Drainage quotes am I paying to much?

[Clint101]

Hi
I have had a quote for £1900 to make good the drainage system...does it sound fair it's for 1.5 days work that's how long they said it would take them. I have attached images to give a better understanding of what needs to be done.

 

[blup]

Seems a little on the high side, why the combi drain? And there should be room to fit with chamber.

 

[Clint101]

Not sure why he said a bigger chamber needs fitting as there are no extra inlets needed..this chamber runs to the older chamber.

 

[Deluks]

Are the pictures before they've started work?

 

[Clint101]

Yes they are.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Depends entirely on the specification they've given for what they propose to do. There is a fair bit of work I can see needed, so if material cost is significant, £1900 may not be so bad. Existing workmanship looks poor, no sign of any peagravel to bed/protect the pipes for starters. Then what is the finished surface to be, and will the pipework be adequately protected?

Also, needs a longer radius bend at the foot of that stack really, otherwise could get messy in the chamber. Swapping to a bigger chamber may actually increase the problem there as there is more room on the opposite side for crud to build up, and in all honestly, I don't see any need to put a bigger chamber in there. Bottle Gully for rainwater I think you're aware of, Access bend will be needed where the pipe goes through the wall for the WC, (well, I'd fit one otherwise the WC will be connecting on a bling junction, not ideal if it ever blocks.)

Openings under lintel where drains pass through walls need to be sealed I would think.

 

[Clint101]

Thanks for your indepth reply I was just thinking it seems very steep when I was told it would take at most 1.5 days to finish, I have done some rough pricing and can't see materials going past the £300 mark and probably cheaper if there was no need to change the chamber...so that leaves £1600 for labour for 1.5 days work! Your definitely right about the long radius bend on the stack because the sides of the chamber does get crud build up, the finished surface will just be gravel.

 

[ree]

OP,
1. The quote is cheap - back in the day I would have charged quite a bit more for the work I can see in your pics & diagram.
2. Rock bottom basic is £200 per man per day - and then some more.
3. One and a half days never existed - we worked on the basis of full days for such work - a time factor was rarely quoted for a few days work.

 

[HERTS P&D]

You are paying for the outcome, not time on site.

Andy

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

You seem to know what's needed and have made detailed plans.

Buy a spade, you could do it yourself in about the same time you'd spend fretting about who and how much.

 

[Clint101]

Your all probably right, Maybe I am thinking to much about it...I was ripped off for over £10,000 by a builder and the work in the pics was his work, and your right I could probably do it myself, I have just completed an extension that the builder left half built, while working a full time job and its taken me ages, but I got there in the end, but to say I have ran out of steam is an understatement! The drainage is the last thing the inspector needs to sign off. I don't mean it to sound like a sob story but I am drained

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

It's OK, it's good to have an outlet to vent your emotions, I say go for it if you're feeling flush, otherwise why not just get some other quotes if you have the energy, or is that just a pipe dream? At least you'll have some comparison then.

 

[Clint101]

thanks Freddie I think that's what I'm going to do

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Drainage seems like one of the most profitable parts of building to me. The materials cost almost nothing, and it's not that big a deal. I replaced every underground pipe and fitting here a few years ago. All by hand, all without a digger. Plus I know it's all very precisely fitted, all edges bevelled and deburred, I doubt it would have been done anything like as carefully if someone else had done it. The 1990s pipes I removed looked like they'd been cut with an axe, and a couple of lengths sloped backwards. All done by professionals no doubt.

 

[noseall]

Drainage seems like one of the most profitable parts of building to me

Because you’re not a pro’ and have little experience. Drains ere great fun when they are a foot deep, in stable ground, no need for IC’s, plenty of fall, and lots of room to work.