Daily rate for a brickie??

MrsJB

Hi, we're currently building a new house in Yorkshire and have a local brickie doing the brick work. We're just a little unsure whether the money he's asking is fair.
For the first few weeks we agreed a rate of £350 per 1000 bricks and we were happy with that, as was the brickie. However, he's now changed his mind saying as he's now getting to more awkward areas (lots of corners, doorways, windows) he won't make much money on a per 1000 brick rate and is asking for a day rate of £150. There's him and his son as a labourer.
Again we were happy with this as we appreciate his point and want to be fair but it seems that his "day" equates to an average of 5 - 6 hours! That's an average of £20 - £25 per hour. And whilst we think he's doing a tidy job we're worried that a "day" rate isn't much of an incentive to get the job done quickly! He's paid weekly, cash in hand. We want to be fair but hope he's being fair to us too.
What do you think? Is this acceptable? Or are we just being unreasonable?? Thanks

leveller2911

Labour rates are area specific , for instance London and South East rates tend to be higher than many others.Here in East Sussex a good time served brickie will charge £175-£200 a day but that would generally be a 7:30 - 8 am start and finish at 5pm with about an hour or so of breaks during the day..


Just my opinion but his day rate seems fair but if he is only doing 6 hrs of work then he's taking the micky.Hopefully there is a brickie ot two on the site who will give you an accurate answer, i'm a Carpenter & Joiner and def not a brickie........:D

matt987106

its area specific

Yorkshire will be cheaper than down south

£150 isnt alot, as you say its for him and his son, thats 100 quid for him and 50 for his son

i would be happy with that

my advice, keep him happy, he will do a good job then

somethingcorporate

£150 for 2 people for a day seems very fair!

vax2002

Hang on a second ? when he thought the going was good he wanted price work now he has to work for it he wants day rate ?
On a site, he would be walking if he tried that stunt.
He knew the job, he knew the work, he asked for a price rate, you gave him one, tell him to get on with it at the rate he asked for or walk and if you have not paid him, work out which is less, the £150 a day or his rate and give him the lowest rate.
The local job centre will have a list of fully time served bricklayers as long as your arm, most are out of work and begging work.
Give him his £150 and he might still be sat on his back side in 6 months no further on.

experience08

vax2002 wrote: »

Hang on a second ? when he thought the going was good he wanted price work now he has to work for it he wants day rate ?
On a site, he would be walking if he tried that stunt.
He knew the job, he knew the work, he asked for a price rate, you gave him one, tell him to get on with it at the rate he asked for or walk and if you have not paid him, work out which is less, the £150 a day or his rate and give him the lowest rate.
The local job centre will have a list of fully time served bricklayers as long as your arm, most are out of work and begging work.
Give him his £150 and he might still be sat on his back side in 6 months no further on.

Very good advice, don't get ripped off OP.