Mates rates

[Gazzer]

One of my mates who is the IT game has had me do some tiling for him in the past on a number of jobs. Everytime he always want diamond set and borders. It is never simple with him. Well he has just moved house again and wants some work done. 1st job is a small bathroom floor. Its only about 3m2 but he wants travertine with a glass mosaic border. The travertine is 12mm and the mosaic is 7.5mm. The floor is a chipboard floor so I have said it needs backerboard as its solid. I also need to back up the difference in heioght between the 2 types of tile. Now I can either fill the difference where the mosaic will be going with adhesive and use the notched out piece of wood method or make the height with backerboard....anyway , either way its extra work. All he sees is its about 3m2 and should take me no time at all. Further more he wants me to cut around pan and pedestal and doesnt want them removed....so that would be more work.
I have explained all the issues and stated that all in it would take the best part of 2 days but that would include removing pan and pedestal ( unless there were other issues)
Now do you think I am being unreasonable ? I know its only a small job but I think to do it right then it will be over the one day he is expecting. Of course I am asking 2 days money and his point is that I tiled a kitchen floor for him last year and that it was 12m2 and I got it all done in one day...but it was fairly easy.
Anyway here is a sketch of what he wants, bare in mind that there is a pan and ped in there too and notice the whole bathroom is at an angle !!!!

 

[Mike]

i'd want the pan and pedestal out first and give him a price for the job, if he's not happy let him find somebody else. you'll be cutting your own throat by doing it too cheap, it's your livelihood. i have to charge my mates normal rate, unless it's a little job which i can do in the evening

 

[Gazzer]

Oh I have already told him to get more quotes. I am quite happy that anyone will need more than a day.
Taking pan etc out could take an hour depending on how they are fixed.
Then the backer boards need fixing. Thats all before a tile is laid.
Its coloured grout too and even with rapid set adhesives I like an overnight drying before grouting.

 

[Martyn Leeds]

All he sees is its about 3m2 and should take me no time at all.

Its doing my head'in recently from potential customers telling me how small the job is, how easy it is, its only a few cuts, shouldn't take you long etc...

I think usually its just a ploy to for them to get the upper hand in telling you what timescales/price they're expecting.. even though it it was that easy, they'd be doing it themselves.

but back to your mate! i'd allow 2 days & def remove the loo & sink, looks a lot nicer, easier cuts etc. I never enjoy cutting round toilets myself

 

[Max@ableskills]

Some people have not got a clue. There is a lot of work involved with this job. Two days is fair. Just because it's a small area does not make the job easy.

 

[Stewart]

I always charge full price for friends and family and I never give discount....... They are treated like any other customer and are more than welcome to get other quotes to see what's involved in the job.

 

[Ian]

I'm a bit like that now Stewart. I have mates who are brickies, plumbers, roofers, plasterers etc, and have done work for them in the past in exchange for them doing work on my home and surprise surprise, they're too busy to return the favour when its their turn. Very frustrating.

 

[doug boardley]

same here Brian. I just ask them now, "Would you go off to work and give me a chunk of your wages?? No?, well that's what you're asking me to do!"

 

[Gazzer]

I'm a bit like that now Stewart. I have mates who are brickies, plumbers, roofers, plasterers etc, and have done work for them in the past in exchange for them doing work on my home and surprise surprise, they're too busy to return the favour when its their turn. Very frustrating.

Hmmm so its not just me that has happened too then. This guy is the same but then I dont have much need for an IT guy.

 

[Ian]

Can cause a bit of tension! Its a situation I try and avoid at all costs if I can!