MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
New home owner within the last year and now we have finished the internal works, want to work on the garden, had some plans for lowering a section of the garden to lay a larger patio area. The existing set up is a thin strip outside back door of 2ft wide before a raised soil section with grass held in by brick wall. I want to remove a section of ground to extend the patio by about 4m2, by leveling the grass area to same height as outside the back door.
For this I have got a quote to dig out and build a retaining brick wall with breeze blocks and then fronted by reclaimed bricks supplied by me. There would be 3 brick steps to build to gain access to the upper level.
Also on top of this quote is for laying all patio needed about 25m2 in Indian sandstone with them supplying the sand and cement but I will be supplying the paving. The will just need to lay a concrete base as sandstone is quite thin.
For all the works I have been quoted £1735 I think this seems expensive for cheap building materials and labor. Just wanted your thoughts?
One point to note is that I will be buying the paving, looking at Indian sandstone from Wickes so this is not included in cost, also if anyone knows anywhere cheep to get this nr derby or mail order would be appreciative of ideas
Thanks
what's happening to the soil they dig out - with skips at £200 a shot it's amazing how quickly a bulk load of soil adds up just in disposal terms. If they're moving the soil by barrow it'll take a while too, which costs.
They will I, the individual cost for the soil is £200 in the cost I belive.
In connection with skips I would supple a 8cubic yard one which should do the business as some top soil will be spread eles where, and rest in.
why not just get another couple of quotes?
My son does landscape gardening, with a friend who has a small gardening business. They have all the kit & skills, and are OK working in Derby. Sensible pricing and a bit short of work at the mo. They're based in Stafford, email me if you want them to take a look.
Doesn't sound too OTT to me, but I'm used to Surrey rates. How long do they say the job will take?
You can always find a cheaper quote, but there's usually a reason for them being cheaper which may reflect in the quality/longevity of the finished work.
Difficult to give an opinion on a quote without seeing the job, but that price doesn't seem unrealistic to me. You will always be able to get a cheaper quote. Question is - how good a job do you want doing?
The biggest problem I have in giving similar quotes is that the customer (your goodself) doesn't really know what they want, or what's involved in the works. Customers have been known to be unhappy with the finished product, because it is what they've asked for. That's not always the same as what they want, or need.
There is still the "Groundforce Factor" to contend with. Public perception is that any landscape work in a garden can be completed in a couple of days by one or two guys and lots of cups of tea.