Hi
We are having a fireplace in the middle(!) of our kitchen knocked out.
We are in a ground floor maisonette, so have the neighbours above us with a fireplace too (not used I hasten to add) all in situ. Hence there would be quite a load bourne by the new steels.
We have had the SE come in, do the measurements, etc. and we have drawings back. We are also almost there with the Party Wall Agreement.
The only issue I have is that the builder I am planning on using (Who is my GF's friend's husband, so is hopefully being honest!) is quoting what I think is rather a lot for steels, padstones, etc. Bear in mind I am in London, so I know that always makes things more expensive.
He is quoting £3,500 + VAT for the steels and padstones (Then £2,200 + VAT for labour, skipping the rubble, equipment, basically everything else needed to get the job done - He seems to think its a 3 person, 3 day job. Also bear in mind we do not have a side return from our garden or any access out of our kitchen to the skip they would use, other than via the front door, and the kitchen is at the back of the property. The £2,200 bit I guess I understand (3 people 3 days, it's about £30 per man per hour). From my research, I reckon the materials can be obtained for no more than £1,500 with VAT. Add on a little more for equipment hire, and I think materials should be under £2000 inc. Or am I dreaming?
I have attached an image from the SE drawing:
Cheers for any advice!
We are having a fireplace in the middle(!) of our kitchen knocked out.
We are in a ground floor maisonette, so have the neighbours above us with a fireplace too (not used I hasten to add) all in situ. Hence there would be quite a load bourne by the new steels.
We have had the SE come in, do the measurements, etc. and we have drawings back. We are also almost there with the Party Wall Agreement.
The only issue I have is that the builder I am planning on using (Who is my GF's friend's husband, so is hopefully being honest!) is quoting what I think is rather a lot for steels, padstones, etc. Bear in mind I am in London, so I know that always makes things more expensive.
He is quoting £3,500 + VAT for the steels and padstones (Then £2,200 + VAT for labour, skipping the rubble, equipment, basically everything else needed to get the job done - He seems to think its a 3 person, 3 day job. Also bear in mind we do not have a side return from our garden or any access out of our kitchen to the skip they would use, other than via the front door, and the kitchen is at the back of the property. The £2,200 bit I guess I understand (3 people 3 days, it's about £30 per man per hour). From my research, I reckon the materials can be obtained for no more than £1,500 with VAT. Add on a little more for equipment hire, and I think materials should be under £2000 inc. Or am I dreaming?
I have attached an image from the SE drawing:
Cheers for any advice!
