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]

even 1990s prices were incredibly cheap compared to the last 10-15 years

I started towards the late 1990s and I still remember my dad quoting around 1500 quid for a full rewire of a 3 bed house , fully chased in , new board , new bonding , new tails etc etc

1500 quid today would get you a new board and thats about it

i still remember getting 75 quid a day to wire new builds when i started , and that was considered decent money , even the more experienced sparks were only pulling 120-130 per day when i started new flats site work

 

[pc1966]

I started towards the late 1990s and I still remember my dad quoting around 1500 quid for a full rewire of a 3 bed house , fully chased in , new board , new bonding , new tails etc etc

Using this calculator:

Inflation calculator

Use our inflation calculator to check how prices in the UK have changed over time, from 1209 to now.

www.bankofengland.co.uk

£1,500 in 1990 would be £3,486.63 in 2020, or if it was partying like 1999 then £2,658.39

However, the "inflation rate" is always an odd mix of goods and services, so some stuff in under-represented and other stuff over-represented in trying to gauge the purchasing power of a currency. In both cases it is a bit short of the ~£5k is you would be starting at today?

 

[brianmoooore]

the tank was fitted right next to the loft hatch, so that the crawl way was completely blocked. as the hatch was situated 4ft. from 1 gable end it would make sense to fit the tank other side of hatch, leaving the 30ft. crawlway open to the other end.

I've come across exactly that one myself!

 

[Dustydazzler]

Using this calculator:

Inflation calculator

Use our inflation calculator to check how prices in the UK have changed over time, from 1209 to now.

www.bankofengland.co.uk

£1,500 in 1990 would be £3,486.63 in 2020, or if it was partying like 1999 then £2,658.39

However, the "inflation rate" is always an odd mix of goods and services, so some stuff in under-represented and other stuff over-represented in trying to gauge the purchasing power of a currency. In both cases it is a bit short of the ~£5k is you would be starting at today?

Yes a basic rewire today would be about 5 large , maybe even 6 large

 

[telectrix]

i dunno, in 1209 you'd not be able to buy a copy of rhe Magna Carta for £1,000,000.

 

[7029 dave]

Yes a basic rewire today would be about 5 large , maybe even 6 large

I know a contractor in London, and this was about 10 years ago. He would not consider a rewire for less than 10k.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I know a contractor in London, and this was about 10 years ago. He would not consider a rewire for less than 10k.

Im talking VERY BASIC , if we are talking a modern basic 3 bed re-wire all chased in with usb sockets , led downlights and rcbo board you will be looking at £10-12K in my area of Surrey, that would not include any out buildings. I helped a mate on a hug re-wire just before lockdown and that came to about £54,000 but was a massive house with detached garages , 3 bathrooms , 5 bedrooms. It took 2 of us about 8-9 weeks to cpmplete and test