is this price ok or am I being robbed? (screed)

[biryani_boy]

hi all,

just a quick question on screed costs. I agreed a price with a builder for an extension shell (6x3.5m). the price includes the oversite (block/beam), walls, roof and drainage. our agreements was that any additional work I want done on top of that would be paid for separately. examples include knocking down the wall to the extension, plastering, downstairs toilet etc, which is fine by me.

everything seems to add up and even things such as knowing the wall through and plastering are a good price, but I am shocked at the price for screed.

for 21 square meters, the builder wants £2500. the insulation is already included in the shell price, so we're literally talking pouring some concrete (100mm thick) and levelling it. I looked online at these price (https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/screed-floor-cost/) and somehow I can't get to that amount. even with the highest cost (£22 screed + £16 labour), I only get to £800.

does that sound right or do I need to look elsewhere?

thanks

 

[^woody^]

From who's perspective do we answer?

 

[biryani_boy]

well, look, I just need to know if this price is justified or not. checkatrade is a reputable site and while those prices are not always 100% accurate, they're not extremely far from reality.

when it comes to more specialist work, I can understand price differences in quality. a screed on the other hand is literally a bit of concrete levelled on a flat surface. materials are cheap, the surface can be screeded (is this a word?) in one day, but let's say two. where's the rest of the money going to?

let's say you need one full-time helper to mix the concrete (keep in mind, the insulation is already laid). £200/day for a labourer, £300/day for the screed guy. how much are materials for 2 cubic meters of concrete?

is checkatrade completely off or is my builder trying to make a quick buck?

 

[kingandy2nd]

If you don’t like his price, get some other quotes. Many screed places with quote you from an online submission so quick and easy to get some alternative prices

 

[biryani_boy]

thanks. any suggestions for such sites?

also, it's not that I don't "like" the price. if that's what it costs, that's what it costs and I'll happily pay it. but if checkatrade is right and I end up paying three times the usual, then yes, I might frown a bit .

 

[^woody^]

let's say you need one full-time helper to mix the concrete (keep in mind, the insulation is already laid). £200/day for a labourer, £300/day for the screed guy. how much are materials for 2 cubic meters of concrete?

Lets say the builder is so busy with work he's not bothered if he does your screeding or not. So he prices high.

Let's also say he has business expenses that others do not have. So he prices higher.

Let's say he values his work and time more than a local check-a-trader cash in hand dodgy fly-by-night.

Let's say you don't like the £2.5k price? What are you going to do? You can't force the builder to work for less.

So that's why you need to get other quotes. not rely on any online or other pricing mechanism as you can be sure that the only price that matters is one from someone who is actually prepared to do the work.

 

[biryani_boy]

Inappreciate what you’re saying and thanks for replying, but again, everything else is priced sensibly, so it’s not a case of “I don’t want the job”.

All I’m looking to know, from people in the trade, is if this price is a correct one, leaving aside all ifs and buts.

 

[^woody^]

Have you asked the builder about the price, and the make up?

 

[Notch7]

Inappreciate what you’re saying and thanks for replying, but again, everything else is priced sensibly, so it’s not a case of “I don’t want the job”.

All I’m looking to know, from people in the trade, is if this price is a correct one, leaving aside all ifs and buts.

I used to use a company called need for screed, they use screed pumps. The pump stays around the front of the house next to the sand / cement, and it’s pumped to the room. A 20 sq metre room would get done in under half a day.

back when I was doing construction work in say 2018, a room like yours would be about £1000 to £1200 + vat

I doubt your builder would do it, he probably would get a subbie in, plasterers used to do screed. My guess is the subbie is charging £1600 - £1700, the builder adding on £300 then VAT on top.


I would say try and find a local specialist screeding company to get a price.

 

[biryani_boy]

No. But before I ask, can someone please give me an indication of what a normal price is for a 100mm screed in the south east?

No builder who doesn’t want the job, no builder with unusual expenses, no builder who’s tired of life, no builder who needs to make extra money etc.

Just an average screed job.

Thanks

 

[tell80]

OP, you say "checkatrade is a reputable site" - no its not.
Use local people who dont rely on the nonsense of these trading sites which have ben described as "Two deadbeat salesmen in a Mom's spare bed room with a couple of phones and a PC."
Like many online traders, & trade referal sites, Checkatrade do Bait and Switch con games.
They often refer to customers as suckers.

 

[biryani_boy]

ok, fine... some builders don't want jobs, checkatrade is a scam site. not helped by the fact that MANY other sites have very similar prices, so I'd like to believe them, but once again:

leaving aside games played by people who'd rather not do the job, what is a normal price today for laying a standard screed in a 21sqm extension? I don't need an exact price, just an indication. if someone said they can replace a lightbulb for £100, you'd tell them to do one. if they did it for £2, you'd give them a tenner.

what's an indication price for 1sqm of screed should everything else be in place? is it £10? £100? £1000???

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

FFS get off your lazy arse and get some real quotes from people who are willing to do the job and can see it. That will tell you what is a competitive price is. Its seems all the screed specialists haven't logged in today.

 

[^woody^]

Will this hypothetical builder be subbing the work out?

 

[Notch7]

ok, fine... some builders don't want jobs, checkatrade is a scam site. not helped by the fact that MANY other sites have very similar prices, so I'd like to believe them, but once again:

leaving aside games played by people who'd rather not do the job, what is a normal price today for laying a standard screed in a 21sqm extension? I don't need an exact price, just an indication. if someone said they can replace a lightbulb for £100, you'd tell them to do one. if they did it for £2, you'd give them a tenner.

what's an indication price for 1sqm of screed should everything else be in place? is it £10? £100? £1000???

so you need roughly 5 bulk bags sharp sand £300
40 bags of cement £300

add on labour, mark up, profit........say £900

lets say £1500

you dont say what the access is like, it might need a dump truck