Small extension to room

Section62

L.S.D. said:

Doozergirl said:

L.S.D. said:

Thank you for your replies. Although we are doing it for 'quality of life' there comes a price point when I wonder whose quality of life we are improving, ours or the builder.

That's not particularly fair.  If a builder did it for the price you're expecting, they'd be paying to build it.  People have told you that your expectations are too high.  

Everyone deserves to be paid appropriately.  

There are different ways of gaining space in a house and a good designer can often help achieve it without just plonking another room on.  

An extension like that onto an existing room will feel like two rooms - maybe that's what you want? 

Thanks for your reply, but I think it is very fair. In the past we used to renovate houses, so I'm not completly naive about prices. Had any builder come up with those kind of quotes for this simple job we would not have used them. I'm sure if I cost out the materials, even at todays higher prices, any builder would make a decent profit.

How long ago was your experience?

The issue is not just with material and labour costs, building regulations have also been tightened up considerably in recent years and compliance with the regs means spending money on stuff which a few years ago wouldn't have been considered necessary.

Of course often some quotes come back significantly cheaper than others because the builder involved doesn't think the regs apply to the work they do.... but you wouldn't want a builder like that working on your home?

Have you had a go at costing the materials for your project, if you are so sure about the figures?  What number did you get?

DougMLancs

Have you looked into modular house extensions? The type that just slot together- it’s used a lot for garden rooms but have seen it for extensions too? The cost is a good deal less per m2. Durabase is one company but there are doubtless a few.

ThisIsWeird

L.S.D. said:

Doozergirl said:

L.S.D. said:

Thank you for your replies. Although we are doing it for 'quality of life' there comes a price point when I wonder whose quality of life we are improving, ours or the builder.

That's not particularly fair.  If a builder did it for the price you're expecting, they'd be paying to build it.  People have told you that your expectations are too high.  

Everyone deserves to be paid appropriately.  

There are different ways of gaining space in a house and a good designer can often help achieve it without just plonking another room on.  

An extension like that onto an existing room will feel like two rooms - maybe that's what you want? 

Thanks for your reply, but I think it is very fair. In the past we used to renovate houses, so I'm not completly naive about prices. Had any builder come up with those kind of quotes for this simple job we would not have used them. I'm sure if I cost out the materials, even at todays higher prices, any builder would make a decent profit.

As for size, it's too long a story, but it would make the bungalow comfortable. Other people have have had it done, and it looks good, but their prices were a long time ago, when they were more realistic even with lower wages taken into account.

Well, you certainly won't be able to 'argue' the price down - it'll be what it'll be.
But, given your past experience and presumed skills, could one option be for the builder to construct the shell, and you do all the insides? Potentially around half the cost?