Cost for Brick wall and steps

[byronsmith]

Hi all,

I had a quote to do two things, a brick wall and some rear steps, the price was agreed but it was a little ambiguous so I've not paid the additional and would like your opinion on how long these two jobs would take and at what cost.

Edit: it's worth noting that im not an unfair guy and depending on replies here I'll pay my fair share even if the quote was not as clear as it should be.

I provided all materials and foundations where existing. This is just labour for laying bricks and slabs.

Thanks
Byron



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[byronsmith]

Damn I think i posted this in the wrong section! How do i move it please.

 

[byronsmith]

Thank you, yes, I figured that out later on but wasn't sure if it would actually work so you'll probably find a request from me anyway.

Thanks though.

 

[cotswoldbuilders]

You said you agreed the price before hand, whats changed.

 

[limerockconstruction]

Labour only? You would want change from £500 plus vat. How much did you pay and what were the extras and their value?

 

[byronsmith]

Nothing changed, it was as described in the quote.

A front wall, and steps with slabs.

Word for word this was his quote or rather text.

2days for 2 of us @ £140 a day.

so with that wording I've got in my head £280.

He did the whole job in 2.5 days and I paid him £350.

but he approached me afterwards and explained that it was £140 per person per day.

So I've decided to pay him and extra £100 equaling £450, which i think is fair.

Thoughts?

 

[noseall]

You owe a minimum of £560 even a numerical dyslexic can work that out.

Where did you get £450 from?

What tradesmen do you know that work for £70 per day?

 

[limerockconstruction]

As above 2 days for 2 men = 4 days x 140 = £560

But if it was a quote per day then you actually owe them another £140

Unless the 4 man days was a fixe price quote.

Another story of customer stopping play!

Just to add my quote of 'change from 500 was based on me and a labourer at 240 per day)

 

[byronsmith]

I'm fairly confident in my arithmetic, thank you though.

My concern is that he quoted.

2 days for 2 of us at £140 a day.

His wording is completely ambiguous and it is not unfair of me to think that he was working for £140 a day, which if we work out 2.5 days is £350.

Now if he had said.

2 days for 2 of us at @ £280 a day.

I would have politely refused his quote and continued my merry ways.

In my eyes, I don't expect 2 skilled bricklayers to build a simple wall and 2 riser steps in 2 days. perhaps 1 skilled bricky @ £150 a day with a £75 a day labourer equally £450. I think that is very fair.

Can't blame me for reading his badly worded quote.

 

[JohnD]

was it one bricky and a labourer, or two brickies working slowly?

 

[byronsmith]

I initially thought it was 1 bricky and 1 labrorer for £140 a day.

It turns out I was supposedly paying for 2 bricky's at £140 per bricky per day.

Crazy stuff i think.

 

[noseall]

The man has since explained to you and cleared up the daily rate.

You owe a minimum of £560.

was it one bricky and a labourer, or two brickies working slowly?

With all due respect John D, how do you know how long it takes to lay bricks? Whilst the wall is not big there is a lot of faffing and it is pointed both sides.

Same with the steps.

 

[cotswoldbuilders]

You still got it all done at a fair price.

 

[limerockconstruction]

2 days for 2 men = 4 days x 140 = £560 End of conversation

And in terms of ambiguity, just because you've misunderstood doesn't mean you should be able to hold back money. You are at fault for not obtaining a fully itemised written quote.

Again if you think they are slow, that'll teach you for getting him in on a day rate and having nothing properly contracted. Bricklaying is a skill, and to do it well takes time, you would have moaned if he did a crap job, so deal with the time factor - half a day over isn;t going to bankrupt you.

Just pay the guys the money you owe them, and chalk it up to experience.

 

[noseall]

I initially thought it was 1 bricky and 1 labrorer for £140 a day.

It turns out I was supposedly paying for 2 bricky's at £140 per bricky per day.

Crazy stuff i think.

So whilst you were rubbing your hands with glee thinking you were shafting a couple of hard working blokes they were in actual fact charging you the going rate.
Ho hum.