General Chat

I - in my stupidity - offered to pay for a new bathroom for my son and d-i-l as their's is old and the bath has a crack in it. The bathroom is not a big one being either 8 x 8 or 8 x 9 ft. They got a plumber in to quote for replacing the existing bath, toilet and washbasin and to retile. The only deviation was they they wanted the bath the opposite way round which would involve just a small amount of new piping. The quote came in as £5,000-plus for the LABOUR ALONE. This, plus the cost of the actual suite, would bring the total up to nearly £7,000 !! I don't know if I am completely out of touch, but I personally thought the labour charges were astronomical. Can anyone enlighten me as to whether this is about normal or rather excessive as I really do not think I can afford this much. I was budgeting in my mind at about £4,000 in all !! Thanks

Get a couple more quotes Margaret. It is always wise to get more than one quote. You may have found one who doesn't really want the work and who has deliberately overpriced it.

Even £4000 seems excessive to me, when you see what places like B&Q charge for bathrooms suites.

My son had a friend who is a plumber install his bathroom and when he saw how easy it was, decided he didn't like where the bath was and moved it. He then installed the shower himself. Plumbing isn't rocket science.

Could you gently mention DIY!

I could mention DIY if my son was so useless at this. My partner however could do it no problem but as we live 70 miles away that isn't an option. Daughter in law has now asked B & Q to call round and quote for the whole thing and also has asked two other plumbers for quotes. I am glad that it isn't just me who is astounded at the £5,00+ for labour alone. For heavens sake, how much an hour must that be ????

Margaret, Somebody is taking the Pee big time. thats far too expensive.Is everything Gold Plated? get a realistic price or forget it.**M**.

Hi Merlin - yes I think he is taking advantage of a female (d-i-l) asking for a quote. It is a bog-standard P-shaped bath with perspexr show screen, ordinary loo and washbasin. Taps also run of the mill, so nothing glamorous or out of the ordinary at all ! I will wait with baited breath to see what other quotes come in at - particularly B & Q who could do the whole thing including supplying the suite.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

That sounds about right to me, if it involves re-tiling, flooring etc. A lot of labour costs go on ripping out the old stuff, which is no mean feat especially if its a cast iron bath.

Hi Dame Shelly - how I wish they had but fingers crossed a more realistic quote will come in. If not, I am afraid I will have to think again about the offer.

SheilaWestWilts - I did say I wonderered if I was out of touch but I am still shell-shocked at the price.

Thanks for your replies.

Margaret,

I think the job as you have described it, size of bathroom etc, would take a proffessional a week to complete, assuming there are no unexpected major problems. I don't know any tradesman on £5,000+ a week.

I have only basic DIY skills, but did that job in my bathroom (13x8ft) just last summer. Anyone with basic skills can do it, especially using the modern plastic pipe, and push-fit fittings. Might be worth your son asking around his neighbours if anyone knows someone they can recommend.

Whoever quoted £5,000 must be a comedian.
I hope your son gets the job done at a realistic rate in the end.

Tec.

Just spoken to my son who is a plumbing and heating engineer, he works for a small firm employing two men as well as the owner and his wife. Son says the price quoted does seem very steep although he does not know what his boss would charge. His boss would quote this as a "price" for the job and not charged at an hourly rate.

Incidentally, son's boss charges £65 per hour for labour on "replacement and repair" on heating jobs - more than 4 times my sons hourly rate for wages.

You could always look at the prices of bathrooms yourself


http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/templates/content_lookup.jsp?content=/content/marketing/jan_event/bathrooms.jsp&noleftnav=true&menu=specialoffers&icamp=SO_hotNUMBER2

Thats B &Q

Thenks eveyone. If at the end of the day they cannot get a quote which seems ok, I will offer them £4,000 and they must find any excess themselves. I think with the suite itself costing approx £1,500 that would leave £2,500 for labour and even if that covers 2 weeks work - £1,250 per week isn't to be sniffed at. Thank you all for your replies - you have been most helpful.

Margaret, if its going to cost more than £2500. inclusive its a rip off.just give the a couple of grand towards it,if its more they should put their hands in their own pockets.I did ours, took me threeand a half days, including removing old cast iron bath, ( 5lb lump hammer works ) copper piping ,compression joints,taps etc,plus stop taps on each pipe, shower ,Bidet. Sink, Toilet.tiles and flooring,as some one else says, its not rocket science,just the time needed and common sense.
.

Google something like

cost of installing bathroom suite.

This is a typical quote:-

Bathroom installation - bathroom of approx 14 sq.m./

Work to be done:
- strip the existing bathroom
- hide all the pipes in the wall /under the floor/
- install new bathroom suite /Installing a Bath, Toilet and Hand Basin/
- install plasterboards - skim /plaster/ walls
- tile walls
- prepare and tile floor
- make good and decorate
- install spotlights

Total Labour £2600
Total materials £600 (excluding cost of tiles, bathroom suite, that depends on customer’s choice)

Whatever you decide you need to get a minimum of three competitive quotes and also check out references for each one. The cheapest isn't necassarily the best, especially if they bodge it up. Bear in mind the difference between a quote and an estimate. The former should set out in some details exactly what you are getting for your money. The latter tend to be vague and have a habit of creeping upwards, often by rather a lot.

Margaret.....

We did ours a few months ago, addmittedly we had already had sink and loo fitted a year ago.

The labour +
New bath
painting excisting tiles twice, (special paint)
lino flooring,
paint the ceiling

Approx £700.
He's a neighbour who also did our kitchen, we did'nt know before the work though, he was recomended to us!!

He's a carpenter by trade!
Definately get more quotes!!

jude

Easy peasy to do it themselves. Or else do you know anyone who's had similar work done that would recommend tradesmen? At most they would only ask about £20 per hour. And don't forget to pay cash - save 20% Vodka And Tonic.

Have a look at this site for certified plumbers in their area...

And you can always check the plumbers that have quoted a price for the bathroom fitting..

Sue