Hmmm, seems high!

[D Skelton]

First time I've had to do this but quoting for a small job for an elderly couple up the road. I was called up there a few days ago when half of their front garden pathway/spike lights stopped working. Traced the fault to a cut length of flex that was buried in the ground (bad I know). The circuit was shot to bits with Wiskas all over the place filled with all kinds of muck, sludge and water. They asked me to sort it out and do a proper job hence my post.

I was toying with the idea of going down the flex and SELV route but with the lady and her 50 hours per week gardening habit and the fact that she has twice gone through cables hidden in bushes with spades/shears, I just feel that SWA is the better option by a long way.

The job:

Install five mains IP65 GU10 spike lights with high power LED GU10 lamps down front garden pathway (pathway about 12-13 meters long). Cable will be SWA (2 core x 1.5mm) and will be terminated in 5 x Wiska boxes mounted on short treated timber fence posts and secured into the ground on steel bolt post harnesses (75mm x 75mm fence posts). Wiska boxes will be filled with magic gel. SWA will not be buried. At supply side I will be replacing the current SFCU protecting the circuit with an RCD SFCU. A Steinel 'eco night' photo cell will be installed to control the lights.

A seemingly small and simple job but the price I'm coming out at 'all in' seems rather high for what it is. I'm not usually into pricing small jobs like this and haven't done so for a few years, maybe I'm out of practice.

What would you guys be looking at charging roughly (including all materials, markup, labour etc) not including any VAT? I'm not looking for a price breakdown or a debate/squabble on regional labour rates, just a rough price 'all in' if possible

My location is Brighton (London by the sea).

Feel free to PM me prices if you don't want to disclose on an open forum

 

[D Skelton]

you could by comparing it to the nearest sized trunking equivolent , a few csa sums later and away you go.

i can assure you its massive
;-)

I'm sure it is, but I cannot verify it. Are you saying that for the sake of 5 mins work you wouldn't fly lead a galv T box?

The words 'yeeeeeee' and 'haaaaa' spring to mind ;-)

 

[D Skelton]

Aaaaaaaaanyway,

We digress slightly. Am I right in thinking that many of you don't seem to think that £700 is too much?

 

[Guitarist]

Aaaaaaaaanyway,

We digress slightly. Am I right in thinking that many of you don't seem to think that £700 is too much?

No, £700 is way too much for a few lights, but it IS what it costs.

 

[telectrix]

£1000 is way too much for a fender strat. but it's what it costs. :74:

 

[hbrad92]

days labour (8 hours) @ £30 per hour (an average price) - £240

Materials (Inc vat)
SWA 20m - £24
Cleats - £2
Glands - £18
RCD SFCU - £36
Wiska boxes - £21
Spike lights - £48
LEDs - £60
P.I.R - £12

- total of £217 + 20% mark up £260.40

Labour (£240) + Materials (£260.40) = £500.40

I'd shave off the 40p

Hope this helps I may have missed one or two things but this is near enough. All the best.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Yes, I had thought of them, the problem is linking the cpc within as the light fittings aren't class II. Fine if it was just SWA to SWA but not when there's three core flex to join as well.

if your on about t boxes damian then its just a case of drill & tap out the back of the box for a 5mm roofing bolt....couple of crimps & G/Y sleeving on the black core..and away you go...

dont worry about water ingress where the roof bolt goes through....the compound will see to that...

 

[HandySparks]

I think if they're all above ground, I'd drill a good sized drain hole in the bottom of the Wiska boxes and make sure that the lid seal is undamaged, and leave out the potting gell. Easier to fiddle about with later if necessary.

Doesn't answer the question, but that's par for the course round here!

The cost of installing a few outside lights is always a shock.

 

[longboat]

ADD UP THE MATERIAL COST.
HOW MANY POUNDS DO YOU WANT FOR DOING THE WORK.
ADD THE TWO TOGETHER = wait for it














TOTAL COST.




SIMPLES.





:clover:

 

[D Skelton]

ADD UP THE MATERIAL COST.
HOW MANY POUNDS DO YOU WANT FOR DOING THE WORK.
ADD THE TWO TOGETHER = wait for it














TOTAL COST.




SIMPLES.





:clover:

£1 for the eggs,
£0.50 for the gas to cook 'em up and hard boil 'em,
I'll suck 'em for free.

Total cost = £1.50

 

[Engineer54]

galv T boxes though there is no messing about with the banjos been linked.

Think you mean Y (trouser) boxes!! Anyway galv conduit boxes are not exactly the ideal choice for this type of installation. Issues with sealing and conductors termination space....

 

[Welchyboy1]

ADD UP THE MATERIAL COST.
HOW MANY POUNDS DO YOU WANT FOR DOING THE WORK.
ADD THE TWO TOGETHER = wait for it














TOTAL COST.




SIMPLES.





:clover:

+20% profit on top for your business!(most important part of all!)

 

[MDJ]

Irish eh?

 

[D Skelton]

And after all of that the customer seemed surprised that £700 was all it was going to cost?! They were expecting it to be around the £1k mark?!

 

[MDJ]

So I was on the mark then ?

 

[Silly Sausage]

And after all of that the customer seemed surprised that £700 was all it was going to cost?! They were expecting it to be around the £1k mark?!

You've forgotten to add the £300 consultancy fees!