Gas Fire Installation Quote -Greater London Area

HUMBUG

Just had a quote to install a 'Firegem Visa Highline Gas Fire' for my elderly father .  The old one was shut down as regarded unsafe by the engineer when he completed the service ( £100), then after trying out an electric heater for  few weeks my father wanted a new gas fire installed so the engineer removed  the old one for £136. 

We now have a quote as follows:
Arrange Chimney Sweep, Supply and Install new infill at the back of the fire, supply and fit Fire Gem gas fire with new connections , testing all on completion. 

Labour & Materials  £768 + 153.60 vat  = £921.60

I googled the gas fire brand price and its approx £350 
'Chimney Sweep' in our area is between £85 -£120 so lets choose £120 
Inset material ? I haven't got a clue what that is but its probably the non-combustible material that fits over the chimney opening (the current one looks dangerous and is over 30 yrs old with adhesive around the perimeter to hold it to the brickwork). I'll assume the material cost is about £50

The engineer firm's secretary is purchasing the gas fire for us so I assume she will add £30 for her time.
The firms owner did visit to do the measuring to select the correct gas fire and provided the 'free' quote but I suppose he has added his costs in , so lets assume £50

So to work out the engineers labour costs

921.60 - (350+120+50+30+50) = £322 approx  (inc vat)

Lets assume he takes 2.5 hours to complete the work then he is charging £129 per hour (inc vat ) .

Does this seem a reasonable price in the North West Greater London area?

FaceHead

By the time he's quoted for a couple of jobs, won yours, travelled etc. I think them allowing a day seems sensible. 

So is 268 plus VAT a sensible day rate? I think yes - it's a high day rate, but for a single day's work, I think it's sensible. 

If you are happy with this person I'd suggest going with it - anything more than £50 less would look 'too cheap'. 

Another_Level

The guy preparing the quote has seen the job and met the customer, we have not. Those two facts could mean an uplift in costs 

Ask them to do the job cheaper, or ask another gas fire fitter (a one man band, not a vat registered company)

I know getting estimates and quotes are bothersome but it may save you around £200 

I would not say the price quoted is reasonable but it may be the going for that company, remember its winter and most gas fitters are busy. Seasonal over quoting is not unheard of.

Hope you get it all sorted out   

HUMBUG

Another_Level said:

The guy preparing the quote has seen the job and met the customer, we have not. Those two facts could mean an uplift in costs 

Ask them to do the job cheaper, or ask another gas fire fitter (a one man band, not a vat registered company)

I know getting estimates and quotes are bothersome but it may save you around £200 

I would not say the price quoted is reasonable but it may be the going for that company, remember its winter and most gas fitters are busy. Seasonal over quoting is not unheard of.

Hope you get it all sorted out   

I did actually approach the company's reception staff and queried the labour costs but she said it would take 4  hours to install and blamed the VAT . 

I'm not sure it will take 4  hours to be honest but I don't understand what they mean about installing a new infill . I suppose it must be the fireproof board material that fits between the fireplace opening and the gas fire (ie. where its vent fits into a hole made in the infill material).  That shouldn't take very long  (I hope) as it just needs cutting and securing,  unless of course he is also lining the interior brickwork of the fireplace too (not sure what the gas regulations are about the interiors of fireplaces).

We will need a new connector pipe from the gas fire to the gas valve (about 18 inches away) but that doesn't seem a very time consuming task. Other than the normal safety checks , installation of gas fire and testing , I'm guessing it might only be about 2-3 hours. 

I've emailed a local business that's been in our area for a long time and asked for a general ballpark figure if they did the installation. I think they are more interested in expensive installations and building new fireplaces , but I thought I may as well ask the question.

FaceHead

On a £900 quote, you might be able to save yourself 50 quid by going with someone who is not vat registered and therefore at least a bit dodgy. Someone not vat registered won't be able to recover vat on the materials, so it's only the labour where there is opportunity by using someone not vat registered.  

As the installation needs registering (gas safe I assume) there is little chance of dodging VAT - HMRC cross reference the installation register with the income people are declaring, so registered work is rarely done for cash. You might get it done for half-and-half, saving yourself £25. 

If you have someone who's available, well reviewed and has provided a sensible - if not a bargain - quote, I suggest you go with it.