Approximate cost of building work

uberalles

Good morning

We are in the process of buying a house and wanted to have some building work done prior to moving in.

We are totally unaware of likely potential building costs, in the Derbyshire area, and wondered if anybody would have an idea to the nearest £,000. For example, a job might be likely to be £500 or £2500. That is a measure of our inability in pricing for such jobs.
We are aware of costs of material so it really is a builder's time/work costs we need.

Job 1 is this:-
Replace this upvc window in the living room with 6 ft wide upvc folding doors.



Alternatively replace with a timber folding door, this is preferred, and therefore then replace all back windows with timber version. Circled is the window to be definitely replaced .



Job 2 is this:-
Finally, to install a garden house such as this, in the corner of the end of the garden. This will need to have footings to support a 7 ft pub style pool table.



This is the end of the garden, to the left is space where we understand we can ask for permission for a cement lorry to have access to pour.



Thank you very much for any help.

Procrastinator333

First off, I'm just someone who does quite a lot of DIY, has renovated 1 house top to bottom (using combination of trades and DIY) and working through similar project on second house. So I think my guesses are fair guesses, but I'm no expert.

My though is those jobs won't be cheap.

Job 1 - Using UPvc. First thing, measure the width. Then google bifold doors. Look somewhere like Wickes. Even some basic UPVC 6ft wide type doors. Just the door £1.75k.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/upvc-fold-slide-double-glazed-patio-door-lh-white-1790-x-2090mm/53792

You will need a skip for waste. Though if you do both jobs at the same time, you could save the rubble from the wallso fo the house to use as hardcore for the base of the shed (save on disposal costs).

You also have to get the radiator moved. So now you need a plumber as well.

If you are lucky the lintel above the window will be sufficient. But you might end up needing a new lintel or steel put in. That won't be cheap.

I'm in Surrey. My ballpark for that job would be £5k as a guess. With £2.5 - £3k of that being materials and disposal of waste. The rest being labour. So you will save some on the labour, though I don't know how much.

Timber bi-folds. Not seen it myself, but I read so many bad things about them. 1-2 years after install they have expanded and contracted so much they just don't work properly any more was the main issue. We went for Upvc on our last place for the bifolds. But these were not without their problems. To be honest, if we ever go for bifolds again, I will just take the cost on the chin and go for aluminium. They cost a lot more, but they can have a wood effect on them if that is what you want. Get quotes for the different materials if I were you. And maybe try to see some of the different materials too.

If you do replace the back windows and door with wood. Well, that is 2 windows and a door. Got to be at least £1k as they will have to be made to order by a carpenter. Possibly more.

Job 2.

Basically. You need a concrete base. Then the cost of whatever building you pick. Plus the cost of it being built.

The concrete base is surprisingly not cheap. You will have a large amount of topsoil to get rid of. If you are organised you might be able to get someone to take it for free. If not, that will have to go in a skip. Then a base will easily cost £1k, maybe £2k depeding on the size.

Then presumably you can look up the cost of the buildings.

After that, they probably offer a build service on their website so you can see what that is too.

But, the only way you will know is by getting quotes. If you are buying the house, just sort out taking some builders round to get quotes. Get at least 3 quotes for each job.

uberalles

Very good morning Procrastinator333

Thank you very much indeed for reading and taking the time for such a comprehensive response.

The costs for the folding doors is around what I have allowed for so is not prohibitive. What I did not consider is what you mention around the difficulties of timber expanding / shrinking. This has made me reconsider and I think I will stick to upvc.

I also did not consider that concrete , job 2, was so expensive. I am used to mixing my own for smaller jobs but guess I have not considered how deep I will need to go . Then there is the cost of the skip.
This job may cost a little more than anticipated but again not prohibitive.

Thanks again, you have put my mind at rest as to likely costs.
All the best