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

 

[Dom7177]

That's a good price . I'm sure you have lads that want to do a good job for that . If you get short of labour I'll be available

 

[Dustydazzler]

the last lot of new builds I did we didn’t connect the coax , data or phone points , we just had to coil em up in the boxes and the new owners would have to pay to get them connected

We 1st fix the boiler wiring but wet pants had to wire them up

 

[pirate]

Push-fits...everyone's a plumber
Wagos...everyone's an electrician
Nail gun...everyone's a builder
Impact driver...everyone's a flash bast*rd
Proper but modest set of the correct tools, and a day to wire up a dozen sockets and install some downlights properly...oh, just call me, and I'll turn up on time, stay til the job's done and switch my mobile off on arrival too
it'll cost you though!

 

[Leesparkykent]

That's a good price . I'm sure you have lads that want to do a good job for that . If you get short of labour I'll be available

Where abouts are you based?

 

[pirate]

Faster than my arthritic fingers can manage...but not exactly great, is it?
still, i have time on my hands and don't have to earn a living doing it quickly.
I like wiring plugs, it's therapeutic. OK, I don't exactly ferrule them all, but might double over, tighten the terminal screws, pick up the bits of insulation and bin 'em, then just give the terminal screws a final tighten in case of "creep"
Jeez...I sound like my dad!

 

[nicebutdim]

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

Either there are less tilers than available jobs or enough of them aren't prepared to work for peanuts.

 

[nicebutdim]

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.

We needed a tiler a few months back and were let down by three in a row - several others didn't want to know as they were flat out with new builds. In the end we got a guy that sells himself as a "high-end" tiler and charges accordingly. Nothing high-end about his work, but average was good enough to get the job done (albeit at at a high price).

Then again, I've struggled to get an electrician here as well.

 

[nicebutdim]

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

£420 to do a small ensuite, with us supplying all materials. Tiler paid the plumber for his couple of hours.

Still haven't managed to get rid of the mess he left outside.

 

[Electrics]

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.

300 a day isn't going to help their bone on bone knees and wrecked back in their 50's.

 

[cliffed]

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

Yep...it’s got worst over the years it’s the i don’t care attitude,if it looks rough leave it.

 

[DPG]

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

But isn't that the one where he makes it even worse by connecting a new socket to it, and then snakes the cable around the edge of the cupboards?

 

[loz2754]

Just watched the video.
So it looks like he has connected a spur off a spur, unless the isolation switches he mentions have fuses.
And the cable to the new socket is not in a recognised safe zone.

 

[mattg4321]

Out of interest are you chasing boxes in for these new builds or 25mm box screwed surface and dot and dabbed plasterboard?

 

[Ian1981]

Drilled and fixed direct to block work or noggins fitted then fixed if dry lined wall

 

[Pete999]

Some times unskilled cheaper labour is used.