I'm not far off that at this point tbh...You shouldn't tempt me so.... Oh soddit; you guys ever seen the promotional tv ad EDS used donkeys years ago of a cowboy herding cats? An image of @aockenden just popped into my head of a chap in chaps riding a sheep trying to corral an unruly bunch of plumbers, leccies and the like.
Sorry, couldn't help myself and yes I ca be a $%%hole!
- Thread starter aockenden
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Cubist
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When we moved in here I found the previous owners gun license for the typical shotgun and also, rather oddly, a Winchester 30/06. there was also a gravestone in the garden under a nearby yew tree. Could have been one of the clowns that worked on this place I guess. Not that I'm making any suggestions you understand.
Ok I got another quote, this time 2k including punching the hole in the wall.
Also, I pushed the cork issue with the first guy, citing Mike Wye’s technical documentation. He apparently then called HETAS technical support hotline and asked about it. Apparently they confirmed that because it is capable of combusting in a fire (despite being a fire retardant material) it would need tiling behind it. But he was willing to let me off for having to curve the tiling around the rounded window reveal corner thankfully and confirmed I wouldn’t need an air gap behind the tiled surface.
Also, I pushed the cork issue with the first guy, citing Mike Wye’s technical documentation. He apparently then called HETAS technical support hotline and asked about it. Apparently they confirmed that because it is capable of combusting in a fire (despite being a fire retardant material) it would need tiling behind it. But he was willing to let me off for having to curve the tiling around the rounded window reveal corner thankfully and confirmed I wouldn’t need an air gap behind the tiled surface.
fernicarry
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Whats the fire rating of the cork? How far beyond the stove does he want you to tile?
I'm going to be in the same situation soon. Savolit boards up to the fire surround with hemp insulation behind. I've been working to the regs that say a 6" margin from the edge of the appliance to combustible materials.
Cubist
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I really don't understand how these guys come up with these estimates/quotes. Stainless steel flue systems are simpler than a kiddies lego set to assemble and even use the same Push Fit approach. Seriously the hardest part of the job you have there is to optimise the layout of the standard components to achieve the layout needed/required and decide whether it would want a horizontal or 45 degree exit path through the wall. I know that some parts, like the inspection/sweeps portal are far from cheap but I would still guess the materials total cost to be £500-600 at worst.
Thinking about it I'm guessing that any of the readers here could build a model of the required pipe layout using say 40mm plastic waste pipe plus a few 90 and 45 degree push fit connectors in about 30 minutes. Anyone think I'm wrong?
Thinking about it I'm guessing that any of the readers here could build a model of the required pipe layout using say 40mm plastic waste pipe plus a few 90 and 45 degree push fit connectors in about 30 minutes. Anyone think I'm wrong?
People will charge what they think the market will bear, which isn’t always just “time + materials”
Even a sole trader has significant overheads these days, keeping a van in the road, insurance (which is bonkers these days due to all the tool theft), fuel, tool maintenance/replacement etc.
A friend of mine reckons when he is working for himself he is several £100 in the hole before he even starts the job in terms of time spent travelling, quoting, and all the pre-job faff, typically 30% of which ever result in work, so the other 70% of quoting is lost effort.
Then in terms of those daily working overheads he is down between £40-£80 a day. So while people see his £300 day rate and seem shocked, when it nets out across the year it’s half that (£18-£19 an hour) at best.
Even a sole trader has significant overheads these days, keeping a van in the road, insurance (which is bonkers these days due to all the tool theft), fuel, tool maintenance/replacement etc.
A friend of mine reckons when he is working for himself he is several £100 in the hole before he even starts the job in terms of time spent travelling, quoting, and all the pre-job faff, typically 30% of which ever result in work, so the other 70% of quoting is lost effort.
Then in terms of those daily working overheads he is down between £40-£80 a day. So while people see his £300 day rate and seem shocked, when it nets out across the year it’s half that (£18-£19 an hour) at best.
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Zebra
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It is true. When I was a self-employed electrician my income was only about half my day rate (£90 vs £180) once all the costs were factored in.