Understand pricing of a job - labour and materials

Dogstar · Apr 26, 2021

Hi, I wish to get a rough estimation of how much a job should cost considering the UK:

Supply and install 44 Led downlights in ceilings

Rewire 9 of these downlights in a single room after changing their position

Move a single switch from outside a bathroom to inside replacing the existing light with a bathroom light and pull cord

Change an upside down socket to the correct way round

Replace 25 sockets with normal white sockets

Replace 10 switches with normal white switches

Install 3 wall lights

Install an RCD

Earth the boiler

Run a test

I would be interested to know man days and approximate range of rates.

Any guidance much appreciated

Thanks

Taylortwocities · Apr 26, 2021

Impossible to esitmate without a site survey. 44 downlights in ceilings - all depends on what where and access. Is this new circuits, or using existing circuits.
Is ceiling void all accessible, are there floorboards, or is it T&G sheeting (horrors), or tiled, carpeted. Is there furniture everywhere, will the ceilings be down or up.

Most of the rest can be guessed, except for

Install RCD, for what?

Run a test, what sort, of what?
turn on a switch and see if the light works (functional test), or an EICR,

Earth the boiler? Isn't it connected to the mains?

So much to know, cant guess.

Dustydazzler · Apr 26, 2021

If I am supplying ALL the materials based upon your job list £4600 all in , I have allowed a bit extra for a brand new consumer unit not just a stand alone rcd and I have allowed for new bonding in my price.

Hope this helps with a rough idea for you

(you supply the wall lights)

Dustydazzler · Apr 26, 2021

I should add my estimate does not include any making good or redecoration

Dogstar · Apr 26, 2021

Taylortwocities said:
View attachment 85093
Impossible to esitmate without a site survey. 44 downlights in ceilings - all depends on what where and access. Is this new circuits, or using existing circuits.
Is ceiling void all accessible, are there floorboards, or is it T&G sheeting (horrors), or tiled, carpeted. Is there furniture everywhere, will the ceilings be down or up.

Most of the rest can be guessed, except for

Install RCD, for what?

Run a test, what sort, of what?
turn on a switch and see if the light works (functional test), or an EICR,

Earth the boiler? Isn't it connected to the mains?

So much to know, cant guess.

Using existing circuits AFAIK. Ceiling void all accessible - no issues with accessing lights as they are replacing existing spotlights except for one room where existing 9 lights moved around and rewired. No furniture.

RCD not connected to fusebox so reconnected / replaced

Test is EICR

Boiler was connected but required earthing as not done

Dogstar · Apr 26, 2021

Dustydazzler said:
If I am supplying ALL the materials based upon your job list £4600 all in , I have allowed a bit extra for a brand new consumer unit not just a stand alone rcd and I have allowed for new bonding in my price.

Hope this helps with a rough idea for you

(you supply the wall lights)

Thanks, that's fantastic. Electrician's certainly are expensive these days

Dustydazzler · Apr 26, 2021

Dogstar said:
Thanks, that's fantastic. Electrician's certainly are expensive these days

All trades people are expensive these days...

DPG · Apr 26, 2021

What so you mean when you say the RCD is not connected to to the fusebox?

Photos always help as well, but as above, you are going to need to get someone round for a quote.

buzzlightyear · Apr 26, 2021

Dogstar said:
Thanks, that's fantastic. Electrician's certainly are expensive these days

has me old granny used to say ,if you want a good job done at good price ,dont throw peanuts at a monkey because it will throw them back ,so give it a banana, and you will keep it .

Dogstar · Apr 26, 2021

DPG said:
What so you mean when you say the RCD is not connected to to the fusebox?

Photos always help as well, but as above, you are going to need to get someone round for a quote.

Fair enough. All that was communicated to me was the fusebox didn't have an RCD or an RCD needed connecting. Anyway, if that doesn't make sense maybe there was a breakdown in comms. Never mind!

Dogstar · Apr 26, 2021

Dustydazzler said:
All trades people are expensive these days...

That's true, the housing market has put a rocket on it all

Lister1987 · Apr 26, 2021

For Earthing read; bonding copper pipework I suspect

DPG · Apr 26, 2021

OP, looking at your list of things that need doing it looks like you have had an inspection (EICR) on your property maybe?

littlespark · Apr 26, 2021

I’d like to know why the socket is upside down??? Is too close to the floor/ countertop and would damage the flex of anything plugged in?
Might be more work that just turning it round.

HappyHippyDad · Apr 26, 2021

Dogstar said:
Hi, I wish to get a rough estimation of how much a job should cost considering the UK:

Supply and install 44 Led downlights in ceilings

Rewire 9 of these downlights in a single room after changing their position

Move a single switch from outside a bathroom to inside replacing the existing light with a bathroom light and pull cord

Change an upside down socket to the correct way round

Replace 25 sockets with normal white sockets

Replace 10 switches with normal white switches

Install 3 wall lights

Install an RCD

Earth the boiler

Run a test

I would be interested to know man days and approximate range of rates.

Any guidance much appreciated

Thanks

Impossible to give an accurate cost. At a very rough guess £4400 including all materials.

LukeD · Apr 26, 2021

£5200 as it sound like its not going to be straight forward .Lots of work around so charge more for the jobs you dont really need .Its not no one is out of work these days !

Dustydazzler · Apr 26, 2021

LukeD said:
£5200 as it sound like its not going to be straight forward .Lots of work around so charge more for the jobs you dont really need .Its not no one is out of work these days !

This seems quite a common thing these days. Busy contractors are whacking up the price on small jobs , fiddly jobs and jobs they don't really want. But if they get the job then at the inflated price is worth the ball ache...
I had a fencing contractor last year quote me a small fortune for a new fence, presumably as they didn't really need the work. so I did it myself / paid a labourer a day to help me do the digging out etc. I think their quote as just shy of £2000, I did it for about £500 including £200 cash for the labourer

LukeD · Apr 26, 2021

No one wants hard /fiddly jobs or customers who are going to be trouble .pricing the job high gives them a way out and if they accept. There is enough on top to make it worth it etc

DMElec.1 · Dec 11, 2023

Dogstar said:
Thanks, that's fantastic. Electrician's certainly are expensive these days

Simple solution Dogstar, you become an electrician and show us how it's done for less, once, that is, you've spent a decade becoming competent and tens of thousands setting up your company. Flippant cheek like this drives me nuts. We're a specialist trade, it costs a lot to BE an electrician.

IAmSparkytus! · Dec 12, 2023

Bit late with the reply, he might be 2 and a half years into his apprenticeship now!

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