Is my quote a good price?

robertsonm2003

Ive been quoted a total £470 including VAT to buy and install a double panel radiator in my studio flat including connecting 2 pipes from behind the cooker to other side of room, to be completed in a day. I wont have to pay until the job is complete and approved by me. They are corgi registered. Is this too high or acceptable? Any advice is much appreciated.

Alan_M_2

If it's just an additional radiator a regular plumber will be able to install, There's no reason to pay Corgi Rates unless you have any work on the boiler itself required.

£400 + vat sounds like a London price to me and at the top end, if you're elsewhere in the country get an alternative from a regualr non corgi plumber, after all corgi means He's gas fitter.

missk_ensington

I think this is too much, materials won't exceed £100 I don't think, so basically this guy is on £370 a day! No way!

You should supply the materials yourself, as he will probably be charging you at least a third more for the radiator that it has cost him to buy. Ask for labour only, for one day. For one man this should not be more than £200 (although personally I wouldn't pay more than £120 a day per man)

JennyW_2

£470 :eek: Yikes.

Go to wickes and purchase the radiator yourself and get some other quotes for the labour. That's way too much money to install one rad!

robertsonm2003

JennyW wrote:

£470 :eek: Yikes.

Go to wickes and purchase the radiator yourself and get some other quotes for the labour. That's way too much money to install one rad!

Problem is I dont have a clue in what I need to buy with the radiator, for example, pipes, connectors, length of pipes etc!!!

:rolleyes:

missk_ensington

robertsonm2003 wrote:

Problem is I dont have a clue in what I need to buy with the radiator, for example, pipes, connectors, length of pipes etc!!!

:rolleyes:

Okay 1) You phone a couple fo CORGI workmen and arrange a time for them to come for a free quote
2)Obtain quote for labour only.
3) If quote is reasonable arrange a start date.
4) Before man leaves ask for a list of items he will need to do the job (the names of pipes etc)
5) Go to B&Q/Wickes and buy them prior to the arrival of your workman.

a-builder-A1

Go to wickes and purchase the radiator yourself and get the valves, tubing, bends, solder and flux. and pay him a days money + vat.
Now does his day include a mate? because he just cant lay him off for a day...if he is vat registered he probally is established and pays for advertising and vehicles an accountant stationary etc etc I`m not disputing his price nor other posts prices but I would definatly get other quotes of similar sized plumbers and their availibility first.

[/ For one man this should not be more than £200 (although personally I wouldn't pay more than £120 a day per man)QUOTE] I would not pay one man less than £150 per day its asking for trouble.

jason_s_2

:eek: £120 a day. Now i know why i stick to plastering :rotfl:

a-builder-A1

jason_s wrote:

:eek: £120 a day. Now i know why i stick to plastering :rotfl:

Exactly Jason! :T

missk_ensington

jason_s wrote:

:eek: £120 a day. Now i know why i stick to plastering :rotfl:

You earn more than that I assume? £120 a day equates to £31,200 a year gross, assuming you dont work weekends. I think this is more than a reasonable salary for somene who *probably* left school at 16 without any GCSE's who hasn't gone through A levels and university.

And for a plasterer I'd pay even less as I don't personally think it is as skilled as gas/electrics since you don't actually need a brain to do it. I learnt to plaster last week and have since plastered my chimney breast and bathroom walls where the tiles were taken off the wall and I only had 2 hours tuition! Someone came and checked it who was a prof plasterer and said it was absolutely fine. Don't think it warrants £30,000 a year, bloody consultants and high flyers in London sometimes don't get as much as that!

Canucklehead

Good afternoon: A bit harsh that last post! My husband has no A levels and I have 2 degrees: does this make my work more valuable than his? I trained and worked as a teacher and he is a plumbing and heating engineer. I don't begrudge the fact that he or any other skilled tradesperson ( including plasterers) can earn more than me.

To the original poster: always get 3 quotes and ask friends, family, colleagues for recommendations - this is how OH gets his work.

Hubby says quote depends on run of pipework, size of rad and inclusion of thermostatic valve.

Good luck