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Property/DIY

Plumbing quote seems a bit big...help!!!

24 replies

Drywhiteplease · 28/04/2013 20:51

We're planning a lot of work on our house over the next year.
First thing.....boring stuff, we need a new boiler and want a bigger hot water cylinder. We have had a quote for;

A new system boiler
New controls etc
Replacing approx 7 old radiators
Removal and replacement of the old water cylinder, relocating it to the loft, it's a big one
Removing an old water tank in loft

The plumber said it would be approx 3 days, and two of them on one day.
The quote was £6500!!!!!
Seems huge....I looked at the cost of the cylinder and boiler online and they cast about £1500
I'm going to get other quotes but wanted to use this guy as the builder who may do our building work recommended him and they work well together .
What do you think?

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GettingObsessive · 28/04/2013 20:56

Well 7 radiators at about £100 per radiator (inc the thermostats etc) adds up to another £700, plus they might have to move pipes and they'd have to drain down the system.

So, say another thousand pounds. That's £2500 already. Seems a little bit high, but not wildy out.

PigletJohn will be along soon, he'll tell you.

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Wishfulmakeupping · 28/04/2013 21:17

Whereabouts are you OP?

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Howstricks · 28/04/2013 21:28

Seems too high...always a good idea to get 3 quotes and go from there..

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NotMostPeople · 28/04/2013 21:29

We paid £4,500 for similar ten years ago without mivng and replacing the cylinder in London. I wasn't too surprised to see that figure tbh.

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Drywhiteplease · 28/04/2013 21:35

Up north.....

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MisForMumNotMaid · 28/04/2013 21:40

It does seam high. Is it broken down at all?

Some trades people are happy for you to source the materials.

I'm having a house rewired at present and the electrician gave me a list of his wholesalers part prices. I could beat them significantly for some things like the GU10 fire rated fittings I could get from DIY outlets at less than half the price and by negotiation from electrical wholesalers for about 30% of the price.

I'd definitely get a second quote but also go back and ask for a breakdown and if you could do the major item sourcing if you're up for it.

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BabylonReturns · 28/04/2013 21:44

Check out www.mrcentralheatong.co.uk

We have just had new boiler, 10 new rads with TRVs, complete new pipework to replace microbore with 15mm pipe, cylinder removal.

DH did the work as he is a plumber, and he charged our landlords £3600 including the boiler.

Boiler pack is a Vaillant EcoTech24 with rads and valves and came in at £1128 inc vat and delivery.

£6500 does sound high, but what is your location?

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BabylonReturns · 28/04/2013 21:45

Sorry, //www.mrcentralheating.co.uk

Link fail!!

And yes, agree with Poster who mentioned PigletJohn! He knows his onions!!

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MmeLindor · 28/04/2013 21:47

Hmm, seems a bit high, unless you have v posh radiators.

We have a quote for £3600 for complete new heating system, with boiler and radiators. No water tank, but can't imagine it would be that expensive.

[waits for PJ]

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Drywhiteplease · 28/04/2013 21:53

It's a Wocester Bosch 25v cistern ( hope I've got that right) and a Heatrae Sadia 2501, if that helps.

Calling pigletJohn

We're in N Yorks.

I have asked for a breakdown and am getting other quotes but find this whole thing completely baffling as I haven't the first clue about plumbing, or building for that matter and that'll be next.

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Drywhiteplease · 28/04/2013 21:54

That's "24kw CDi" not 25v

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Drywhiteplease · 29/04/2013 07:13

Calling PigletJohn!!!!!

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flow4 · 29/04/2013 10:04

You can probably get it a bit cheaper, but it doesn't sound massively high to me. I reckon about £4.5k for the new boiler and system. Moving a replacing a cylinder on top. And if they're moving it a to a loft, they may well need to strengthen the loft floor (to prevent a heavy tank of water dropping through your ceiling!)
Is there any reason why you're sticking with a hot water tank, rather than going for a combi boiler?

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flow4 · 29/04/2013 10:06

(Apologies for the stray as in that post - don't know where they came from!)

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Drywhiteplease · 29/04/2013 18:56

flow4 I have read in Which, and been told by plumbers, that for the ice of house and if we want to run 2 showers at the same time a combi won't do and we need a condenser boiler.

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NorthernLurker · 29/04/2013 18:59

Combi boilers are the work of the devil. I'm in North Yorks and I had a quote for £3000+ years ago for complete installation. WOuld have been about 6 radiators in a very small house.

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Drywhiteplease · 29/04/2013 20:22

Northern N Yorks here too.......

I have just priced up a lot of the materials and they come to approx £3400 which means labour is about £2900

Have other plumbers coming in o quote .

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LadyKooKoo · 29/04/2013 20:27

We are having new central heating put in in a few weeks. New boiler and all new pipework, 8 radiators, £3300. We are near Birmingham.

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thehairybabysmum · 29/04/2013 20:38

Seems v high. Our plumber charges £200'per day labour plus costs of materials. We are in York, how near are you?

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MmeLindor · 29/04/2013 22:33

How often will you run two showers at the same time?

We had 3 bathrooms in our last house, and very rarely did we want to run 2 showers at the same time, so not worth the extra expense.

NL
We have always had combi boilers, and have never had issues with them.

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flow4 · 29/04/2013 22:39

All combis are condensing boilers these days. :) But my question is about why you need a water tank too?
What I'm wondering is whether there are a lot of extra costs associated with replacing and moving the old tank, and perhaps with strengthening the floor of the attic...
If your only issue is wanting to run two showers sometimes, then I would have thought that the easier/cheaper option would be to fit one separate electric shower...

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Drywhiteplease · 29/04/2013 23:07

It's to do with the pressure. We had an electric shower but the pressure was terrible. Then we had a pump ( v noisy) installed to add pressure. Now we want it done properly. I think it's a pressurised tank were looking at. Hope that makes sense.

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flow4 · 29/04/2013 23:22

I think so! :) I'd guess that's where the extra cost lies then - unvented tanks are more expensive than normal ones, you need special pressure relief valves, and you'll probably need a bigger - and therefore more expensive- boiler than normal. I'm not a plumber though, and you need to talk to one! Can you just ask the guy who gave you the quote?!

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Drywhiteplease · 30/04/2013 06:41

I have flow4 last Wed and no reply yet, but I'm getting more quotes too to get a better idea and comparison too. Just wondered whether anyone out there had any advice. Thanks so much for yours, I'm learning.

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