Cost to have a manhole cover?

the_tired_one

We have some builders in an theyve just moved one of the drains, so everything thing is dug up.

We never had a manhole or manhole cover or anything like that - making access very difficult should something go wrong - so I asked how much it would cost.


They quoted us £400.

Excessive or just about rght?

ormus

a complete plastic inspection chamber is about 100ish quid. if the hole is already dug up, then 300 seems rather a lot to install it?

the_tired_one

Good start!

So can someone itemise what parts I would need - then I'll confront our builder & say it costs £x to buy the parts - the hole is dug up. Can we start talking about a serious cost of labour!

Thanks

the_tired_one

This is what the 'scene' looks like at the moment. It is incomplete.

A few more pipes will be connected to this is in due course.

the_tired_one

So now I ask - is the builder really taking the pi$$ with £400 estimate? Up to now, he's been excellent with re: quotes/estimates etc

Cknocker

If hes proposing to install a plastic chamber, I would say this: -

£130 for the chamber and cover
£50 for excavation, while he has the site dug up, he won't have a hole for a chamber at the moment
£50 for connection (Cutting into existing etc)
£50 for backfilling and making good.

I would say £300, would be a fair price

If for some reason he is intending to build a brick manhole, then that is a completely different proposition and I would expect £400 -£500

the_tired_one

Great advice Cknocker!

the_tired_one

Cknocker wrote: »

If hes proposing to install a plastic chamber, I would say this: -

£130 for the chamber and cover
£50 for excavation, while he has the site dug up, he won't have a hole for a chamber at the moment
£50 for connection (Cutting into existing etc)
£50 for backfilling and making good.

I would say £300, would be a fair price

If for some reason he is intending to build a brick manhole, then that is a completely different proposition and I would expect £400 -£500

1. I am already paying him to 'make it good' as part of the reason its been dug up - so dont want to be paying him twice, so perhaps I should deduct £50?

2. Whats a Brick Manhole....I would prefer the cheapest option

ormus

a brick manhole is the old fashioned type. rarely installed now, mainly due to the labour cost.
all older houses will have a brick type, such as my 1935 semi.