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Expecting a massive price uplift - radiator install

breaking_free
Posts: 780 Forumite

FINAL UPATE 18/06/2024
NEW UPDATE AVAILABLE ON PAGE 4 23/05/2024
A few weeks ago I had a local heating engineer quote me a price to install a new radiator onto the existing system (not replacement - new install). Said it would be less expensive if I sourced the parts myself and he wrote out a list of exactly what was needed. The list included a freeze kit as he stated that the job wouldn't require a full drain down. Quoted price was £120 for 2 hours' labour - very reasonable I thought.
Yesterday 2 of his colleagues turn up, take one look and say "We can't freeze plastic pipes, we'll have to drain it down". I've bought all John Guest speedfit fittings and they don't like the elbows because they're not aesthetically pleasing - this bloke would have recommended some slimmer ones...
So he takes a long time thinking about how best to route the new pipework along the walls and discusses options; I say I'm not bothered how it looks and to just go ahead. Part way through they decide there aren't enough parts so one of them drives off to buy some more (so clearly the list of parts I was given wasn't comprehensive enough).
Four and a half hours later the two of them are done and make to head off. "Wait a moment, you haven't tested it", I say. So I get them back inside and I turn the heating on so we can all check that every rad heats up, there are no leaks or trapped air.
The entire job went from 2 hours' labour for one person £120, to 5 hours' labour for two people. This was yesterday so I haven't received an invoice yet, but I'm expecting a price bump! I'd be prepared to meet them part way as the job took longer than originally though, but how would you suggest I negotiate if they send me a whopping invoice?
Just FYI here is the new pipework. Radiator is on the other side of this wall.

NEW UPDATE AVAILABLE ON PAGE 4 23/05/2024
A few weeks ago I had a local heating engineer quote me a price to install a new radiator onto the existing system (not replacement - new install). Said it would be less expensive if I sourced the parts myself and he wrote out a list of exactly what was needed. The list included a freeze kit as he stated that the job wouldn't require a full drain down. Quoted price was £120 for 2 hours' labour - very reasonable I thought.
Yesterday 2 of his colleagues turn up, take one look and say "We can't freeze plastic pipes, we'll have to drain it down". I've bought all John Guest speedfit fittings and they don't like the elbows because they're not aesthetically pleasing - this bloke would have recommended some slimmer ones...
So he takes a long time thinking about how best to route the new pipework along the walls and discusses options; I say I'm not bothered how it looks and to just go ahead. Part way through they decide there aren't enough parts so one of them drives off to buy some more (so clearly the list of parts I was given wasn't comprehensive enough).
Four and a half hours later the two of them are done and make to head off. "Wait a moment, you haven't tested it", I say. So I get them back inside and I turn the heating on so we can all check that every rad heats up, there are no leaks or trapped air.
The entire job went from 2 hours' labour for one person £120, to 5 hours' labour for two people. This was yesterday so I haven't received an invoice yet, but I'm expecting a price bump! I'd be prepared to meet them part way as the job took longer than originally though, but how would you suggest I negotiate if they send me a whopping invoice?
Just FYI here is the new pipework. Radiator is on the other side of this wall.

"The problem with Internet quotes is that you can't always depend on their accuracy" - Abraham Lincoln, 1864
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Comments
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Compromise is usually the answer, if they will do so.The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.0
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I'd expect to pay a little extra for the extra parts (not for their time while they were off getting them though), and maybe a slight increase in the labour charge, but really it's their fault for not planning the job out right. You got all the parts they said to get, so it wasn't as if you messed up. On the other hand, if you are happy with their work and might need to use them again in the future, might be best not kicking up too much fuss.
Glad you aren't bothered how it looks, but does look terrible.7 -
It looks like appalling workmanship.
I have never heard of a plumber suggesting I buy my own fittings for pipework, they normally have a van full of them3 -
What is that routing, because it really isn't okay.I'm not one for exposed pipes but a run of copper above the skirting would have been far neater - if that is genuinely the best routing.Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
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I hope their horses didn't leave a mess in your garden!!
Honestly, that's a shockingly bad job. Firstly, I can understand them wanting you to source the radiator if it was something none standard. I'd 100% expect them to supply all pipe and fittings though.
I wouldn't have let them use speedfit fittings on show like that. They should have at least recommended you have copper fittings that you can paint to match the skirting. How are you going to paint that skirting board when it needs decorating?
The fact they planned to freeze the pipes while working would have worried me from the start. If they freeze pipes regularly, they should have a proper electric pipe freezing kit rather than a can of spray and some foam sleeving.
Did he give you a quote in writing that you can refer him back to? If he came out to look at the job beforehand, I'm not sure how he got it so wrong. It shouldn't take 10 man hours to install a radiator. I've had full systems installed in similar times.
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Were they wearing masks ?0
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Some funny comments above
Yes I agree that finish isn't particularly good and I know the main guy wasn't happy with it himself. I'll be able to make good the drilled out wall and I'm not really bothered about the exposed piping (he asked if it would be possible to box it in but I nixed that idea).
To answer some questions, yes it's a bog standard radiator, 600x600 from Wickes, so nothing special.
Yes I do have a quote (not an estimate) in an email.
Yes it does seem strange that they don't already have pipe freezing equipment; perhaps they always drain down? They didn't even have any cable clips in the van - the chap bought those when he went out to buy extra inserts.
I live in a small town so won't be making a big drama out of this - tradies talk!
Thanks for all your input so far."The problem with Internet quotes is that you can't always depend on their accuracy" - Abraham Lincoln, 18640 -
If you’re satisfied with that as “workmanship” from someone charging £60 an hour for professional trade skills and experience, I’m flabbergasted.
Tradies may talk - but whoever did that is not a tradesperson.6 -
Speechless!Living the dream in the Austrian Alps.0
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Even my pipework is 10x better than that!2006 LBM £28,000+ in debt.
2021 mortgage and debt free, working part time and living the dream0
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