What is fair for the builder to include in the materials at the end of a job

eruditebaboon

Hi,

I'm going over the receipts for the materials for a recent building job in our home, and some of the items seem a bit cheeky - our builder is charging us for paint brushes and rollers as well as ropes and tarpaulins - are these not reusable items that can be used on another job? Is it standard for builders to charge customers for these sorts of items, or should I refuse to pay for them?

Would be great to have some advice before I go and ask him about the items!

Thanks!

wallbash

paint brushes and rollers

Don't know , if he stands there and cleans them chances are you have paid for his time, so chucking away 'might' be an option.

ropes and tarpaulins

Thats taking the P*** , if you have paid for them , tell him to return them.

ormus

no its not standard practice. if you have paid for them, tell him to leave them on the job.

27col

Yeah! Call his bluff and ask him to leave them as they are yours and not his.

Pont

27col wrote: »

Yeah! Call his bluff and ask him to leave them as they are yours and not his.

.....and ask him for receipts for the items bought on your behalf?

phill99

Pont wrote: »

.....and ask him for receipts for the items bought on your behalf?

Rubbish. I run a Maintenance Coimpany and there is no way I would show receipts to a customer unless it was a cost recovery agreement. Otherwise, there is no way you are seeing my eceipts. You don't ask Tesco for receipts as to how much they pay Tate & Lyle for sugar or Unilever for Persil. So whey is the building trader any different.

leveller2911

phill99 wrote: »

Rubbish. I run a Maintenance Coimpany and there is no way I would show receipts to a customer unless it was a cost recovery agreement. Otherwise, there is no way you are seeing my eceipts. You don't ask Tesco for receipts as to how much they pay Tate & Lyle for sugar or Unilever for Persil. So whey is the building trader any different.

Agree, think there should have been more clarity before the work commenced.Wonder if the Builder quoted ,estimated or day rate for the work..They'll be wanting to see end of year accounts next...:D

bryanb

phill99 wrote: »

Rubbish. I run a Maintenance Coimpany and there is no way I would show receipts to a customer unless it was a cost recovery agreement. Otherwise, there is no way you are seeing my eceipts. You don't ask Tesco for receipts as to how much they pay Tate & Lyle for sugar or Unilever for Persil. So whey is the building trader any different.

The clue is in "Items bought on your behalf "
A builder should make his profit on the building work, not on buying tools etc.

Russe11

Quite standard for trades to charge 1.5x on cost on materials, to cover costs on picking up materials, ordering, returns, price fluctuations etc

DVardysShadow

phill99 wrote: »

Rubbish. I run a Maintenance Coimpany and there is no way I would show receipts to a customer unless it was a cost recovery agreement. Otherwise, there is no way you are seeing my eceipts. You don't ask Tesco for receipts as to how much they pay Tate & Lyle for sugar or Unilever for Persil. So whey is the building trader any different.

Because he is billing for items which it is totally out of the ordinary to bill for. Phill99, I hope you would not be billing for these things.

If the item is something like paint brushes or rollers which can be consumed over the course of a job, then normally they are an overhead. They are not materials because they do not form part of the completed job. If it is something like a tarpaulin or a rope which can be used over many jobs, they are an overhead again.

If it is something like a special diamond cutter which can be reused but the tradesman does not realistically expect to reuse, he should hire and include for the hire in his quote. If the item is not available for hire, he should price accordingly - and itemise it specifically

bryanb

Russe11 wrote: »

Quite standard for trades to charge 1.5x on cost on materials, to cover costs on picking up materials, ordering, returns, price fluctuations etc[/QUOTE


In that case, why would he not show receipts and justify the extra, as you have.