Wildly different quotes for floor tiling

ecbfriedman

I'm looking to have 25m sq of travertine (supplied by us) laid continously through our kitchen and downstairs shower room. The subfloor seems to be completely concrete - it's a 10-year-old extension. We also want a new toilet put into the shower room to replace a damaged one - we'd supply that, too. We're in Oxford.

One quote, for tiling labour only, was for £750, plus £75 to take out the old lino (which we have the option of doing ourselves and probably would) and £75 to dispose of it. This was a little less than I was expecting to pay, but then we'd also have to get a plumber to fit the toilet and a gas-certified person to disconnect/reconnect the dual fuel cooker, so putting all the costs together it seemed like a reasonable outlay given my research.

Our other quote was for £3903.00. I expected this company to be a bit higher, but that's just off the map. Here's the full text of the quote (note that there are no 'floorboards' in this part of the house, and this guy didn't check - the other one did).
"Remove, dispose WC suite - ground floor shower room, floor tiles dining area and kitchen. Remove plinths kitchen units, gas/electric cooker and washing machine, refit after tiling. Re-board floor in dining area and prepare floor in other areas for tiling. Fit floor tiles cloakroom, dining area and kitchen continuously including flexible cement based adhesive, grout and stain stop sealer. Customer to provide tiles. Fit corner WC suite provided by customer, ground floor shower room. Adapt and connect to waste and cold supply. Trim doors as necessary to suit new floor height. For the sum of £3903.00 including vat. It is recommended to lay a detramapping surface over the floor prior to tiling with travertine. Where there is a change in material in the sub floor (dinning to kitchen and shower room areas). This is to guard against the floor cracking. The additional cost for this supplied and fitted is £915.00 inc vat."

Here's the upshot: I really liked the first guy - he seemed young and perhaps just getting going but that he knew exactly what he was doing. Obviously I'd check references and ask to see his work before employing him, and my only real hesitation comes from the fact that I got him off the internet and not from a friend's recommendation. The second guy was from a big company recommended by a friend.


The huge catch here is that we're doing this now because of water damage (badly connected shower drain) and we've got a loft conversion starting in July. We absolutely don't have 4 grand to put into this floor, but have been without a shower for 3 weeks so far and would like to get this done, and done right.


Basically, I want to know - am I way off base in thinking the first quote is reasonable, if a little cheap, and should we be prepared to have to pay the 4 grand to get it done right?

LEJC

there are elements of quote 2 that dont appear in quote 1 so it clear that with quote 2 they are "going right back to basics"...hence the reason possibly behind the higher price.

I assume that in quote 1 the tiler will fit the tiles up to your kickboards and around your kitchen cabinets wheras quote 2 allows the removal to ensure a seemless flow.
I guess from your point of view it depends if when you change your kitchen you intend having the same layout...ie you wont find that areas of the tiling need to be patched in.

However quote 2 has allowed for the refixing of kickboards/plinths and these might need to be adjusted to allow the extra height of the tiles...again with the doorways,your doors may need a little taking off them in order to accomodate the change of height....but in honesty those 2 things considered shouldnt make that much difference to the quote but it is something that you should consider that will need doing if you opt for quote 1 as the tiler may not have priced those factors into the job. This is possibly because he is what he is...a tiler and would therefore not deal with the carpentry aspects in the same way that an all in property maintainence company would.

Quote 2 is the more comprehensive quote...and having had something similar last year,the correct standard of work....we actually had new kitchen utility and downstairs toilet renovation..cost more than your quote but there were other items involved too...
My gut reaction would be that for what the tiler is doing in quote 1 its a very good price,possibly a little on the cheap side,although I assume you probably wont be subject to vat...quote 2 is comprehensive but possibly quite high...and subject to vat.
In my experience of getting quotes for our renovation I found that whilst property maintainence companies were a good option and easy,they were typically 20% higher quotes than any independant trades people we approached...

Certainly get at least one more quote and then you should have an idea of whats involved.

ecbfriedman

Dear LECJ,
Thanks for this - it's very helpful. Just to clarify - yes, the more expensive quote is definitely more comprehensive, but the cheaper quote definitely allows for removal of kickboards, etc., and we talked about the need to find someone to disconnect/reconnect the dual fuel cooker, put in the toilet, etc. We're also happy to do some things ourselves. I just don't understand how those things, which seem pretty minor, could possibly add up to the 3000 difference - but want to make sure I'm not being unrealistic in thinking GBP 30 per msq is about right.

somethingcorporate

For tiling?

£30psqm seems reasonable and it is what we have budgeted to do our new floor. From the bathroom & flooring places we have been looking they have suggested that £25-35psqm is about average for around here (which is the North East).

southcoastrgi

an avg price is £25 /m2 for ceramic & £50 /m2 for natural stone, there is alot more involved in natural stone, they need sealing twice to start with & normally they need to be cut with an electric cutter, you can't normally just score & snap them