Electrician quote for materials

[Hayley Evans]

Hello there, this is my first post, I am not an electrician but I wondered if anyone could help me out with a quote I have been given.

The electrician was recommended by our builder and I just wondered if his quote was accurate. I've looked myself at the same materials and they are half the price - but other than the downlighter they are the same brands etc as he said he would be installing (so not cheap stuff that's going to break).

I've priced it at 50% less than the electricians quote for materials. The one thing I can't price up is the cabling and I imagine there is way more cable used that I would have initially thought.

Before I ask the electrician about the price and potentially ---- him off, I just wondered if it was possible that the wire could come to £400? It's a standard 3 bed semi, on the 1st floor the lighting ring and sockets need rewiring and a new (large, 9m x 5m) loft needs to be wired.

Thanks

 

[Squid]

So tell us what sort of property is this as it seems to be a BTL or HOMO as in a domestic you don't need that amount of smokes or fire doors, tell us the full story.

 

[MG201]

Let him get it then it’s up to him to replace should there be any issues , and yes cable and accessories could easily be 400

 

[Hayley Evans]

So tell us what sort of property is this as it seems to be a BTL or HOMO as in a domestic you don't need that amount of smokes or fire doors, tell us the full story.

It's just my house, a 3 bed semi, soon to be 4 bed as we have a loft conversion being done. We don't want to replace the original 1930s doors with fire doors. Building regs say as the doors fit in their frames we can keep them, but we need an alarm in every room and on every landing.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

I think I've been misunderstood. The electrician says I can supply my own materials, he gave me a list of brands he recommends but not a complete list of materials. I looked up the big branded things he mentioned and it's £400 cheaper than he says.

Just supply them then Hayley, as he's invited you to. Sounds a decent chap, so don't try to push it and squeeze a few more ££ on all the fiddly stuff that will become a PITA for you!

 

[Hayley Evans]

Let him get it then it’s up to him to replace should there be any issues , and yes cable and accessories could easily be 400

Fab thanks and just to clarify by accessories you mean like clips and other electricians stuff (that I have no idea about), not switches, sockets, smoke alarms or light fittings?

 

[Toneyz]

From Screwfix 2.5 £51, 1.0 £32 1.0 3core+E £73 it soon adds up, and that's for one drum (100mtrs).

 

[Squid]

It's just my house, a 3 bed semi, soon to be 4 bed as we have a loft conversion being done. We don't want to replace the original 1930s doors with fire doors. Building regs say as the doors fit in their frames we can keep them, but we need an alarm in every room and on every landing.

Thats a bit drastic with the planners but then again you are adding a loft convo, thought you would just need a fire door/fire curtain for the loft. You should query what they have said/recommended, do you have an architect?

 

[Toneyz]

I know from when I used to do new houses that were 3 stories they had to have fire doors for the doors onto the stairs/exit route. I suppose having S/D in each room you get an earlier warning as the existing doors would not hold the fire back so long.

 

[Hayley Evans]

Thats a bit drastic with the planners but then again you are adding a loft convo, thought you would just need a fire door/fire curtain for the loft. You should query what they have said/recommended, do you have an architect?

Yup we have an architect. It works better for us too because we don't close the doors at night as we have a cat (catalpa in kitchen) and small kids (who like the door open).

 

[Spoon]

The electrician said I can get the materials myself that's why I'm asking, I don't know if it's worth the potential stress, if the smaller things make up the £400 difference.

@MG201 the materials are £840 from the electrician, £400 if I get them (and they are chrome, not white as the electrician quoted). He said I could get my own materials so I was asking if the cable and stuff like that I don't know about as a consumer, might come to £400 or there about; in which case it's easier to let him get everything to save any hassle.

Can you post the list up, so we have more of a clue what parts you are going on about.
Why did you not ask for a full list if you want to supply everything?
What parts are missing?
Please be aware that for the parts you supply, you will be responsible for them. If anything goes wrong with them, then it's down to you to supply new parts and pay for the electrician to fit them.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

If I've read this right, we're comparing apples with oranges. The sparky wants £840 for all materials, but you've priced up the headline items at £400 while substituting chrome faceplates for plastic. Out of the £440 difference come all the other materials including cable, and whatever saving you're hoping to make in addition to the upgrade from plastic to chrome, that would otherwise be mark-up for the sparky less his handling cost and the value of guaranteeing the finished job as a whole.

With respect, this is one of the many reasons I wouldn't touch domestic work. If I were the sparky, I'd just add the lost mark-up onto the labour, although I wouldn't offer the customer the option in the first place. A professional electrician has many legitimate overheads that are covered by a percentage on both parts and labour. Parts being the smaller fraction in this case, it seems like he's offered you the chance to shop around. Do it if you want, but even if you make a saving, don't assume he was just profiteering. That assumption gets things off to a bad start.

 

[MG201]

The electrician said I can get the materials myself that's why I'm asking, I don't know if it's worth the potential stress, if the smaller things make up the £400 difference.

@MG201 the materials are £840 from the electrician, £400 if I get them (and they are chrome, not white as the electrician quoted). He said I could get my own materials so I was asking if the cable and stuff like that I don't know about as a consumer, might come to £400 or there about; in which case it's easier to let him get everything to save any hassle.

Also I don't play the lottery, what procedures would be in place? Should the electrician come back with no costs if something goes wrong in the future?

@SWD the smokes are instead of fire doors. I'm assuming any warranty wouldn't include labour fees?

If u get materials it’s up to u to chase up any faulty items not the electrician, worth paying that wee bit extra to get piece of mind ,

 

[mattg4321]

Every time I've had a customer supplying materials it's always wrong, missing, poor quality, turns up at the end of the day I need it etc etc

If someone wants to supply materials my labour cost goes up by 50% now.

Generally though and in all honesty I try and avoid those customers now as it doesn't really work for me personally.

 

[westward10]

I have had to temporarily closed this thread to delete multiple posts which were of no relevance or help to the OP. If you have nothing constructive to post can you walk away and leave alone.
Thread reopened.

 

[Deuce]

10-15% Above retail for materials is pretty typical for most trades in my experience, and fair enough. Of course many trades people also have discounts setup with suppliers, but that's their business

As others have said, sound a bit steep, and if the £400 really is just for cabling it sounds a bit insane - but that could very well also include various minor components and it could be more realistic than it sounds...

As always, I would get another quote. I know it seems like a hassle when you have a ready to go solution... But the fact is that many people know the value of offering a quick solution and will bump up their margins in the hope you simply don't check elsewhere.