Integral Garage Conversion

classy69

1. Take off garage door and frame to commence
2. Dig footing across and fill with suitable concrete
3. Brick up in face to underside of window with 100mm cavity and 100mm block wall internally.
4. Fit white UPVC window to client specification.
5. Take up floor that has been laid by previous owner and dispose of.
6. Check ceiling and insulate if necessary. This will mean taking down the plasterboard, insulate, re-tack it and plaster.
7. Move light and plug socket to location TBC - issue Part P electrical certificate.
8. Liquid DPM floor to keep moisture out, insulate and screed floor to level of exisiting floors.
9. Dot and Dab block work under window with plasterboard and fit window board.
10. Plaster and walls and ceilings with smooth skim finish.
11. Box in mains fuse board and make tidy.
12. Lay laminate floor and skirting to match existing house.
13. laminate is supplied in this quote.
14. Clear and tidy site, removing all debris and site machinery.


£9800 + vat.


Does this seem reasonable?

Furts

This does not mention how you are achieving a cavity wall to the remainder of the garage. Have these existing walls already been re-built to form cavity walls?

classy69

The external wall is already a cavity wall. The 3 interiors walls are not required.

brightontraveller

classy69 wrote: »

1. Take off garage door and frame to commence
2. Dig footing across and fill with suitable concrete
3. Brick up in face to underside of window with 100mm cavity and 100mm block wall internally.
4. Fit white UPVC window to client specification.
5. Take up floor that has been laid by previous owner and dispose of.
6. Check ceiling and insulate if necessary. This will mean taking down the plasterboard, insulate, re-tack it and plaster.
7. Move light and plug socket to location TBC - issue Part P electrical certificate.
8. Liquid DPM floor to keep moisture out, insulate and screed floor to level of exisiting floors.
9. Dot and Dab block work under window with plasterboard and fit window board.
10. Plaster and walls and ceilings with smooth skim finish.
11. Box in mains fuse board and make tidy.
12. Lay laminate floor and skirting to match existing house.
13. laminate is supplied in this quote.
14. Clear and tidy site, removing all debris and site machinery.


£9800 + vat.


Does this seem reasonable?

Sounds like complete bodgers quote to be honest “suitable concrete” “Take up floor” “Fit white UPVC window” removing all debris and “site machinery” never heard anyone leaving machinery behind:rotfl:part P ????? The whole thing terminology used, methods described on nearly every single bit is wrong? Not everyone’s terminology is going to be the same but this screams cowboy to me???

Furts

classy69 wrote: »

The external wall is already a cavity wall. The 3 interiors walls are not required.

OK but this is unusual, so I trust you have checked this. But is it insulated within the cavity? Plus there is no mention of cavity insulation for the new wall.

The general terminology is all vague in the quote. You would be wise to clue up on everything, question everything, get firmer specifications and make sure you have Buildings Regulations in place.

For example, why does the ceiling have to come down in order to place insulation. Is there no room located above this? If so, why is insulation needed? Or is it an existing roofspace? If so, keep the ceiling and add mineral wool.

It is a lot of money to pay to achieve almost nothing, but the onus is on you to achieve value for money.

classy69

brightontraveller wrote: »

Sounds like complete bodgers quote to be honest “suitable concrete” “Take up floor” “Fit white UPVC window” removing all debris and “site machinery” never heard anyone leaving machinery behind:rotfl:part P ????? The whole thing terminology used, methods described on nearly every single bit is wrong? Not everyone’s terminology is going to be the same but this screams cowboy to me???

Many thanks for your response.


Could you elaborate on what you mean when you say the methods described on nearly every single bit is wrong?
Part P - isn't this a certificate issued to say electrical works conform to building regs?

classy69

Furts wrote: »

OK but this is unusual, so I trust you have checked this. But is it insulated within the cavity? Plus there is no mention of cavity insulation for the new wall.

The general terminology is all vague in the quote. You would be wise to clue up on everything, question everything, get firmer specifications and make sure you have Buildings Regulations in place.

For example, why does the ceiling have to come down in order to place insulation. Is there no room located above this? If so, why is insulation needed? Or is it an existing roofspace? If so, keep the ceiling and add mineral wool.

It is a lot of money to pay to achieve almost nothing, but the onus is on you to achieve value for money.

Basically, the previous owners changed the garage into a cinema room, by leaving the garage door in place and fixing a stud wall. Let's just say it wouldn't conform to building regs! I knew various issues would be picked up by the builder, so most of this isn't a surprise to me - I don't think he is trying to pull the wool over my eyes.....


Plasterboard was attached to the breeze block walls, with no insulation between.
The floor, whilst brought level with the house floor, is not done properly with effectively loft boards covered over with carpets, and no provision for moisture / damp.
Going by the nature of the bits above, it is unlikely any insulation was put on the ceiling, before plasterboard was attached and painted!


I agree the quote looks a bit vague, but he comes with a recommendation from a friend, offered me to view 2 jobs he is currently working on, and cannot start work until Feb due to bookings already taken. For what it's worth, the company is a member of the Federation of Master Builders....

TheCyclingProgrammer

classy69 wrote: »

Part P - isn't this a certificate issued to say electrical works conform to building regs?

I'm not sure there is such thing as an official "Part P certificate". When an electrician states they are "part P registered" it basically means they can self-certify any work that needs notifying to building control. They should give you an electrical installation certificate and notify building control for you and you should receive a compliance certificate from your LA.

Does the garage have a room above it or a roof? Is it a flat roof or a pitched roof?

The cost seems on the high side to me. I would get two more quotes.

classy69

There is a room above the garage.


I have another builder coming tonight to quote. Don't know him personally but Google has found positive reviews and I initially found the company on the Buy With Confidence website.

TheCyclingProgrammer

If there's a heated room above the garage, I'm not sure why you'd need to insulate the ceiling any more than you'd insulate internal walls. I'd be more concerned with insulating the external walls.

brightontraveller

classy69 wrote: »

Many thanks for your response.


Could you elaborate on what you mean when you say the methods described on nearly every single bit is wrong?
Part P - isn't this a certificate issued to say electrical works conform to building regs?

Some works are notifiable some are not yours as described falls into not category hence they cant issue cert ( that also doesn’t exist)

Put another way when quote/estimate includes specifications to an extent drawings, plans, regulations, material supplied type, color, finish, timescales, payment details etc There is a starting/reference point for person doing works ( which may or may not be person that quoted for them) and yourself? When they include nothing where do you start ? Chances are you’ll not get what you require or want because its not defined e.g you want brickwork to match existing they use misshapes and broken bricks structural fine aesthetically not? No ones stipulated anything and when they have its extremely vague? As I posted before cowboy? sorry build of master craftsman cowboy


Take 1. Take off garage door and frame to commence ( what moon landing, ploughing the field) ok I’ve started I want all the money now and I’ll see you in 2088,,,,
The rest are just as vague