Pointing brick slips prices

[Perry]

been asked again to reduced my costs for fixing these brick slips we have been fixing for a while already reduced it by 25% :yikes: what would you guys think would be a fair price for for tiling and then for pointing inc materials to include travel hotels ect most of the areas are columns arches as most big areas are done with plaster brick not real bricks about 250 mts at the time just to add 70 just to add 70% is on scaffold which we have to erect and build around trays ect

 

[kilty55]

urgh,not nice being in that situation pete,i cant help you on that one as its something i have never done brick slips

how low do we have to go to get work now? i do sympathise with you on this pete as its getting beyond a joke

 

[Time's Ran Out]

With lodgings I'd possibly be thinking of £50/metre.

 

[Perry]

yes John that's what i thought like Antwerp Glasgow ect it takes twice as long to point as tiling it

 

[Yorkshire Tiling Services]

At least £50 per metre.. awful to fix and awful to point up.

 

[Alan.P]

I've been thinking about this Pete, I wouldn't drop any lower, they have who they want and are getting the job done as per price, when they want the job done right, to a high standard then they can call, you, at your prices, with all the X's taken into consideration, and the amount of messing about we get on site, just my 2 penneth worth.

 

[advancetiling]

Done a few in brickslips now,some pointed some grouted.Horrible time consuming job.Someone suggested sealing the brickslips prior to grouting.Def bear that in mind for next time

 

[Spud]

not something I have done too much of Pete,how are you findinding it yourself ? would it be worth your while just doing it for wages ? if not stick to your price they wont find anyone better in my opinion

 

[Perry]

Gary they complain about the joint size the bricks are 60mm to 90 mm in size the want me to keep the joint size all the same but also level but the new guys that are cheaper and throwing them up are great it makes you wonder why just seen one of there jobs its poor:mad2:

 

[Perry]

Done a few in brickslips now,some pointed some grouted.Horrible time consuming job.Someone suggested sealing the brickslips prior to grouting.Def bear that in mind for next time

no mate need to point them not grout in large areas unless on the floor

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Pete - A few years ago we did 'Victoria Parade' or something similar in the Museum of London - not sure what the building was eventually a replica of. It was London Yellow Brick cut down to slips and tiled onto a plywood shell. We used Ardurit fast set white with yellow sand added and left it with a worn recessed joint.
When we had 2hours work left to finish the whole site was cleared and tidied up for an Open evening and they got us back 2 weeks later for 2hours on a Sunday to complete. It was at that stage I realised they had money to throw away. Also it would have been cheaper to have used full bricks and build the unit. Only problem we had was access to the job and every time you stopped for a cup of coffee, someone nicked the lights!

 

[Aston]

as i have learned, once you lower your prices, its hard to get them back up.
be firm, stick to you guns pete. if your doing a quality job then £50 per meter is a fair price considering the type of areas your doing and the accomadation/ plant hire etc. if you dropped to £10 per meter, there'd always be somebody out there who'd do it for £8 etc etc

 

[kilty55]

agree with ed,lower and you will find it hard to get those prices back up

 

[Perry]

lost the work now they are doing it for £40 mtr inc mats digs ect could still make money on that price but would need the work all the year round you have to have all your eggs in one basket and it only last 6 months a year might have to do domestics :yikes:

 

[Aston]

sorry to hear you lost that contract pete. they think they are being savvy by saving a tenner a meter but all as they end up doing is losing a decent contractor who produces the goods. its there loss mate, as one door shuts, another one opens and all that stuff ;0)

 

[Perry]

yes been working for them for 20 odd years :incazzato:

 

[Rich]

Well that sucks, sorry to here that. Most of my work is for small builders and my own privates (so it is not the same) and I have a policy that I do not lower my prices. I get asked often enough but I put in a price that reflects my work and that is the price that I am willing to carry out the work for, You will ALWAYS be able to find a cheaper tiler. A few of the builders that I work for have used cheaper tilers and I have been put out about it, then the phone rings "would you come and sort this bathroom out, they have made a right mess of it". It sounds to me that if you put in a price for £10 per M they would still try to knock you down. I lost a job a while back because the plasterer offered to tile the kitchen walls and floor for £60... I know its not much help as you have been working for them for so long but the chances are this new guy will soon step out of line and you will be back in.

 

[Perry]

the thing is they couldn't do it until i was asked and watched to see how i did it and were told how i did it :mad2:

 

[kilty55]

the thing is they couldn't do it until i was asked and watched to see how i did it and were told how i did it :mad2:

bet they dont last a week pete

 

[Perry]

thats life Jamie dont fancy working again lol

 

[tfs]

Sorry to hear you lost the contract mate, especialy after such a long term working relationship. Things are real cut throat right now.

I have been having a nightmare recently too mate with both dommestic and commercial customers. Everyone seems to need things done straight away, at rock bottom prices and they seem to be taking longer and longer to pay! I have plenty of work to do but, when it comes to payments I have had enough of waiting. Im putting cash out constantly and waiting too long to get it back in.

I was struggling to motivate myself. I have have dropped two commercial clients and decided to take on a short term assignment on a shop fitting contract with an agency just to get a break from it all.

The work I am doing just now is long and hard (0700-1930 with 45 minutes travel too and from work) the work is hard on the body but, its easier on the mind. I get home at night and my arms, back and legs ect are killing me but my head is not full of the stress I have had over the last few months.

Will be back at it in the next few weeks though! and hopefully the new year will be more enjoyable lol

 

[Perry]

Sorry to hear you lost the contract mate, especialy after such a long term working relationship. Things are real cut throat right now.

I have been having a nightmare recently too mate with both dommestic and commercial customers. Everyone seems to need things done straight away, at rock bottom prices and they seem to be taking longer and longer to pay! I have plenty of work to do but, when it comes to payments I have had enough of waiting. Im putting cash out constantly and waiting too long to get it back in.

I was struggling to motivate myself. I have have dropped two commercial clients and decided to take on a short term assignment on a shop fitting contract with an agency just to get a break from it all.

The work I am doing just now is long and hard (0700-1930 with 45 minutes travel too and from work) the work is hard on the body but, its easier on the mind. I get home at night and my arms, back and legs ect are killing me but my head is not full of the stress I have had over the last few months.


Will be back at it in the next few weeks though! and hopefully the new year will be more enjoyable lol

Well good luck hope things get better for you i will help one of the local guys in the next few weeks free of charge a mate of mine will decide what to do after Chrismas

 

[White Room]

That bad news Pete and hope things fall into place next year..

 

[Perry]

That bad news Pete and hope things fall into place next year..

what happens happens Mark lol