UK Why are new build prices so bad?

[Dom7177]

Hi , I've recently started on a new build site in essex, self employed sub contracting for a colchester company for which I have done work for 3 years .recently I've started to take the prices as a personal insult. A 3 bed house 1st fix including 2x data, 2x tv points 3x bt around 16 x sockets , 2 zone combi heating with weather compensater, oven and separate hob,3x smokes 1x heat , 1x co detectors, 4x fans, shaver socket, 10xlights and switches and 2x outside lights and garage supply is £250 which is around £600 pound less than the plumbers 1st fix price! How can anyone do a good job for that? And apart from walk off site ( which I have done) what can be done? And why are electricians the worse paid trade on new build sites?oh and the 2nd fix price was £10 less

 

[Dustydazzler]

Scroll to 1.50 in this video and watch how the kitchen plug sockets are installed in these London new build apartments

that’s how you wire a new flat for 250 , just rushed and sloppy

 

[Dom7177]

Scroll to 1.50 in this video and watch how the kitchen plug sockets are installed in these London new build apartments

that’s how you wire a new flat for 250 , just rushed and sloppy

A flat would be around 180 no joke. Everything is 2nd fixed with a battery drill sockets , c. u. The works

 

[Dave OCD]

Even light switches and fittings ?? It's quite depressing the way this trade is heading isn't it ?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Even light switches and fittings ?? It's quite depressing the way this trade is heading isn't it ?

seen quite a few youngsters use an impact driver on switches and sockets recently ...

 

[Dave OCD]

I'd have to use a lot of restraint to beat the urge to kick them in the b0ll0cks. What is this obsession with impact drivers ? Hate the things.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I'd have to use a lot of restraint to beat the urge to kick them in the b0ll0cks. What is this obsession with impact drivers ? Hate the things.

speed / looks cool ( dint worry if you mangle all the terminals)

 

[Dave OCD]

Yeah I do think it's to do with image, just like waving the latest phone about in public. Pathetic isn't it ?

 

[snowhead]

Yes you're spot on but when a tiler pulls up holding a £20 trowel telling you he earns 250 -300 a day you wonder what it's all about

Has anybody actually seen the wageslip or yearly accounts of these so called high earners.
It's easy to talk B*llocks.

He may earn 250 - 300 a day but is that every day or occasionally, how many hours a day do they work and what do they earn on the rest of the days / months / years.

 

[Dustydazzler]

What do site tilers get these days , used to be £25-35 pm Labour only , most could easily do a sq mtr per hour

I think we paid our tiler £60-65 pm to do our bathroom but he provided all the adhesive/ grout/ trim etc in that , we just supplied the tiles

pretty decent money if you are fast

 

[Dom7177]

Even light switches and fittings ?? It's quite depressing the way this trade is heading isn't it ?

It is in this particular part of it . I came into new builds after 15 years employed by a small company where it was customer based ,all about quality of work but unfortunately not great pay. So a friend who had been doing new builds for some time got me into price work on new builds .I was instantly shocked by the quality of work and was constantly told that i had to drop my standards to be able to make money. Something I'm not happy doing however I did ok ,but it seems recently there is a lot more involved but prices have been cut to a level where to do the job in the time the price allows is frankly dangerous

 

[Leesparkykent]

My lads are on £800 a 1st fix atm. 3 story, 3 bed house with one en-suite. Data and coax to each TV point, downlights in kitchen and bathrooms.

 

[7029 dave]

The trouble Is the developers will always find somebody to throw the cables in for £10 a hour , there is no shortage of cheap Labour out there.
It’s been this way since I started out.
It’s not a bad starting point for a young sparks to cut their teeth lashing in new builds for a 100 quid a day.
Most decent sparks after a year or so will move into private jobs and small building works where the rates are much much better

Yep I remember the boss saying to a first year apprentice, just copy the first fix of the other house. lol

There's your cheap labour Been going on for years.

 

[Dom7177]

My lads are on £800 a 1st fix atm. 3 story, 3 bed house with one en-suite. Data and coax to each TV point, downlights in kitchen

 

[pirate]

Checked out some new builds a few years back, TV points in every room. That wasn't a lie, but there was no coax connected to them...
Correction...there was a short length attached but only about a foot long, disappearing into the cavity. The loft aerials were there with a length of coax attached to them, but the end of the cable was just buried under the insulation. You can do a 3 bed an hour that way, then off you go in your van with cash in your pocket, and swap your PAYG SIM-card and no-one can get in contact with you. Inspection? None...

 

[Edtwozeronine]

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