Builders estimates...

[Feasty]

Just how much should they be checking when giving an estimate for gutting and replacing a bathroom?
For example this included taking out an old shower tray and replacing it with a new one, however on doing the work it was discovered the floor under the shower tray was concrete. The rest of the bathroom floor is boarded out...

Should we expect to be charged extra because the job took longer, due to having to channel a new pipe out of the concrete. Or should they have checked in the first place and this should now come under the original estimate?


I hate the whole 'estimate/getting work done for us' thing as it never seems to work out in our favour!
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[panrider_uk]

To be fair, some things can't be seen until the old stuff's ripped out so in that case I'd expect to be charged a bit extra.

Mark
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[Itchy]

There should be a book in your library called a RICS guide, it generally shows how much in labour and materials any work a builder will do for you. It is pretty comprehensive and it is about 2 phone books thick, but quite easy to use.

Just get them to give you an estimate and go and cross reference this with this book.
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[Handsome]

If there was no way the builder could have known that the floor directly under the shower tray was concrete you have to expect the quote to go up a little to counter for it...

If he'd have quoted you extra " Just in case " there was a concrete section you'd have thought " Pffft, yeah right " and gone with another builder, and when he found it he'd have amended the quote aswell...

So yeah, I'd expect the quote to go up a little but not to the point of taking the piss...
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[Dischord]

Yep it will go up, for example we quoted a price for laying a path at the back of a house, started digging it out only to find it was all rock underneath. Contacted the owners and said the price would go up, they agreed etc. I doubt it will be much though for a small part in a bathroom, £20?
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[Ant]

[Sparks!]

The key point here is whether he gave you an estimate or a quote.

If he gave you a QUOTE to replace the shower then the price stays as quoted whether it takes him 5 minutes or 5 days.

If, which is more likely, he gave you an ESTIMATE then that is a price to do the work based on knowing as much as you can know about the job in hand without actually starting the job....

If there was no way of knowing that the floor would be concrete underneath then that is not his fault and unfortunately as such the price will need to reflect the extra work.

Us trades people can only estimate on what we see, experience can play a big part too but essentially if there's a problem there that can't be seen until the job is started then how could we ever have planned for that and why should we pay for it?

So yeah, key is whether he gave you an estimate or a quote......
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