Big EN suite. Advice please !!!

[TREKKY]

I've been asked to quote for tiling an en suite, but having seen it and measured up it's giving me a head ache. There are 25 meters of tile and 2 borders to go on, the room has a shower, bath, toilet, bidet and a 3 metre long vanity unit with wall cupboards. It is built into the roof space so one wall is full height while the opposite one is 1 metre high where it meets the sloping ceiling at 45 degrees which has 2 velux roof lights. There is also a section of this wall at 2 meters high where a chimney runs through from the lounge below. Because of its strange layout there are 9 internal corners and 8 external ones to get around. What is worrying me is keeping a level all the way round (it's about 15 metres with all the ins and outs) and how to transfer a level to the opposite chimney breast wall.
Pricing it up is exercising me brain as well, £20 a metre plus materials is what I thought plus extra for tanking the shower but is that enough considering the complexity of the room.
How long would you expect this room to take
Any thoughts and advice you guys have would be most welcome.
Sorry for rambling on a bit.

 

[bathroomboy]

First get yourself a laser level I have a stanley cll 2 on a pole, put a big quote in don't try and do it on a meterage basis, it's awkward charge an awkward price. Good luck

 

[TREKKY]

Thanks Bathroom boy. I bought on of them laser levels the other day, it was only a cheap one, tried it out in my garage just not sure if I trust it, better have a play with it first.

 

[bathroomboy]

Just mark a datum line around the room, check it with a spirit level and work from that, the job you describe needs a lot of careful setting out, which you need to take time with and get it right because once you start putting tiles on the wall it,s difficult to put right later. Hope this helps.

 

[grumpygrouter]

Hi Trekky, seems quite a complex job you are pricing here. £20/m2 will only realise £500 which on the average day rate works out about 3 to 4 days. Can you complete the work in that timescale? If not, maybe day rate would be the best indicator for pricing.

grumpy

 

[TREKKY]

Bathroom boy, that's what I was thinking of doing, datum line at batten level or first tile all round the room first, if that's right it should all work out OK, time spent setting out should pay off.
Grumpygrouter I think you're right I'm prob'ly looking at 5 days at least here taking the time to make sure it's right

 

[grumpygrouter]

Absolutely trekky, couldn't agree more. good luck if you get it.

Grumpy

 

[tiler tom]

The problem when it comes to pricing can be influenced by your employment background. In other words if tiling is your full time profession then a difficult room to tile such as the one that is described would be quoted on a day rate. An experienced tiler would know by looking at a room how long it is likley to take considering the difficulties involved and charge accordingly. It would be unwise to go with a metreage rate as a square 25m empty bathroom is going to take considerably less time to tile than the one described.
If tiling is not your full time profession then there are two ways to view it either quote a low price in order to get the job and gain the experience or quote high and if you still get the job it is a worthwile bonus. Personally if I considered it was going to take 5 days I would be charging in the region of 600 plus materials but we all have different price structures.
All the best and Merry Xmas

 

[TREKKY]

That's about what I was thinking coming in at around 750 all in I would think. I'm fairly new to tiling so not the quickest but always do the best job I possibly can so don't want to let myself down on this one. I've done the kitchen in this house and was recommended after doing several jobs for another family member so I will most likely get the job, striking a balance between me working for next to nowt and ripping the customer off can be hard. This house also has a house bathroom 2 more en suites a dowstairs cloak room and another toilet to do when they've finished with renovations so here's hoping!!!

 

[White Room]

Hi Trekky, I knew a guy who tiled a standard bathroom £120 day (albeit he was a diy tiler and very fussy) it took him 8 days, So that's £960 believe me it could'nt take you that long. I been in the game for year's and still make the occasional error on pricing, so if you lose a bit don't worry it's all experience
Best of luck