Current small builders day rates

I've just had a quote for some building work and wondered if anyone had any idea what they generally quote for their day rates these days. Not had any done for a long time.

The quote seems high to me but it is rather awkward work and needs more than one person. Most of the cost is usually the labour.

John

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No idea, but I just had a split system air conditioner installed and it cost $750 (about 375 pounds) and it took one bloke and a lad about two and a half hours. Their hourly rate is about what I used to get as daily rate.

I know. That's why I do a lot myself as I don't get the opportunity to earn that much any other way. It's also why I own rather a lot of tools. This job is beyond me though. Too much of it and has several complications. Other one man builders or even 2 men have walked away - much simpler work to do elsewhere.

Biggest worry is do they know what they are doing as well. During training I had 9 months of putting work out to builders and checking architects drawings etc so do have a clue. Their suggestions as to what to do were sensible apart from one.

John

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If you are paying them cash.

A labourers rate will be about £75 a day up to £150 ish a day for a tradesman. (depending upon the trade) - So I am told.

Nick

I'm paying £125 / day for a brickie and £90 for his labourer in North Shropshire.

What Nick_G said sounds about right.

Lady over the road from me had 2 retired kitchen fitters in and they charged £110 each a day. A general handyman/builder type tradesman, just down the road from me, charges £140 a day.

I always get a minimum of 3 prices for everything I buy. Also applies if I have to get a contractor in (which is rare).

Steve

Well if you know it's awkward to sort out and they do as well then it's not surprising that it'll cost a bit. So long as you've looked them up to see what reviews are like then you'll know it's a reputable source, make sure everything from the build to the timeframe are agreed and signed beforehand and don't give them the final fee until they've completed it and you're happy with it.

Michael W

I used to get involved in a house diy builds. The clients were handy enough to do the general work, and just called in tradesmen for the days when they were out of their depth. On the heating systems, I used to fit the boilers and do the gas work, wiring, and commissioning etc. They would do all the pipework and fit the rads etc. I generally just came along and advised when required. If you know what the job entails, can you get hold of some cheap labourers and just oversee the work, and pay a tradesman on the odd days when you need advice?

Steve

I have just bit the bullet and had someone fit me a clutch,something I would have done myself but realise its time to act my age . All the winking aside ,if we all pay cash in hand the NHS SCHOOLS and Police Force will really be on it's knees come on girls pay up in full !!!! Stewart

A definition of a "day" is important

Start about 09-00 with a cup of tea & an hour for lunch plus p..s of at 15-00 is not a days work

You need to define how many hours "work" for the day

I charge quite a bit more than the prices Nick gave plus VAT. But thats down South.

Being a self employed Bricklayer / Mason most of my work is on a price, but when it is an hourly rate it is £28 and a Brickies labourer is £16. This is in North east Scotland, prices will vary quite a bit even in the same area.

I'm not a big fan of hourly rate jobs, much prefer a price job.

cheers.

Sounds like I can reckon on circa £200 a day maybe as much as £250 around here for real work so it's not changed much. By real work I mean those that work like stink to get the job done asap.

I can try to look for recommendations on them and will but in my view how they intend to do it and a very clear idea of what the results will look like is more important. I've yet to get the clear idea. Also think I may be suffering the large house syndrome. We generally do around here and far far worse than this one. I should add that it's not that an expensive and area but that doesn't help.

Looking at the job and considering maybe 3 people on it I suspect the quote isn't too bad - providing I get what I think I will get at the end.

I did think of trying to find labour. Don't think it's on with this one. However it looks like the internal wall removal to sort my workshop and our kitchen out will be done that way. It's about time my son learned how to use a lump hammer and chisel but I'll do some. Then find a bricky and plasterer. I've been a bit concerned about that one as DIY can make a lot less mess but my son was worried about one or two things. Looks like I have cleared that up now.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 14/10/2016 13:29:10

The hourly rate minimum should be minimum wage, plus NI, plus some sort of insurance, plus transport if a commercial van. Then if it is a labourer working for the tradesman he will want to make a profit too to pay his accountant.
Gardeners want £15 though some discount for OAPs. My solicitor in a county town 10 year ago charged me £150 and hour for handling probate.
When I worked in the defence industry the rate set by the MOD was actual wages paid (actually audited as the average wage for a particular skill level ie promotion grade in the firm) plus 80% to cover all insurance, premises, security 24x7, seriously expensive test equipment investment, redundancies etc. Then there was also 1% to cover head office (ie wining and dining senior officials) and 8% official profit. It was audited and if cost savings mean the profit rose above 18% it was clawed back. This is significant in that it means you can run a serious engineering company with high overheads on wages + 80% so whenever you see a rate higher than this you know they are shovelling in the profit.

He's booked. I just phoned him. He'd quoted on the basis of everything I would want including. Torch on felt with a long guarantee=expensive, facia, guttering if needed, bricks the lot.

It's a garage roof that needs replacing and the existing one is hard to remove. Woodworm amongst other problems built in 1911. It slopes some what so felt should be ok. It did drain perfectly. Still more or less does despite a certain amount of sag.

New doors - no I'll make those myself after he has gone.

Getting some one in still gives me the wobbles.

John

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Sounds like a way to drive wage inflation so that companies can bump up the other costs, helping UK defence procurement head overseas...

Costings like that have been used in the past to remove toolrooms and put all of the work in the hands of contractors. Excessive charges for the floor space used is popular. Less direct management of people is seen as advantageous. Some one else's problem when contractors are used.

The cheapest contractors are usually the ones that go bust first - I've known of several cases of part complete tooling having to be removed rather quickly due to that. The the last time I was sold to another company they were very good at picking contractor on the point of going bust. I mentioned a plastic moldings company that I knew did good reliable work - if they were still about. They were, too expensive. The tooling had to be removed from the company it went to as they went bust. One of several similar incidents.

John

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And if you ask them why they went bust it will often be "cash flow due to late payment from the client"

According to my brother who works in aerospace Rolls Royce are actively encouraging firms to get work done in China to get costs down, mostly to get more profit for them as they use it a price negotiating tactic.

John

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I hear you. You just don't know what they will do.

The last lot I had in was 20 years ago. After an attempted break in I had to get an alarm system fitted fast. The local company I went with specifically said they pride themselves on concealing the cables. I came home one night and found they had run a PIR cable around the door architrave. The cable was stapled ON THE INSIDE of the architrave, right next to the bl##dy door! I've done it all myself since then. I'm even considering fitting the double glazing myself as I don't trust what people tell me.

Steve