Check my garden design and quote

Russinating · 11 Jun 2020 at 09:17

We've got a small garden, ~7100x4600mm, that I've done some plans for and getting quotes on (as best we can).

We learnt a lot from doing our last house up, particularly what we left out of our last garden's design, and costs. But a second eye is never a bad thing so I was wondering if anyone wouldn't mind casting their eye over the design but particularly the quote from the forerunners to do the work. They've been recommended, but like most gardeners they're more into plants than spreadsheets.

The design:

The quote:

Timber & fixings for floating benches £700
- fabrication of brackets £350
blocks for planters £330
render supply & fix £1,000
fence timber £1,800
type 1 sub base x5 £250
topsoil x6 £500
sand x4 £300
green oak sleepers £300
washed pea gravel x2 £200
terram £50
pleached hornbeam £750
climbing plants £200
plants £300
sheet copper £450
tool hire - wacker, cement mixer £170
cement £50
misc. fixings £300
skip & permits £600
protective sheet etc for house £200
self levelling compound £100
SUB TOTAL £8,900
labour £7,560
TOTAL £16,460

I have purposefully asked them not to quote on materials for the tiled floor, oven worktop, bar and table as I'm still looking into those. Cost of tiles as is and I may cast the rest out of concrete myself/with their help.

They're estimating 3 weeks for 2 of them which is ~£250 per day which isn't cheap but I don't think crazy either, for Bristol.

I'm also swapping out the copper for corten steel and I'm still not sold on the pleached hornbeam that they've suggested for the rear.

Anything standing out as being over or under quoted? Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Maccy · 11 Jun 2020 at 09:22

I think that's on the more expensive side tbh, we're looking at having our garden completely re-landscaped with new indian sandstone patio, retaining sleeper walls, levelled out (split into 3 tiers) and a concrete base putting in for a new shed/garden office and the quotes have ranged from £7.5k to £18k (not including the cost of the new shed/office).

If you can, look at sourcing materials yourself as it may save on cost?

Russinating · 11 Jun 2020 at 11:42

Maccy said:
I think that's on the more expensive side tbh, we're looking at having our garden completely re-landscaped with new indian sandstone patio, retaining sleeper walls, levelled out (split into 3 tiers) and a concrete base putting in for a new shed/garden office and the quotes have ranged from £7.5k to £18k (not including the cost of the new shed/office).

If you can, look at sourcing materials yourself as it may save on cost?

Yeah, our budget was £12-15k based on past experience and knowing some of the materials we want. But looking at the breakdown nothing is jumping out as being crazy. The render maybe. And fence timber @ £1,800 for ~19x1.25m but they are quoting for western red cedar. Looking direct it would be about £980 for all the panel timber (300 battons @ £3.27) plus the posts but they're cheap, so yeah, that's over.

psd99 · 11 Jun 2020 at 11:55

That looks like an incredibly high amount of money for approx 33 sq meters of garden space.

how much top soil do you need?
topsoil x6 £500

NickK · 11 Jun 2020 at 11:59

Are you sure the tiles aren't going to be come slippery - also is there any drainage against the house? (I assume the garden slopes towards the house)

Molep · 11 Jun 2020 at 12:19

Cut the labour cost in half and then it's not too bad, still a bit expensive.

£1,260 a week gross for a builder/landscape gardener is crazy in my opinion.

kai · 11 Jun 2020 at 12:41

I like the design. There are a few things, i would personally change (based on my preference). If i had a budget in that range, i would be looking at a composite deck or wooden sleeper path to blend in with the rockery and wild flowers. Again a personal preference but i would look at having some type of pergola for shade to the back end and adding a pizza oven to the kitchen

.

Also as above, that is CRAZY expensive. I landscaped my garden, and designed it. Elements, required a builder/ground work but if you have the time its definitely worth the effort. You could easily cut that budget in half and getting the help you need when stuck.

*also what is that random pillar in the middle of the gravel? I would be looking at a decent size (4-5ft) monolith opposed to the solo pillar, with the option of adding water.

Russinating · 11 Jun 2020 at 13:09

psd99 said:
That looks like an incredibly high amount of money for approx 33 sq meters of garden space.

how much top soil do you need?
topsoil x6 £500

Presume that's mostly for the planters. That quote is based on the pleached hornbeam which would need 4500x600xwhatever the depth of the planters is of soil. Plus the others. But I don't like the pleached hornbeam, though.

NickK said:
Are you sure the tiles aren't going to be come slippery - also is there any drainage against the house? (I assume the garden slopes towards the house)

I guess if it's raining? In which case I won't be out there! They'll be encaustic cement tiles and design is inspired by https://www.houzz.co.uk/hznb/photos...don-chef-contemporary-garden-phvw-vp~97077311. Drainage wise, unsure against the house, but the garden behind us also drops down ~1m.

Molep said:
Cut the labour cost in half and then it's not too bad, still a bit expensive.

£1,260 a week gross for a builder/landscape gardener is crazy in my opinion.

