Paved shed area

katyk_2

Can anyone advise me if the price I am being quoted for a paved area is higher than it should be?

I have a small are (roughly 2.7m x 3m) which, granted, is on a slight slope at the bottom of the garden and which currrently has only an old leaky shed on it (sits on breeze blocks, also at an angle - probably why it leaks). What I want done is teh area levelled out then laid to basic cheap gray flagstones so I can put a new shed and, hopefully, a greenhouse on it. I will be responsible for taking down and removing the old shed.

Only had one quote so far but it came in at £575 + VAT which seems pretty steep to me for the sixe of the area.

Anyone agree or am I just being stingy?

Thanks
Katyk

U've_been_framed

Levelling the ground will add to the cost.
Check how much the flagstones will cost at a builders merchant, then you can see how much you are being charged for the work.
Did you get the quote from a landscape gardener? They will be expensive. Try a general builder or bricklayer.

katyk_2

Thanks
Will give a couple a go.

pixiepp

Hi
I think this price is excessive. Granted I do not know what your site is like or if materials have to be carried/wheelbarrowed in a long way, but non-the-less, ordinary cheap concrete flags e.g. 18" x 18" will set you back about £2.75 (ish) each, therefore you'd only need about 26, (£71.50). It depends if the site is being levelled and concreted or are they just being laid on bare earth (which has been levelled?) on blobs of mortar in which case this could be done in a day (e.g. £160 labour). your quote plus the vat = £675 as opposed to £230 in the above scenario. I think i'd challenge it!!!
hope that helps

Suzy_M

If you break down the work involved the first quote doesn't sound too bad -

Clear ground
Rubbish removal - skip hire?
Retaining wall for slope?
Preparation of ground - levelling ground, hardcore, sand base for slabs
Lay slabs
Materials - minimum slabs, mortar, base materials?
How many men working on it and how many days work

But of course you should always get three quotes for any job!l

thelurch

you could look out on freecycle/local papers/free ads papers. Ebay can be a good place to buy secondhand and you might find someone in the same town as you who is selling them. There are always people wanting rid of old slabs, as they are going under shed/greenhouse it may not matter what they look like.

You may be lucky and get some free this way but then chances are you would be responsible for collection unless you get the builder to collect them?

I got 30 2 ft x 2 ft slabs for free off freecycle to go under my shed and 3 greenhouses but I do have a van and did all the work myself.

katyk_2

Thanks for all the tips folks
I have found a local charity who work with people with mental disabilities doing landscaping and gardening building work, both for small gardens and some pretty large scale local projects. They also use purely recycled materials whenever possible. Sounds super so I have requested they come and do a quote for me.

katyk_2

Finally got round to getting quote as above from Greentracks and they come in at £482 + VAT so may give them a go but will have to see about setting aside the money first. Meanwhile have started to try to dig up the small tree/bush in the corner of the area - My how deep those roots can go......