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Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 2:33 pm
by cherrypicker
I have a tarmac driveway of 112 sq metres to be replace with block paving.
I have been quoted £2875 for the complete job, all included with a 10 year guarantee, taking around 8-10 days. That is all materials, removal, and labour.
I assume standard blocks, hardcore and sand would cost around £2000 as it is.
Then there is getting rid of the tarmac and waste, and drainage.
I cannot believe the job can be done for this cost as it works out at only £25.67 per sq metres. Most other companies in my area charge around £40 per sq metre.
I should add the terms are as follows: no deposit required and payment on completion.
Okay, I accept there are advantages in not using a VAT registered firm, as one saves VAT on labour and margin, but the difference makes me think something is not right.
This quote seems too good to be true.
Any comments?
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 3:34 pm
by haggistini
Buy cheap buy twice!!! I couldn't do that for myself for that money.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 3:51 pm
by rab1
I`d be worried if someone quoted that price!. You have a decent sized area to be paved along with legal disposal of waste, labour cost and also including the cost of the blocks etc etc the quote is low (very).
We both know the figures dont add up and that's why your here asking. Fair comment? 
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 4:39 pm
by DNgroundworks
Where are you from?
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 5:45 pm
by cherrypicker
I'm in the Midlands
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 6:02 pm
by Carberry
The only way I would have peace of mind going with that price is if I was standing over the shoulders of the tradesmen making sure they were doing everything correctly
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 6:05 pm
by ilovesettsonmondays
standard blocks for a good job will cost you around the 60 pound a metre mark all in .40 is too cheap too
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 6:07 pm
by DNgroundworks
To far away for me, way to cheap in my opinion also.
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 7:49 am
by seanandruby
Perhaps their Franciscan monks ??? :laugh:
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 2:26 pm
by pickwell paving
You need to get at least 2 other quotes to compare it against and if the other 2 are a lot higher you know something isn't right, seems far too cheap in my opinion, you sure there taking the tarmac up and not just going straight over it? Sounds silly I know but we quote against people who have no problems going over existing drives regardless of dpc level.
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 3:27 pm
by local patios and driveway
40 a meter??? where? we charge 100 per meter, and that covers everything coming out, took away, new materials and labour etc.
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 4:07 pm
by lutonlagerlout
dont forget local that tipping costs vary massively around the country,costs us £50 a tonne or £250 for an 8 wheeler grab
other places you can tip for peanuts
but back to the OP the quote is ridiculously cheap,they cant and wont do it for that
what will happen is that when they have started they will encounter *unforseen problems* that will involve massive extra expense for you
the only fella on here i can recall from the midlands is matthew wakeman from the driveway company,and mick avalon but i dont know if mick does drives
hmm just looked and can find no trace of the driveway company?
LLL
Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 1:17 pm
by London Stone Paving
The quote is far too cheap as you probarbly knew as soon as you recieved it. Dont go near it with a barge pole and just forget about it. Also dont use it as a gauge with which to judge other quotes as it is a completely useless indicator at that price
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 1:13 pm
by cherrypicker
local patios and driveways wrote:40 a meter??? where? we charge 100 per meter, and that covers everything coming out, took away, new materials and labour etc.
All my other quotes are around £40 a metre. It seems a standard price in my area.
When the tarmac is removed, what is normally done? It is usual to and replace the entire sub-base or is it usual to use the existing sub-base? What is the pitfall of using the existing sub-base?
Could this be a reason for such a low price?
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 2:55 pm
by ilovesettsonmondays
local if your getting 100 a metre for standard blocks then gl to you . if you were charging that round these parts you might get one out of 10 jobs you priced for.