Dodgy tricks...

[charlie1]

Thought I'd start this interesting thread to discuss the dodgy tricks that have been sprung on you by unscrupulous contractors / builders (more specifically in my case bathroom company). These tricks have one aim... To reduce what money you are owed.

Here re what I have found, I negotiate a meter age rate for tiling but when it comes payment time, for example, the meter age has been calculated minus door / window / and anything else they think they can get away with. To reduce it beyond being worth while.

in comparison, decent companies give you the rate for the full room.

what dirty tricks can you think of?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Charlie - I've yet to tile a doorway and apart for the reveals nor the window! It's the norm to exclude these areas in any measurements so IMHO - no dirty tricks!

 

[John Benton]

How can they take the window out Charlie, the reveal generally covers the window plus you have the cuts to do into a window, they are basing it on flat walls.

What about drilling into porcelain? I have just done a bathroom and there were 43 holes to drill in tough porcelain, even if you average 5-6 minutes per hole that's at least 3 hours just drilling plus the cost of bits, who pays for all that.

I only do my own work and don't subby, everything is under my control then and quoted accordingly and paid for in full.

 

[charlie1]

Well I must admit, most companies I work for include the whole room as part of the measurement and pass that on to you as you know they have charged the customer anyway. So you would expect the window area to be removed even though the reveals more than cover the area? Also john, how would you charge a customer , the m2 or the m2 of tiles required (inc waste)

 

[charlie1]

How can they take the window out Charlie, the reveal generally covers the window plus you have the cuts to do into a window, they are basing it on flat walls.

What about drilling into porcelain? I have just done a bathroom and there were 43 holes to drill in tough porcelain, even if you average 5-6 minutes per hole that's at least 3 hours just drilling plus the cost of bits, who pays for all that.

I only do my own work and don't subby, everything is under my control then and quoted accordingly and paid for in full.

Yes, john, when you add up all those holes as you mention, you wonder if it's worth your while.

suppose the specific question I'm asking is... When you do work for a bathroom company, how do you expect your meter age to be calculated? ,minus doors and windows, just area tiled ( not in waste).

The he gym I'm working for knows every trick in the book, orders way more tiles than required, charges customers then takes them back for money.... Not a very trustworthy guy so I need to watch him at every turn.... Stinks

 

[John Benton]

I always charge for the meterage of tiles including waste as the tiles need to be cut to create the waste, that = time = chargeable. I do take the half the door out of the equation To allow for cuts, but ALWAYS leave the window(s) in.

The bathroom I did with 43 holes was on a day rate for the job but I would be happy to charge £5 per hole, and I've never had any one say, 'Oh I'll drill the holes'.

On more than one occasion I've let the customer have a go at drilling with masonry bits (cos they drill concrete and brick so they'll drill tiles, won't they?) And they see what it takes to drill them successfully and the cost of the diamond core bits.

 

[charlie1]

I always charge for the meterage of tiles including waste as the tiles need to be cut to create the waste, that = time = chargeable. I do take the half the door out of the equation To allow for cuts, but ALWAYS leave the window(s) in.

I think that's fair and reasonable. I don't charge for waste but I add a small charge for tiling window reveal (usually 2 hours). Also, any mosaic Work that needs to have prep done, again I charge an extra hour or 2 prep for that.

 

[AMtek]

Day rate for me, they tell me roughly what is involved, I give them a rough timescale but I get paid for the number of days the job takes. Negotiations take place if the job turns out to be a pig! haha

 

[Andy Allen]

I allways measure a room and add on 10% wastage....so a 20m2 room, would be charge at 22m2, when measuring I don't take out the window unless its a very big window but I don't include the door..

 

[Stef]

Company I work for used to try & pay me for the meterage of tiles fixed, dead meterage,
That was until I told them that it takes me longer to fix a cut tile than a full tile.
I measure full room add 10% & that's what I'm paid for.

 

[Brian the Tile]

if the room measures 20 mts you get paid for 20mts i dont get what the fuss is about ,are you expecting to get paid for doing something that isnt there?. As for charching for an extra 10% you woulndnt get through my front door

 

[Andy Allen]

brain......if a room measures dead on 20m2 and you get 20m2 of tiles then you wont have enough tiles ......imo you should get paid for what your fixing and handling ...22m2

 

[Brian the Tile]

sorry ,cant agree with you there ,if a job is 20mts it can not be 22,if you was doing the job on a day rate and did 8 hours would you charge for 10?,now you willsay ah thats different

 

[Andy Allen]

It all comes down to weather or not you should charge for the exact m2 or for the amount of tiles needed to complete the job. Imo you will need to handle and cut 22m2 to complete a 20m2 job so should charge for that amount

 

[Stef]

As soon as you lift a tile to cut it then its taking you longer to fix that tile so you charge for it.
I'm the same as you Andy,
Measure room at 20m2 + 10% wastage = 22m2, that's what gets invoiced...
Seemples.