Is 187 hours of work reasonable?

[House1]

Our electrician has billed us for 187 hours to start 1st fix on 2 x bedrooms and 2x en-suites. He hasn’t completed 1st fix fully yet. He’s also put in 3 x double sockets and 2x cat 6 cables in other bedrooms.

Is this a reasonable amount of hours v work?

Mainly the work is just bedroom switches x 4, 3 x spot lights in 1 x en-suite, fuse spurs x 2 for UFH and UFH mains supply.

It seems a lot of hours v the work.

 

[James]

4 weeks of full time work seems a lot for what you have said is done.
I would ask for an explanation from your electrician.

 

[Rockingit]

As James said, that’s not a lot of work (at face value) for a large fee. However, what you don’t post is what else may(not) have been involved to achieve that work - if the building is C15th with 18’ thick stone walls then it’s an entirely matter than a 70’s estate house and some stud wall. But yes, that does seem worthy of justification.

 

[House1]

As James said, that’s not a lot of work (at face value) for a large fee. However, what you don’t post is what else may(not) have been involved to achieve that work - if the building is C15th with 18’ thick stone walls then it’s an entirely matter than a 70’s estate house and some stud wall. But yes, that does seem worthy of justification.

Hi - thanks for posting.

The house is a 1930's house with the majority of work being required in a newly built extension.

The house was vacant at the time and effectively a building site.

 

[Intoelectrics]

Our electrician has billed us for 187 hours to start 1st fix on 2 x bedrooms and 2x en-suites. He hasn’t completed 1st fix fully yet. He’s also put in 3 x double sockets and 2x cat 6 cables in other bedrooms.

Is this a reasonable amount of hours v work?

Mainly the work is just bedroom switches x 4, 3 x spot lights in 1 x en-suite, fuse spurs x 2 for UFH and UFH mains supply.

It seems a lot of hours v the work.

Did you not agree a price prior for the complete job? Usually you would expect a price with caveats that additions to anything initially agreed would be discussed, agreed on, and charged extra accordingly.

On face value it does seem excessive but, in the electricians defence without full details its difficult for us to make judgement.

 

[House1]

Did you not agree a price prior for the complete job? Usually you would expect a price with caveats that additions to anything initially agreed would be discussed, agreed on, and charged extra accordingly.

On face value it does seem excessive but, in the electricians defence without full details its difficult for us to make judgement.

Yes there was a price in place for sure. Electric plan changed and he said he needed to revise. He carried on working and then doubled the quote, submitting an interim invoice for some £6,000 + the £2,000 we paid already. Bear in mind that the work he was doing was just two bedrooms 1st fixing sockets and light switches in stud work. On top of this is £1500 in materials - hope this helps

 

[littlespark]

There could be the argument that he carried on working under the original price.

If there was a revision of price, he should have submitted that and agreed with you before commencing.

Not always possible when there are time constraints to consider.

 

[Intoelectrics]

Yes there was a price in place for sure. Electric plan changed and he said he needed to revise. He carried on working and then doubled the quote, submitting an interim invoice for some £6,000 + the £2,000 we paid already. Bear in mind that the work he was doing was just two bedrooms 1st fixing sockets and light switches in stud work. On top of this is £1500 in materials - hope this helps

Who changed and to what extent the plan and what was the sequence of events?

Based on what you have stated (though there still isn't enough detail to make a proper judgement) It does seem very excessive. There seems to have been a lack of communication from both parties involved.

Have you asked the electrician to breakdown their invoice explaining how the additional cost has been generated? Did you agree for the electrician to proceed to the new plan before the new cost was agreed?