re-pricing ?

[pen]

Hi chaps, newby here so pls scuse all wrongdoings

Just started a project out of my usual area and so using a new tiler.

Showed him the work and obtained his price of £20 psqm.

I'm supplying the 400x400 polished porcelain floor tiles, adhesive and grout. The floors have been plyed (12mm) and screwed at 150 c. shower room has marmox shower base and floor and marmox walls.

Now that he has started he says he needs to rethink his price for the shower room - lots of cutting he says (?!) (w.c. and basin out, no fittings left on walls all new marmox)

Also he was pretty iffy about my wanting a 3mm grout gap, he wanted 5mm. I did tell him the grout gap when he came to quote. The tiles are first grade and seem square. He saw the tiles when he quoted.

My question, should I be firm about what I pay? is £20 psqm a fair price. There will be a total of 90 sq m in all, in two hits this being the first consisting of 2 rooms, hall and wet room.

thx muchly. pen

[Fekin]

Has he mentioned anything about the tiles probably needing sealing once laid though, as most polished porcelain will require this.

If the guy has come round, seen the job, given an estimate then he can't really up the price now he's thought about it.
Giving an estimate for work doing, then extra work arising due to unseen circumstances is different than not thinking about something when giving a price then remembering about it just before they start.

Also, I think £20 psqm if thats how he's decided to price it sounds quite good for you, maybe a little low for the tiler, but thats his problem now.

Personally I'd stick to the price mate , but check wether the tiles you have got require sealing first, as this may be something the tilers either forgotten about, or dosen't know.

Nearly all tiles can have a slight variation in size, just the way it is, and some tilers prefer to have a wider grout line to allow for differences in tile size to even them out, but if the tiles are too bad out of size to not be able to hold a 3mm line then they need to go back.
So really, 3mm should be fine.

[Alan.P]

I'm with Fekin I would like to up my prices once I've quoted cheap to get a job lol. Not a bad way of doing it

[pen]

thanks for that. I have bought the sealer, read about that on here and foned the tile supplier who confirmed the new way of thinking I also read on here about primer and have bal primed the ply so hopefully onwards and upwards. The skirtings are all removed and the site free from any hold ups and there is a vast clear area for cutting so it should be straightforward (famous last words ?) pen

[wayne]

if there is a fair bit to go at like you say then £20 sqm labour only is a decent rate depending on area in country you are. stick to your guns mate. if he doesnt like it get someone on here to have a look

[davy_G]

Id do it for £20 a m2.
Stick to you guns, Cuts are part and parcil of the job, If he sets it out well, should be OK.

[Dave]

Please try not to discuss prices in the public forums....

[bighen]

Hi Pen & to the forum

Stick to your guns like the other guys say.

If he's iffy about price despite having seen the job, tiles and discussed site issues etc - then he sounds inexperienced to me. He should have given you a fixed price quotation rather than an area rate then all would be happy.

If you do stick to your guns over price though - make sure he doesn't cut corners

[grumpygrouter]

I am not going to comment on the price as that is between you and your tiler, but on a timber floor, and in a potentially warm moist area I would be inclined to go for a larger grout joint personally.

[pen]

sorry didn't realise prices in public forum were a no no I'll hurry up and post enough to move 'up' . Feel free to remove nos. if you wish (I've had my useful answers now and feel stronger and fairer)

The wet room has been marmoxed GG, fully, walls and floor with a pre formed shower tray and marmox boards so I'm hopeful that 3mm is ok. It all got a good start today and looking good so far and he was in cheerful form and hasn't tried to discuss any extra yet (it came via my chippy). I'm feeling a bit more secure now he has made a start.

thx pen

[andy-p]

your tiler has to stick to his quote and 5mm is too big a grout gap imo , i certainly wouldnt have it ..

[CJ CERAMICS]

The price quoted is the price quoted. And as Davy G says cuts are just part of the job.
i wish that all my customers would supply the adhesives and grouts primers and sealents and prepare the rooms for me. Stick to your guns on this one the agreed price is a good one for labour only.

[James Spelrem]

when ever I have quoted a job other than unforseen an allowance of 15% correction is always implemented in the quote. I have always stood by my price even when I have bit the bullet. the contractors I have worked for know this and respect that.There is a shop in Reddeer Alberta that is my compettor lately because of things getting slow they have nocked the price out of the quotes and then turned around and said they forgot this and that in the end the job cost the same if not more than my original bid.I am not a sales man And I hate underhanded crap I guess integriety does not get you rich

[davy_G]

when ever I have quoted a job other than unforseen an allowance of 15% correction is always implemented in the quote. I have always stood by my price even when I have bit the bullet. the contractors I have worked for know this and respect that.There is a shop in Reddeer Alberta that is my compettor lately because of things getting slow they have nocked the price out of the quotes and then turned around and said they forgot this and that in the end the job cost the same if not more than my original bid.I am not a sales man And I hate underhanded crap I guess integriety does not get you rich

James, good point but unfortunately we all have to be salesmen of sorts. Even by promising to keep to quotes, explaining what adhesives you will use etc that is all sales and should in time keep you ahead of the competition.
Keep your integrety and reputation, these can not be bought or sold!

[James Spelrem]

Thank you davy G your right there is always sales involved I just hate underhanded tactics. I know it will never change just a petpeve in time these guys will get caught to bad its later than sooner

[davy_G]

Iye James, you will get the repeat custom and the recommendations, but that all takes time, a lifetime.
There are always going to be the people who go for the lowest quote and do not have a clue what the job entails thus they can not spot a poor job when they see it. They will never get the tiler back to do more work though but by then its too late as the job is half done and the cheque cashed!

[Hammer-Ray]

if there is a fair bit to go at like you say then £20 sqm labour only is a decent rate depending on area in country you are. stick to your guns mate. if he doesnt like it get someone on here to have a look

I agree, a deal is a deal, stick to your guns.

[SOTON STEVE]

sounds like your tilers trying to move the goal posts. I think he's relized after quoting that the tile need sealing. My advice is stick to the price he quoted first. it's an excellent price for you. he may back out though, which is no big shame, there are plenty of tilers out there wanting work at moment.

[LM Ceramics]

the price quoted is not a bad rate considering the meterage of the job as for 3mm id be inclined to go for 4mm just my preference