What would you say a reasonable day/week rate for a landscaper is, in Bristol?

kai said:
I like the design. There are a few things, i would personally change (based on my preference). If i had a budget in that range, i would be looking at a composite deck or wooden sleeper path to blend in with the rockery and wild flowers. Again a personal preference but i would look at having some type of pergola for shade to the back end and adding a pizza oven to the kitchen .

Also as above, that is CRAZY expensive. I landscaped my garden, and designed it. Elements, required a builder/ground work but if you have the time its definitely worth the effort. You could easily cut that budget in half and getting the help you need when stuck.

*also what is that random pillar in the middle of the gravel? I would be looking at a decent size (4-5ft) monolith opposed to the solo pillar, with the option of adding water.

We're going to re-use the Victorian kitchen flooring that's currently in the garden as the stepping stones. Going to have a sun sail (but obviously no need to involve gardeners in that) and there already is a pizza oven.

I would say it's definitely NOT worth the effort doing it myself

. What someone else will complete in 3 weeks will take me months, we'll miss this entire summer and I'll lose all my evenings and weekends. Not to mention the hard graft of a lot of it.

Random pillar was me playing with space for a hammock, it's been removed now.

Dolly · 12 Jun 2020 at 07:43

I really like the design and it looks a good use of space. I agree with the others that the quote seems high on the labour side - but Bristol prices will be higher and you've obviously got previous experience of labour costs in the area. There's nothing that jumps out from the breakdown.

Winston · 12 Jun 2020 at 08:03

External tiling needs to have r11 antislip rating

I work for a high end landscaping company

Design is lacking detail and the quote seems like it came off the back of a fag packet

Russinating · 12 Jun 2020 at 09:14

Dolly said:
I really like the design and it looks a good use of space. I agree with the others that the quote seems high on the labour side - but Bristol prices will be higher and you've obviously got previous experience of labour costs in the area. There's nothing that jumps out from the breakdown.

Yeah, though tbh I've forgotten a lot of the costs of our previous reno... probably purposefully

. All I remember is one the gardening lackies was £100 per day and that was CHEAP. Once we found that out we had him doing everything and anything, basically our snag list.

Winston said:
External tiling needs to have r11 antislip rating

I work for a high end landscaping company

Design is lacking detail and the quote seems like it came off the back of a fag packet

Not that constructive but thanks. As I said we're using encaustic cement tiles which are the equivilant to an R11 rating.

Winston · 12 Jun 2020 at 10:50

Russinating · 12 Jun 2020 at 11:05

Winston said:

Holy giant image macaroni batman.

What use is that? No source, and not where I'm buying ours from either way, which are suitable for outdoor use.

Winston · 12 Jun 2020 at 11:20

Lol sorry don't know why it's that big
Just trying to help as as far as I'm aware cement tiles aren't advised externally and can be very slippy
What sub base are you intending them being laid on?

Russinating · 12 Jun 2020 at 11:36

Winston said:
Lol sorry don't know why it's that big
Just trying to help as as far as I'm aware cement tiles aren't advised externally and can be very slippy
What sub base are you intending them being laid on?

Not sure yet. What would you recommend, besides the official guidance?

This is where we're planning to buy from - https://besttile.ie/moroccan-encaustic-cement-tiles - as recommended by someone else here. "Suitable for public areas, outdoor patio areas" and https://besttile.ie/moroccan-encaustic-cement-tiles/sealing-fitting-maintenance has some laying and maintenance recommendations.

Winston · 12 Jun 2020 at 12:14

100mm concrete slab laid on a minimum 1/100 fall rate, visqueen lapped under to help prevent rising damp. As specs state will need sealing and also make sure to use a fully non permeable grout to prevent water ingress, its the frost that will do the damage

flea.rider · 12 Jun 2020 at 12:30

what would be @Winston quote ? .. there charging you £31.5 an hr each ..lols i'm going to try that
i'd get another 2 or 3 quotes ..
getting house rewired before we move in .. had 3 quotes £2700 1850 1400 ..
now talking to them as i walk round the place .. you learn a few things .. hobbys how long they have done it .. ect ect
now i picked the 1850 guy late 20's wanted to chat but was honest .. so when i said surge protection and dual rcd he smiled ..
and he did again when i said how much for cash .. £1700 then i smiled ..

tool hire - wacker, cement mixer £170 ?? there a firm this they should have
fabrication of brackets £350 why ?
climbing plants £200 thats a lot of plants .. that will need strict control
sheet copper £450 what sized sheet ?

Winston · 12 Jun 2020 at 12:37

I'm not quoting just offering advice thanks.
For reference our skilled labour rate is £240 per man per day

Dolly · 12 Jun 2020 at 13:07

I would also recommend getting a few quotes. We are doing a garden project and quotes have varied considerably from £18k-£33k :eek:

It has taken more time to get quotes and breakdowns but as least we know the person we are going for is in the right ball park of prices in the area.

Winston · 12 Jun 2020 at 13:11

It's not all about the cost also, it's about the service. Sometimes it's worth paying the extra, saves you paying twice!