Costing help please

[Paul Cockhill]

Hi

I have just successfully completed my Unvented Hot Water Storage System exams and have the relevant qualification and card from BPEC

A friend has asked me to install a Megaflow DD210 system into his house, which is great and a first major job for me. The system needs to be installed in the loft, most of the pipe work is already there. The Megaflow system is a "package" with all the various parts. I will need install a bit of pipework and install and commission the job. However I have no idea what to charge. It is obviously going to take alot longer to do than an experienced plumber. I have agreed that I will not charge by the day or the hour as I am going to make sure I take my time.

I have tried calling a few plumbers in the area but they say they need to come and look at the job before quoting, and are not keen to give a ball park figure. It also seems unfair to get somebody out for a quote when they will not get the work.

I have been in contact with my tutor from my course and he will be on hand to help with any technical issues. He has suggested I charge £600, that is what he would have charged. I am not going to charge that much as I am doing this for a good friend and this will be excellant experience for me.

The job is in Bath, Somerset any help, advice and ball park costing would be very helpful

thanks

Paul

 

[WHPES]

Difficult to work out without seeing it - depends on how much fiddling around there is. Is there any joinery to do for the tank base? How much making good at the end?

For jobs like that, especially for a friend, get them to agree that they are to pay for the materials as used and pitch at how many days you think it will take. You could give them an estimated range and say that the labour will not exceed a given amount.

As it's your first it will be slower and you can't expect them to pay you more because of it. Therefore it's only your time and not materials, so your risk is less.

 

[justlead1]

Hi. Think it through, do the job in your head, before starting (as with any plumbing job) Break it down into sections. Eg. Discharge pipe, hot water feed, mains connection, balanced or not balanced, supports, electric supply to immersion heater, flow and return from boiler, temp controls, high limit stat. etc. You can put time and materials against each. Add up, the result being hours and material, show your pal and agree a price. ( £600 sounds a bit strong but i have not seen the job. Good Luck

 

[Blackcatgas]

As a side note be careful that the cieling joists are strong enough to hiold the cylider, a 200 litre cylinder weighs 240 ish kg when full, you might need to make a stand with some large say 4x2 lenghts of wood to spread the load over the joists, sorry if iam telling you how to suck eggs but i got the impresssion youve just started and Iam only trying to help.

 

[BLOD]

Fitted an indirect one just before Christmas in a flat on 3rd floor (could have sworn there was a lift when I went to quote for the work! )

Charged £500 for labour, but had to re-run flow/return from boiler and fit valves pump etc.
If it had been a direct one would probably have quoted around £350 labour

Hope this helps, and good luck with the install !

blod