Roofer for £20 per hour

PennyFox

I hope somebody here might know average prices for roofers. It's a bit of a daft problem but if I don't ask about this it'll bug me for ages:

We are finalising quotes for an extension to our 1930's bungalow. While I get at least three quotes for everything, DH's best friend is a roofer with his own company. My husband got a quote from him estimating it's

6 days work at £160 per day (8 hrs)

That seems a bit high to me, especially in the current climate where lots of other trades are lowering their prices. I did tell DH just that but he 's quite determined to give the job to his mate.

Well, asking here about the price does feel less contrary than getting another roofer in for a quote (which I will if the price is much too high) as I suppose it isn't worth having an argument with my other half if the price is off by some 50 quid or so...

Does anybody here have an idea what the price should be (it's for removing tiles for the roof reconstruction, then tiling the new roof and retiling/blending in with the old roof to be precise)?

Also which way is cheaper - pay by the hour or for the job?

Thanks in advance

Alan_M_2

I always make it a rule to get an agreement of the cost of a particular job up front before I agree anything. That way I have a reasonable idea of where I stand.

Of course there are sometimes contigencies and discoveries that require extra work, these can be addressed as they occur.

I never liked to employ anyone by the hour...

Personally I wouldn't get on a roof for £100 an hour, so £20 or so seems like a damn good deal to me.

I'd not even like to hazard a guess at the cost of the guys insurance.

shellsuit

Alan_M wrote: »

I always make it a rule to get an agreement of the cost of a particular job up front before I agree anything. That way I have a reasonable idea of where I stand.

Of course there are sometimes contigencies and discoveries that require extra work, these can be addressed as they occur.

I never liked to employ anyone by the hour...

Personally I wouldn't get on a roof for £100 an hour, so £20 or so seems like a damn good deal to me.

I'd not even like to hazard a guess at the cost of the guys insurance.

Totally agree. £20 an hour sounds like a bargain to me!

evans17

That's a bargain!

Xaviera

160 per day is cheap for a roofer. There are skilled people risking their lives! Decorators and chippies get 150 a day minimum.

PennyFox

Fair point, Alan, I wouldn't want to get on the roof either. What worries me even more than the price itself is the fact that my husband wants to work as his friend's labourer on the day (he has no experience) so I will be raising the insurance issue with him to at least keep him off the roof.

PennyFox

Thanks shellsuit, evans17 and Xaviera - I knew asking here was a good idea. I have no experience with prices for roofers, had all other trades in before but not that one. Your replies will help keep the nagging at bay for violating my usual rule of getting at least three quotes since it looks like this is in fact a fair, maybe even excellent price.

slummymummyof3

I would suggest it depends where you live in the country for a start. Is the roofer prepared to work for cash? Does the price include scaffolding etc or will you be expected to pay for this on top of the agreed daily price?

PennyFox

Good questions, slummymummyof3 - I will ask my husband about the scaffolding and wether he'll work for cash. We are trying to save as much money as possible by organising the trades ourselves and doing whatever we can ourselves as well.

We live in Fife where the £/m² for an extension has now fallen to below £1000. Our quote for the shell and some more work (with kitchen installation but not supply included) was ca £450/m², we're still adding up all the quotes for heating and plumbing, electrician, windows & doors, kitchen, bathroom though.

We were hoping to finish it all within £650/m² but definitely got no more than £890/m² which might mean restructuring roof trusses for our attic bedroom but having to leave it unfinished.

That's why even a price from my husband's best friend must offer good value for money.

slummymummyof3

Can you source your roof tiles secondhand - as in ebay or similar? I managed to get my entire double garage tiles for 1p from ebay - admittedly it cost us £100 in van hire and diesel but they would have cost us in the region of £700 new.

PennyFox

Well, I will try but I am still a bit disappointed about the roof tiles as I wanted to replace the rubbish and ugly concrete flat tiles (supposed to be red, looking grey-green all over) with the original pantiles (red clay) which are still on the shed and as red and beautiful as they should be. Those I was going to find on ebay but since I accepted that we just couldn't afford the labour and materials cost I have not looked at ebay to find what will now be going on the roof. But you have just inspired me to do so, so thanks. No point dwelling on it, I suppose...

Re the scaffolding - "we'll get it from somewhere, don't worry" was my husband's reply which makes perfect sense as we are getting skips, diggers etc organised via friends and family.