How many hours is a day as in a day rate!!

[aspley]

Any suggestions/observations will be appreciated on this scenario.

I agreed a day rate with a decorating company for painting the render on a detached house….another tradesman had let me down so I need this job done asap.
The guy running the business sounded ok so I was happy to use him. We agreed a day rate would work best for both of us. The rate of £500 for two blokes was right at the top end, but I was desperate to get the job done and he was available. I made it clear that it wasn’t a cheap rate and for that I expected a full days work for a good days pay. He agreed.
We are now at the end of the job which he thought would take 2/3 days and there is an issue now on how many hours should be worked in the day.
So this guy is intending to charge me for four full days when on two of the days they finished at 1 o’clock following an 8 o’clock start because of rain.
My stance is that I working day in the trade is normally accepted as being 7 1/2 or eight hours during the day, so I am telling him that I will be paying him pro data. On top of that they also took one and a half hours for lunch and breakfast each day.
I’ve been interested to hear what you guys have to say on this and I am well aware that opinions may differ.
Cheers.

 

[pete01]

A day has always been 8 hours for me with half an hour dinner.

The rain is obviously not his fault, it's not like he could go and do another job in the afternoon for 3 hours so he's expecting you to pay...but it's not your fault either....maybe try and come to an agreement for the early days maybe pay 6 and half hours?

In future get a fixed price, but then that will probably work out more as he would add another day on just incase.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Day rate = madness.

 

[Munroast]

a days rate for a tube driver could be as little as 3 hours including a statutory 4 hour lunch break, 7 weeks holiday, and 9 weeks sick leave

agreeing to a day rate was mad....

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Surely if you do employ someone on a day rate the very least you do is agree how many hours are in the day?

 

[pete01]

Surely if you do employ someone on a day rate the very least you do is agree how many hours are in the day?

I know this one....24?

 

[Notch7]

I tend to do 8.00am to 4.00pm or maybe 4.30pm
30 mins for lunch

No stop for tea breaks, just have a drink on the go.

 

[aspley]

Smart Arse replies are not required. I’m not asking what one should or shouldn’t do. I’m just asking what is normally expected as a day rate in terms of hours worked.

 

[Notch7]

intending to charge me for four full days

So he wants £2000 for painting the render.


How much would a quote to paint the render be?


A customer of mine just got a quote to paint a lounge: ceiling, walls bits of woodwork price = £1000

I’m not sure £2k is too bad

 

[pete01]

So he wants £2000 for painting the render.


How much would a quote to paint the render be?


A customer of mine just got a quote to paint a lounge: ceiling, walls bits of woodwork price = £1000

I’m not sure £2k is too bad

But when he expected £1500 I can see why he isn't happy.

 

[gehngus]

Six hours onsite on average if working outdoors and the job can't be done in the rain.

It's more complicated than just how many hours make a days work. if he is working outdoors the weather is a factor. He could just keep working in the rain to fill the quantity of hours and then come back after it has washed off and do it again. That way he would be completing his aloted hours per day but it will not get done any sooner, or he might sit in his van and hope for it to stop and that would count that as hours.

I work on roof tops. Customers want me to go up in the rain so they can stay dry.
I would charge for the day even if I finished at 2 o'clock because I want to go home take a shower and warm up. I would only book one job for the day.
I don't say day rate. I say "I will be booking it in for the day".
I should also point out that I charge £200 for a day, but £300 if I'm to go up in the rain.
So the customer knows how much that day will be regardless of how long it takes me.
I might be done in four hours at best or ten if it goes badly.

to answer the question from my perspective. The average day for British outdoors weather is six hours (plus loading, unloading & travel). Anything from four to ten.
So yes. Weather pending and all that.. "Six hours on site".

Having said that. I think if I was asked how many hours my day would be before I started I would give them a free bucket and go to another job

Height and risk is also a factor in my fee's but let's not complicated it further.

 

[Brigadier]

I know this one....24?

Not if you're a Yorkshireman

 

[pete01]

Not if you're a Yorkshireman

29 up north is it?

 

[Brigadier]

29 up north is it?

Kids today wouldn't believe you though

 

[Leftum]

7-8 Hours a day is the norm