Please advise Decking and block paving quotes

Iiyama

I have a sloping lawn! I have had 2 people visit one quoted me for block paving. The other block paving or decking.
The area equates to a max of 30m Square. The problem I have is this. The first guy that came out came on the wrong day and turned up by chance 20 minutes before the second. I explained that he was expected a few days ago and that another person was due. He was very apologetic and measured up and gave me a quote for block paving the area which would need the lowest slope to have a wall built approx 18 inches to bring it level.
His quote was £2100.
The second guy who was local came and said decking is cheaper but would quote me for decking and block paving. BUT when his quote came today the block paving one was £3400 and the decking £2700!!!!!!

Sounds daft but I presume the guy is trying to rip me off? I ask as I can only compare him to the first guy.

Thoughts please.

in_the_red_3

My advice would be 1st get another quote or 2. 2nd knock on a neighbour who has had the same works the you can see the quality of work before having to pay out.

And finally cheapest could mean that the quality is poor!
Good luck

littlereddevil

I have just had a quote for 80 sqm block paving and it was £3600 which I thought was expensive !!!

matty2767

what type of blocks was the first guy offering?. marshalls for example do a range of quality at increasing prices.

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Sounds daft but I presume the guy is trying to rip me off? I ask as I can only compare him to the first guy.

Maybe,

It would depend what preperation both are intending to do with the base, what depth of material each are supplying, the better the prep; better the job. take a look on https://www.pavingexpert.com. for minimum quantities, that should be used.

pusscat

Block paving on a drive....

I had the grass dug out, sand base laid and compacted, grey blocks (marshalls driveway blocks I think) laid and grouted, skip hire etc. The drive is approx 15m2. Took 2 days and cost £700 including all materials. It was done by my local "odd job man". Was done 2 years ago and still looks as good as new - used every day.

He is currently doing my garden. I have purchased hardwood decking (25m2) but he has provided the frame, concrete (for the legs), weed matting, gravel, screws etc and all of the labour. This is part of a larger job but it took about 4 man days for the decking and I would guess the costs to be about £800 for all of that. Decking was slightly complex shape so a bit more time was needed. Same guys did my neighbours deck in softwood and it took 3 man days (simple design)

He is also laying carpet cobbles on the other 25m2 - estimate for time will be 5 days and including the concrete base, hardcore, wacking machine and cement mixer hire - estimate total cost to be in the region of £1000 (excluding the cost of the cobbles which I have bought online!)

The carpet cobbles (in basalt) were approx £30 a m2. Decking is opepe wood and cost £30 m2 (all including VAT and delivery).

Softwood decking boards are about £10m2 and pre-cast concrete carpet cobbles about £27 m2.

This is on a slightly sloping site and included "good" preperation rather than "perfect" as I was looking for a slightly "rustic" look for the cobbles and did not want them perfectly flat.

Hope this gives you some idea on pricing...

Puss

xx