Labour costs - 12sqm - Patio - sandstone

[GJ London]

Hi

We’re getting a lot of building work & have just had a quote from our builder to lay 12 sqmetres of Indian Sandstone on a side-return.

The same guy is doing other work on the house, but because the side return is concrete and needs to be drilled up before a base is laid, he’s said the labour costs will be more.

The quote is £1200 – (that doesn’t include the sandstone paving, which we’ve ordered & paid for). Appreciate the costs will include equipment hire.

Am a real novice at this but c.£100 per square metre seems pretty steep?


Grateful for any advice

G

[dig dug dan]

hard to say, but he has obviously got to break all the old concrete out, and hire a skip to dispose it, then he's got to prep a subbase.
It does take time to get the prep work spot on.
Is there and down pipes or manholes in the area?

[Ted]

Well does it include the sand and cement?

Is your house a terrace - will he have to lug the old concrete out through the house?

As Dan says, he will need a skip most likely.

If he is providing the sand and cement and a skip and there are one or two other complications, I don't think the price is too bad at all.

I did a 15m2 patio in Peckham a few years ago and charged just under a grand. I did not have to rip any concrete out but I had to lug everything through the house. I provided all the cement etc; the client provided the Indian sandstone.

[Tony McC]

There's only one sure method for checking a price: get another two prices from other contractors!

That way, all the local variables, the site access, proximity to suppliers, chip shops and other essentials can all be factored-in.

I'm sure there'll be someone in, say, Middlesbrough gagging at 100 quid/m, while another contractor in Crouch End thinks it's too cheap. There's so-o-o-o much regional variation in England!

[rab1]

in scotland, cookie`s standered of work would not cost a big note a m2, would want it paved in gold for that price but it all depends where you live. ???

[cookiewales]

cookie is not as dear as that in london. standard should be the same what ever the price.. right is right .hows tricks rab looked at a formans job in mid lothiaon think ive spelt that wrong they havent come back to me still looking cheers cookie :p

[rab1]

hope you get the job cookie, would love to see you boys in action (i mean laying setts!!!!). where about was the job?

[lutonlagerlout]

the thing with london is
you have congestion charges
emission charges
parking charges
delivery costs
higher insurance costs
higher material costs
for 12m2 £1200 is no rip off
IMHO
LLL

[mickg]

Round my area contractors are charging £ 90m2 - £100m2 but suppling all the sand, stone, skip etc and the Indian stone.

If the price of £1,200 includes everything bar the Indian stone then its not far out on cost to be honest

[seanandruby]

cookie is not as dear as that in london. standard should be the same what ever the price.. right is right .hows tricks rab looked at a formans job in mid lothiaon think ive spelt that wrong they havent come back to me still looking cheers cookie :p

Good luck. I'm with you there cookie, job should be top quality regardless of price. dont worry about the spelling, this is'nt an english grammar site.