Plumbing quote - 2nd fix, huge rip off methinks!

babyangel10

Hi there,

I have just had a relatively small 2 storey extension built and the majority of the 1st fix plumbing has been done apart from 3 sets of radiator pipes which still need putting in each room.

I need the fitting of 2 toilets, 2 bathroom sinks, just the plumbing for a utility room sink (which I will connect myself after I've fitted the worktop in there), 5 bog standard radiators, a shower pump and a shower. Shower is one of those steam cabin types that just need the hot and cold supply fitting to it - it comes virtually 'ready plumbed' (whatever that means!)

All the sanitaryware, utility sink, taps, wastes, shower, shower pump and 2 of the rads have been bought by me already, they just all need fitting (plus 3 rads buying)

Can anyone advise the average 'ballpark' price of this work - my builders supplied him, although their usual man is off sick so this is the first time they have used this particular plumber, and they are horrified at the quote, so I'm guessing it isn't the average price!

I have been quoted £3000, which nearly gave me a heart attack! This is just for the 2nd fix remember - the 1st fix has been paid for and was a surprisingly average price considering his 2nd fix quote!

He also reckoned it would take about a week to do - is this correct? I appreciate there is a fair bit of work to do, so he might be right about that?

Any advice welcomed here please - I'm in the East Mids if it matters.

At least !!!!!! Turpin wore a mask eh?!

Thanks

Canucklehead

Hi

My first thought is that it's about £1500 over the top.


How much does the builder put on ?
I also wondered why the job was split into two parts. I would have quoted for a complete job so as to avoid any argument over who was to do what.
Corgi Guy.

babyangel10

Thanks Corgi Guy/Canucklehead

I don't know how much the builder has added or why it was split into two parts TBH - I am seeing the builder later so will ask him - not that he's likely to admit how much he's added on of course :rolleyes:, but I can surely ask about why it's split.

I'm definitely going to have to have a good root into the Yellow Pages for a few quotes though.

Any further info or advice from you or anyone else most welcomed

Thanks again :beer:

Canucklehead

Hi

First line of enquiry would be from friends /relatives for an alternative plumber
IMO.

Corgi Guy.

babyangel10

Hi,

Yep I'm onto that too - am almost at the stage where I'm approaching the local stray dog for any contacts, I'm that desperate!

Thanks again

babyangel10

Just as a point of interest, could you possibly give me a rough ballpark figure of what the 1st fix would have cost if at all possible please? At least then I'll have some idea of how much I've been ripped off already!

That's pipework for 5 rads, 3 sinks, 2 loos, and 1 shower.

Sorry if it's a dumb question - I'm not too sure if you need to know anything else?

babyangel10

Just an update to say that I put the builder off coming tonight until one of you lovely peeps gives me some idea of the 1st fix cost, so that I have some ammo to throw at him if he turns around and says '1st fix was £1000' or whatever, and he's taking the P.

Up to now though builder has been a top guy and seems as shocked as me about this plumber, but I still need to discuss the bill with him cos the builder quoted a 'provisional sum' of £2500 for all elec and plumbing inc sanitaryware at the outset and said that the price shouldn't differ too much from that.

I reckoned that a 20% difference on this estimate would be about right, thus totalling about £3000 for all the works, (not that he'd tell me if it were less than £2500 of course!) but remember that I have bought my own loos, sinks etc (cost of approx £1000 - good ol ebay! ) so therefore the sum should now be at the £2000 mark. Again though, to be generous I've kept it at £2500, just in case.

Builder has been paid for these works, so I cannot grasp how he now expects me to pay separate amounts for the 2nd fixing of elecs and plumbing - i.e what has he done with the £2500 already paid? Surely the 1st fixes don't cost this?! :eek:

So I suppose there are 2 questions - would £2500 be wildly underestimated for 1st AND 2nd fix elecs and plumbing? (approx 20 standard white double sockets, 2 tv and phone points, halogen lights (which I have supplied) in the 2 loos and a standard rose and flex for lighting in the 3 others, plumbing as mentioned above)

and

as also mentioned above, the rough cost of a 1st fix plumbing (and elecs if anyone can help?) just to give me something to go on.

I'm sorry if this is a stupid thread but if anyone can help me out I'd be very grateful.

Many thanks

Canucklehead

Hi.. Without seeing the job and not being familiar with labour costs in the Midlands, I would estimate 3500 to 4000 for 1st and second fix plumbing and electrics (the 2 most expensive skilled trades). Did you get a full specification, written quote from your builder before you contracted his services?

Corgi Guy

babyangel10

Hi and thanks again for your advice,

Yes, I got a full spec written quote as far as the building work goes but for any subbies jobs he just put estimates in, which apart from elecs and plumbing have come in at around the figures he said.

Looks like he has wildly underestimated somewhere then, roughly judging by your estimate.

If this is the case, do you or anyone happen to know if this means I still have to pay the unexpected extra cost as I took him (and his subbies) on under the understanding that (with a bit of give or take) it would be the price written down?

My argument would be that I trusted him to come up with a knowledgeable figure as he has been in the game for ages and has had more dealings with subbies than me so should have a rough idea of their quotes. Had I known it would be coming in at £2000 more than originally thought I would have got some of my own quotes.

Also, if I were to get someone in to 2nd fix plumb and asked them to send the bill to the builders would this be acceptable or not?
Any thoughts here please?

roddydogs

No Polish plumbers in your area?

Canucklehead

Good morning: Re... quotation versus estimate...useful info on the government's Businesslink website http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073792180


HTH

Canucklehead