How do you deal with builder overcharging?

mutley74

macman wrote: »

OP, the only justification for increasing the charge would be if the slab had to be deeper for some reason that he could not have known before digging out the old floor. Is this the case? If not, then since he knew the area of the garage, he simply had to multiply by the depth of the slab to get the volume of concrete required. If he can't multiply 3 figures together correctly that is really not your problem. And what is his justification for not including the cost of the membrane in the original quote?
He is either incompetent, or just trying it on.

totally agree with your comments thanks. Hoping he does not try it on as his work seems reasonable standard. plus he knows we got loads of other jobs to get done if he does the garage right.

macman

So ask him (in a non-confrontational kind of way) why he wants to charge more.
If he's trying it on with a first job then he's going to do it on all the rest.

mutley74

We got this builder to redo some other work for us (had little choice as all out stuff was outside etc). He gave us fixed quote to do the next job which includes laying some floor tiles. Now he has layed the floor tiles not in a straight line and not level across the surface.

I been trying to phone him to tell him this, but cant reach him. How do you deal with such situation?
Obviously he will have to buy more if the tiles break to remove them? It is a poor job IMHO.
any help/suggestions welcome...

ormus

RMC is approx 40/70 quid per cubic metre.
i bought 1 cube a few yrs ago for the front porch. it was 50 quid then.

eco-friendly_2

What was the outcome regarding the cost of the garage base?


You should have employed a tiler for your tiling! most builders are NOT tilers, builders would normally contract that work out to a tiler.

BTB1_2

You will not get readymix concrete for much less than £100 per cubic metre.

mutley74

eco-friendly wrote: »

What was the outcome regarding the cost of the garage base?


You should have employed a tiler for your tiling! most builders are NOT tilers, builders would normally contract that work out to a tiler.

for the garage base he said because he need a 2nd delivery which was an extra £85. We decided to pay this time, but made it clear in future he makes all work fixed price or let us know of any changes beforehand.

unfortunately some builders seem to talk more than walk. I agree a builder should have got a proper tiler in to do teh job, but as its only 7.5m2 its not a massive room. But the tiles are not laid level, and not square on at some of the corners. I suspect as usuall he will just keeping fobbing us of with "dont worry". but any help welcome if he refuses to redo tiling..

DVardysShadow

You are far too soft. Re the concrete, form me his options would be to stick to the original price or to take the extra money and leave the site. Re the tiling, take photos, give him a short but reasonable time to fix it - in writing, keep a copy. If he does not, and does not make contact, then sack him.

mutley74

DVardysShadow wrote: »

You are far too soft. Re the concrete, form me his options would be to stick to the original price or to take the extra money and leave the site. Re the tiling, take photos, give him a short but reasonable time to fix it - in writing, keep a copy. If he does not, and does not make contact, then sack him.

thanks for tip. he is on the job today and expects to finish tomorrow. i will be able to see him then as i am out all day today. he will probably be expecting to be paid for the full works. I have asked others who are in the house to tell him of the faults, so will find out later today what he says.
Its a shame this chap has let us down as we had lots of other major refurb works that needed doing soon. His loss!

Alan_M_2

Does the written price that the builder provided have either "Quote" or "Estimate" written on it?

All of the answers above assume the word "Quote" is in writing on this initial dosument provided by the builder. If it isn't, the number he provided you with is nothing more than an estimate, which is a best guess at what the work will cost.