Is this quote expensive?

[Cat007077]

Hi, I need a periscope airbrick putting in due to a patio previously blocking airbrick and causing damp.
I’ve lifted the floor boards in the room to make the fitting easier for the builder. He has quoted me £230 for labour and materials… does this sound right?

 

[jj4091]

Suppose it depends where you live. I would think he will spend the best part of the day on it so probably charging a days labour plus materials at about £20.

 

[Cat007077]

In Liverpool

 

[Ken Cooper]

Fair play to you for lifting the floorboards—that’s exactly why the quote is so reasonable. If he had to do the floor prep and reinstatement himself, you’d easily be looking at £350+. At £230 including materials, it’s a very fair deal for structural damp work

 

[Cat007077]

Thanks for your fast reply

 

[aveatry]

You are part of the way there already - can you do it all yourself.

 

[ree]

OP,
Air bricks provide ventilation in the crawl space - air bricks are required about every 1.5m - 2m at the front & the rear elevation.
If your patio has been raised then its far more likely to have caused damp than a blocked air brick.
Pics showing the inside & the outside of the area in question would help?

 

[^woody^]

It's no more than half a days work, and say £20 or so for the air brick and duct and a bit of sand and cement.

So the question is really, what are builders charging per day in your area. If it's £400, then the quote is reasonable.

 

[stevie888]

What's he going to do for the rest of the day? It's a day he's going to earn nowt else on.

 

[^woody^]

What's he going to do for the rest of the day? It's a day he's going to earn nowt else on.

He plans his work day.

In reality it's an hour's work, plus travel. So he thinks "Right, I'll pop up to Cat's house first, do the air brick, then go and measure up Mrs Smiths quote, then nip to the merchants and get some blocks, then meet Dave for the side wall on the extension".

Instead of "Yeah, a poxy air brick for 1 hour and then I'll be back home by 10:00 to sit in the sun and have a few cans. Loadsamoney."

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

£230 sounds totally fair to me.

However, this sounds like a workaround for a problem that probably shouldn't exist. What height below the DPC is the patio? If it's close or even above it then you're fixing a minor side issue, not solving the actual problem.

 

[jj4091]

He plans his work day.

In reality it's an hour's work, plus travel. So he thinks "Right, I'll pop up to Cat's house first, do the air brick, then go and measure up Mrs Smiths quote, then nip to the merchants and get some blocks, then meet Dave for the side wall on the extension".

Instead of "Yeah, a poxy air brick for 1 hour and then I'll be back home by 10:00 to sit in the sun and have a few cans. Loadsamoney."

When do jobs ever work out to plan.

£230 sounds totally fair to me.

However, this sounds like a workaround for a problem that probably shouldn't exist. What height below the DPC is the patio? If it's close or even above it then you're fixing a minor side issue, not solving the actual problem.

Perhaps the damp is actually condensation under the floor and caued by poor air circulation. The poster hasn't been very clear about what the actual problem is.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I don't know, but I'm wondering if the use of a telescope vent suggests that there's a bigger issue.

I've fitted them, when I insulated under my suspended floor - to vent below the membrane instead of above as would be the case if I'd left them straight. They have their purposes, but they're not a good solution to the outside ground level being too high. If that's the case then the ground needs to be lowered.

 

[^woody^]

When do jobs ever work out to plan.

When you plan them! Include plan b.

 

[mrrusty]

Sounds right to me.