Cost of adhesive etc

[paulhodson]

I am about to have a bathroom partially refitted. The floor is to be tiled and I have been quoted £200 for the adhesive, grout and a door trim plus £150 for Ditra matting. Fitting charge is iadditional to this but ncluded in the overall quote which I am happy with.

However the above sounds a lot to me!

Total floor area is about 5 square meters plus the side of the bath and I have been asked to provide 7.5 square metres of tiles including wastage. Cost of the matting is based on 7.5 sq metres at £20 per meter (which assumes the same waste as the tiles which is unlikely)

Does the figure of £350 seem reasonable to the experts?

Many thanks

[Dave]

Its a fortune mate..............Ditra about £50 tops....Adhesive £ 40 tops and £7 for grout( flexi)..door trim about £5........get another quote if i was you....

[paulhodson]

Another late bird huh?

Thay was what I thought. I said I was unhappy with the cost when talking to the suppliers and they seemed a little disconcerted but said it was a budget figure and could be detailed on the invoice when they knew what had been used.

Slightly complicated as they have quoted me for the bathroom equipment and got a fitting firm which does all their installations to quote for the work - but the installation materials are on their quote not on that of the installer.

Could somone point me to a sensible (retail rather than trade) site wich would give me prices I can compare with theirs and indeed list what sort of adhesives are likely to be used?

I don't want to cancel the whole job but do not intend to let them rip me off. It is always difficult to know what is reasonable for them to add on to the costs they pay as a profit margin.

Many thanks

[sibs]

I quoted for bal products from topps to fix porcelain tiles which were light in colour so I wanted to use white adhesive. Topps quoted me BAL Natural stone 20k trade £40.99 white SPF £37.00 white PTB rapid set £40.99. At these prices I can understand why the materials bill came to that. I probably didn't get the job because I quoted a price so that I could use BAL products which is my preferred choice. I will think twice in future though because it is too cost prohibitive a lot of the time. I don't think customers realise how much these things cost and why it is important to use a quality adhesive Does anyone else think these prices are outrageous?. If anyone can tell me where I can get BAL cheaper in the Telford area I would be grateful as I am thinking of switching to Granfix as I can it get far cheaper than BAL.

[Dave]

when i said tops in my reply .. i didnt mean topps stores..lol lol...just that is the top price to pay for it...... ..

I would have recommended CTD sibs but your nearest is about 20 odd miles away in birmingham.......so can't say who to use as i don't know who is your area..

[sibs]

Hi Dave
I know you weren't talking about topps tiles I just brought it up as an illustration of how expensive adhesives can be and topps is the only shop that sells BAL (I'm 90% sure) in my area. I've looked a CTD but as you say its too far away. My local independent tile shop sells Granfix whic is vastly cheaper. People just don't generally want to pay that sort of money unless they are having specialist installations in which case the cost of the adhesive is probably not the no.1 priority for them. But if I need a white flexible adhesive I am looking at those sorts of prices if I want BAL. I'd rather use BAL products but if charging for their materials is loosing me jobs then I'm gonna start using cheaper products and leave the good stuff for when I work with stone etc

[Dave]

I have used the granfix flexible foor adhesive and it was ok to use and i used to years ago use the tub gear..and it was ok.....but like you say, i too have got so used to using bal now... to use another brand is not easy unless i know it is good for the job in hand.....Why not try and see if you can get mapei stuff its supposed to be good to use or even ardex adhesives are good as well......let us know how things go sibs..would be nice to know your thoughts on using ..how should i say it...NOT YOUR NORM GEAR>>>lol lol lol.....
----
P.S..have just checked on the bal suppliers list for your area and there is another supplier other than topps....here is there details......

Craven Dunnill & Co LtdStourbridge Road
Bridgnorth
Shropshire
WV15 6ASTel: 01746 761611
Fax: 01746 767007

[sibs]

I will I think the nearest place I can get ardex is shrewsbury and mapei I think market drayton so both a bit of a trek away but will do some research to see if there is anywhere nearer or perhaps dunlop as it is made in the same place as bal so should be ok. Have heard not very good reports about palaice which my local tile maze stocks. Is ardex and mapei cheaper than bal?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by sibs

Is ardex and mapei cheaper than bal?

That i,m not sure on sibs.. i would have thought so...but check with all local suppliers etc to see who can give you the best price....also try using what ever brands there is about near to you and see which you like best...just coz its cheaper doesn't say you will like using it.......................

[sibs]

Originally Posted by Dave

That i,m not sure on sibs.. i would have thought so...but check with all local suppliers etc to see who can give you the best price....also try using what ever brands there is about near to you and see which you like best...just coz its cheaper doesn't say you will like using it.......................

Yeh thats what I worry about Dave but I will deff give Granfix a go. I will get some prices on the other products too. Thanks Dave

[Dave]

no probs............