25,000 euro for plumbing new build?

S

Spicey

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I have just been informed that the total plumbing costs for a new build of 3,800 sq. feet comes to a whooping 25,000 euro! I have no idea whether this is normal or not! Is there an easy way I can quantify the amount of work and what it should cost? There is no underfloor heating, geothermal or solar panels included! We have central heating throughout with a boiler and water cylinder. We have the kitchen & utility and then 4 toilets, 4 sinks, 3 showers and 1 bath! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Spicey
 
Sounds pricey, but I dont know much about plumbing to be honest. I would definitely get another quote. Where are you located? I have come across a few plumbers in the last few years, we recently had a plumbing job done and he was the first plumber that I have used that I would have confidence in - he was reliable, quick, clean and if there was a problem he would sort it out. Admittedly I only had a small job done, but you kind of get a feeling with people.

Re cost, I'm not sure to be honest, I got him through a contractor who I paid for the whole job (elec and other bits and bobs). If you want his number PM me.
 
What does the price include?

  • Boiler, rads, thermostats, expansion tank
  • Gas / oil supply
  • Hot water cylinder, immersion
  • Attic tanks
  • Bathroom fittings
 
Oil boiler.
23 standard radiators ( plus 4 more towel rads fitted - purchased separately)
Thermostatic valves on standard rads
2 x Zones
Hot water cylinder in garage
No attic tanks
No bathroom fittings included
Cork area

Thanks!
 
Spicey said:
Oil boiler.
23 standard radiators ( plus 4 more towel rads fitted - purchased separately)
Thermostatic valves on standard rads
2 x Zones
Hot water cylinder in garage
No attic tanks
No bathroom fittings included
Cork area

Thanks!
Click to expand...

so you're paying for the labour, rads & the plumbing gear but not the actual bathroom suits?

thats an unbelievable price,
i'm getting 14 rads 2 towel rads, solar fitter, new boiler fitted, 2 systems, 3 bathrooms fitted, kitchen & utility rooms plumbed and paying just over 8k.
 
well i hate to be blunt, but its a bit late now to be questioning things ? i suppose you could try and beat the price down with him but of course it could all get a bit heated ! and i assume when you invited this plumber into your house then you were at that stage happy with him and the price ?
 
What was the original quote?

(sounds like a massive house BTW!)


[post crossed with above]
 
Well now don't all laugh at once but we never got a quote!

He had done some work for my husband and said he would "look after us" on the house! Well he looked after us alright. The first invoice for 1st fix was just less than 10,000. When this was questioned he said that 1st fix was always the dearest ie. laying pipes etc. Then the second invoice arrived for the 2nd fix and was for over 10,000 - again this was questioned. I asked if that was the total and was told that there would be another invoice for his so called "3rd fix" which would be about 1,200 - 1,500 euro. This bill has turned out to be 6,500 euro!
The other issue we have is that after paying all this money we will be left with an unsatisfactory job!
For example
1. One radiator does not get hot if the 2 zones are on ie. it only gets hot if one zone is on. He claimed that we should only be turning on one zone at a time!!
2. We have a toilet that is not filling or flushing properly.
3. Two of the three shower trays overflow. One cannot be used at all it is so bad. The trays and doors are being blamed.
4. The hot water takes forever to reach the end of the line.
etc. etc. etc.
 
Spicey said:
Well now don't all laugh at once but we never got a quote!

He had done some work for my husband and said he would "look after us" on the house! Well he looked after us alright. The first invoice for 1st fix was just less than 10,000. When this was questioned he said that 1st fix was always the dearest ie. laying pipes etc. Then the second invoice arrived for the 2nd fix and was for over 10,000 - again this was questioned. I asked if that was the total and was told that there would be another invoice for his so called "3rd fix" which would be about 1,200 - 1,500 euro. This bill has turned out to be 6,500 euro!
The other issue we have is that after paying all this money we will be left with an unsatisfactory job!
For example
1. One radiator does not get hot if the 2 zones are on ie. it only gets hot if one zone is on. He claimed that we should only be turning on one zone at a time!!
2. We have a toilet that is not filling or flushing properly.
3. Two of the three shower trays overflow. One cannot be used at all it is so bad. The trays and doors are being blamed.
4. The hot water takes forever to reach the end of the line.
etc. etc. etc.
Click to expand...

well hopefully you made savings elsewhere in your build,
 
How could you hire someone to do something without know what it was going to cost you?.....

there will be much advice here telling you not to pay him anything more.... but i feel if it went to a court case.. you wouldnt have a leg to stand on...

engage a 'proper' plumber to come in and snag the whole system....
get him to prepare a quotation to fix this jokers work....
tell the original plumber to get lost...
 
dont pay him any more, you need to have a proper sit down chat with this fella to discuss the way forward but defo "no more money to him".
 
sydthebeat said:
How could you hire someone to do something without know what it was going to cost you?.....

there will be much advice here telling you not to pay him anything more.... but i feel if it went to a court case.. you wouldnt have a leg to stand on...

engage a 'proper' plumber to come in and snag the whole system....
get him to prepare a quotation to fix this jokers work....
tell the original plumber to get lost...
Click to expand...


I agree with most of above, except the part about "leg to stand on".
You are being overcharged. Either hire a mechanical quantity surveyor or reputable plumbing firm to cost the job. This may or may not prove you are being grossly overcharged if it is brought to court.

Get a detailed breakdown of the bill first.
 
I am getting stressed reading this. Good advice re not paying this fellow another penny, and getting someone reputable to snag & cost it.

Put it down to a life lesson, I know it must be driving you mad, but we all make mistakes, concentrate on the positives like when this will all be a distant memory. But for now get it sorted so you can move on in a well plumbed, warm (in both zones), new house.
 
Hi Spicey,

I am on the 2nd fix plumbing stage of a Direct Labour build at the moment.

Oil boiler * 1
16 standard radiators plus 1 towel rads fitted
Thermostatic valves on standard rads
Zones * 2
Hot water cylinder in hotpress
3 attic tanks
2 power showers including the shower trays, shower doors and fittings
3 toilets, 3 bathroom sinks and 1 bath fitted
washing machine, dryer, 2 kitchen sinks and dishwasher fitted
Stove fitted
Ist and 2nd fix plumbing

€4500 labour and thats including VAT on a 1700 sf dormer

Offaly area
 
hi spicey

i got qouted 12,000
for oil boiler,400 ltr dual tank, under floor heating downstairs all the piping and manifold, 10 rads upstairs, 3 zones,thermstats,and 8 metres of underground insulted piping to the garage for the boiler and the labour all ware fitted etc.
but we supply the bathroom ware and showers
cork area
 
I wished I lived in Offaly!
Well almost!!:D

Thanks for all your replies! I really appreciate the advice & info from you all!

It sounds like we have been greatly overcharged so I think we'll have to battle this one out!

You know the saying about building three times before you get it right? I reckon it must be true! We've made so many expensive mistakes it's frightening! For example we spent 20,000 on polished porcelain tiles which show up every single footprint - a nightmare with toddlers - and now they are coming loose. It started with hollow sounds, then the grout started coming up and now they are lifting! I think it must be the plumber's fault!!

From day one a good friend of mine - a builder - advised me NOT to build by direct labour unless "you have a trade"- we've learnt the hard way - he was right! Be advised!

Spicey
 
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