom

• Remove existing bathroom – bath, lavatory, sink
• Remove existing water tanks and airing cupboard
• Knock off plaster and tiles back to brick work (full walls, or just where there are currently tiles?)
• Plumb in new pipe work – bath, lavatory, sink
• Construct stud wall to accommodate shower valve
• Dry-line walls ready for tiling
• Install new bathroom suite – bath, lavatory, sink - supplied by the customer
• Install glass bath screen
• Replace existing radiator with heated towel rail – to be supplied by customer
• Install extractor fan – vented externally
• Install X spot lights to ceiling – with heat shielding above
• Install X wall lights
• Ply-line the floor
• Apply a proprietary waterproofing treatment to all areas ahead of tiling (does this sound OK in response to previous posts?)
• Supply adhesive and grout then tile all walls and floor using customer's tiles
• Supply skip and remove all rubbish

All work to be carried out in accordance with current legislation and best practice of relevant professional bodies – with certificates to be provided on completion of work.

Prior to commencing work, contractor to provide evidence of:

• Gas Safe Register registration
• NICEIC registration
• Plumbing qualification (is there a recognised one to quote?)
• Insurance

Prior to work commencing, customer will have had an inspection of the electrical installation at the property by a NICEIC engineer, and have undertaken remedial work to bring the system up to minimum requirements (new consumer unit with dedicated circuits/RCDs).

Customer to confirm provide contractor, in advance of commencement of work, with detailed plan showing tiling pattern, required location of suite, lights etc.

Items to be supplied by customer:

Central heating boiler:

All materials and equipment to be provided by contractor within quoted price.

Bathroom:

• Lavatory
  • Pan
  • Cistern
• Sink
  • Basin
  • Pedestal
  • Waste
  • Taps
• Bath
  • Tub
  • Waste
  • Taps
• Shower
  • Valve
  • Head
• Bath screen
• Heated towel rail
• Wall lights
• Tiles
• Wall tiles
• Floor tiles
• Trim

All other items to be provided by the contractor – including, but not limited to:

• Tile adhesive
• Grout
• Plumbing sundries
• Timber
• Plasterboard
• Water-proofing treatment
• Ply-wood boarding

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Assuming this looks OK, is there a template anyone can recommend for drawing up a contract, that I can cut 'n' paste into?

Cheers

IM