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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:27 pm
by rob66
Hi, how much more roughly (as a percentage for example) should a contractor should be charging per m2 (excluding cost of sandstone) for laying a random pattern Indian Sandstone patio on un-prepared ground, compared to laying a bog standard (all one size slab) patio. I've searched this site but can only find a estimated cost per m2 that includes the cost of the sandstone.
Thanks,
Robert.
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:49 pm
by lutonlagerlout
is it dug out?
is the type 1 stone in?
are the flags close at hand
just to lay flags i charge £25 a m2 but thats assuming everything else is done
supply and fit (inclusive ) is about £75-100 per m2 depending on many factors you havent mentioned
this is approximate for the home counties
cheers tony
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:16 am
by rob66
Many thanks for the reply Tony. No the area (17m2) is not dug out and there is a 1.5m2 concrete step and 4m2 of 900x600 slabs to be to be removed, the remaining area to be dug out is lawn.
I can easily work out from the excellent spreadsheet calculator on this site how much roughly it should cost for materials and labour (I'm supplying the Indian Sandstone) for a standard 450x450 concrete slab patio however, I can't find a calculater/info on this site that gives me an rough idea how much (labour and materials only) a contractor will charge me for laying Indian Sandstone.
Thanks,
Robert 
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:35 pm
by lutonlagerlout
robert i would expect your total cost to be somewhere between £1200 and £1700 depending o various factors mate
why are you supplying the stone??
regards tony
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:56 pm
by rob66
Thanks again for that Tony. I received my Ist quote this morning @ £64/m2 so looking good so far. I don't know if I'll definitely source the Indian Sandstone myself, it initally seemed a good idea to try and get it via the internet or ebay as none of my local yards up here in Central Scotland stock sandstone of any description.
However one of the contractors who I'm waiting to get a quote from told me where I should get Bradstone Natural Sandstone locally. I will probably go for that and at least I will have Bradstones product guarantee, something I didn't see any of the internet or ebay suppliers quoting/offering.
Cheers,
Robert.
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:48 pm
by Stuarty
What part of central Scotland?
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:46 pm
by lutonlagerlout
ahh no disrespect to stuarty ,but i'm sure he will agree, in scotland there is a trade off between the glens etc and wages,the rough idea i gave was home counties prices where incidental costs are much higher
the problem with supplying yourself is that if you are short or over order then its on you . if they supply the onus is on them to get it right
if someone supplies and i am 2 flags short on a sunday say,then my minimum call out is £100 which is expensive but otherwise you would be running around earning nothing all the time
on the other hand if i supply and i am 2 flags short,its down to me to sort it out in my own time
obviously you can agree a flag with the builder
cheers tony
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:57 pm
by rob66
Thanks Tony never considered that, i.e., the consequences of being short. I'm in Sauchie which is near Stirling and I've sourced locally a Bradstone 'Natural Sandstone' 15.3m2 Patio Kit for £340 inc vat, which at £22/m2 seems a good deal. I know I said I have 17m2 but coming down to 15.3 isn't a problem.
One of the contractors that are still to send me their quote, uses the builders merchants where I got the above price said last week that he would pass on his discount to me if he supplied the sandstone, how much cheaper do you think he could get it (inc vat).
Cheers,
Robert.
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:38 pm
by Stuarty
Yeah Tony is right prices do vary quite a bit up here. Some of the BMs round here have different discounts and it also depends how friendly your contractor is with the manager of the yard :p
When you get the written quote it will more than likely list the cost of the flags on it, of which you can compare to the quote you would get direct from the BM. Also Tonys position on being a bit short or a bit much on ordering is very true. Im sure you wouldnt want the hassle of ordering another 2 flags or whatever.
Had a client who measured their garden for turf in yards. He phoned up and asked for "400 square". Turf depot just assumed it was in metres and we ended up being around 40 metres short.