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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 6:02 pm
by Forestboy1978
Hi guys basically had a call from the local church. 50 yards from my house and they want somewhere in the region of 150- 200m2 of wheel chair access paths fitted.
Job can be done when I want too.
This job will take my biz to the next level as I'll get tons of more work out of it and it in itself is a big job. I'm going to give them a variety of quotes for different types of paving and concreting but obviously I want this job. Being so big and so close I can go lower on the prices than I normally would perhaps but grab trucks aren't looking like an option so don't know how low I can go really. Obviously it's big so I don't want to go too low and find myself regretting it.
Going back on the weekend to take measurements etc.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Ta
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 6:32 pm
by rxbren
Don't lower your prices on the basis of more future work. price as you usually would being close is just a bonus make sure your public liability covers it and allow for fencing stuff off from straying public.
They will literally want what's cheapest so dont spend too much time on lots o versions they will more than likely want basic 600x600 slabs and possibly the ribbed ones for the slopes.
Will you have to do handrails as well
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 7:50 pm
by digerjones
Yes don't lower your prices. I did the steps on my local church.
One thing is does is people see the church trusting you, so Joe public are seeing you as a trusted professional. Weather you get any work from it is another story, it won't do you any harm.
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 7:56 pm
by digerjones
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 9:40 pm
by michaelthegardener
yeah don't lower your prices I missed out on some work this year because I didn't and don't regret it one bit it would have been regular grass cutting but I wanted to much for the first cut being as it was may and it was 3 foot high :p someone else got the first cut and did it so badly I declined the contract anyway :rock:
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 11:21 pm
by lutonlagerlout
bar faced slabs are de rigeur for wheelchair and disabled access,be aware lots of regulation regarding up stands,falls and resting areas
dont go low
LLL
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:26 am
by Tony McC
Get a copy of Document M from the Building Regs.
Lots of churches, scout huts, village halls, etc., assume a wheelchair access will be a piece of pi....err...cake because they've not familiarised themselves with just what's required to meet the regulations. They are NOT cheap to do properly.
Don't go in cheap in the hope that it might, possibly, one day, perhaps, maybe, lead to more work.
And if you do get the job, make sure your company name is everywhere!
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2016 9:28 am
by sy76uk
What are your strengths forest?
For me, I can lay block paving a lot quicker than anything else so i'd be steering them towards that option, for you it maybe slabs.
Work out a way you can do a good job for the church that plays to your strengths and when pricing make sure you add enough to your best case quote to cover any hiccups or lost time.
200m2 isn't much in an open area but for disabled paths it's more than likely going to be fiddly.
Good luck.
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2016 1:50 pm
by Forestboy1978
Cheers for the advice guys.
Tony I have downloaded that document and will be looking it over tomorrow. Thanks
Sy I've never done block paving in my life so er no I'll stick to laying slabs. Re block paving, I'd like to familiarise myself with it but on my own terms. Once I get the opportunity to lay some for myself I'll do the most complicated design possible at my leisure to get the knack.
Ta
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 8:11 am
by seanandruby
If you have the know how to lay flags then you have the knowledge for block paving, the blocks are just smalller element paving. You must lose a lot of work through it?
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 2:45 pm
by Forestboy1978
seanandruby wrote:If you have the know how to lay flags then you have the knowledge for block paving, the blocks are just smalller element paving. You must lose a lot of work through it?
Yes Sean it does lose me a lot of business but I've had it with doing things first time for customers. It puts my stress levels through the roof.
I'll do it for a friend or myself one day where I can play about and not have a schedule to keep before I do it cold for someone who can review me.
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:59 pm
by seanandruby
Fair nuff Forest but i have faith in you :;):
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 5:56 pm
by Forestboy1978
Thanks Sean 
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 12:51 pm
by Forestboy1978
OK this has really hit it home to me that I need some sort of pricing structure. I always calculate expenses and estimate the length of the job and work out the quote based on that.
I just can't work this in that way. This one I just have zero idea how long it'll take. May decline it...
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 1:13 pm
by GB_Groundworks
assumptions 3 man team 2 machine men tradesmen 1 labourer good access a place for materials and a place for muck away all within 200mm
1.5 ton mini digger and 1 ton dumper
150m of path
day 1 arrive on site fence up delivery machines mark out paths, rest areas, cat scan,
2 dig off soil and cart to muck pile
3 lay 100mm mot and consolidate
4 edgers (assumed 1.5m3 dry mix delivered each morning)
5 edgers
6 edgers
now i don't know if its steep or flat
so id lay asphalt paths if its flat or id do brushed concrete on the steep parts
now you could sub in an asphalt firm to lay onto if your mot say £25/m2 pavement spec
if it needs hand rails then key clamp scaffold bars and clamps concreted in works out material cost £32/m then fitting so say £46/m
extra day to soil up and turf/seed to edgers
day to clear site tidy up
11,300
so id be thinking somewhere around 16,000 - 18,000 + vat for flat asphalt paths
or if using slabs set edgers then screed and lay on screed at 1200mm wide butt jointed but slower way to go
Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1471176913