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Feb 2024
2:57pm, 2 Feb 2024
21,489 posts
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rf_fozzy
Need some advice from the Fetch forum. After 2 years of trying, I've finally found some builders who are interested in possibly doing me a (very) small extension (beforehand unless it was a full wraparound knock down external walls job, no-one was interested).
Basically I've got a conservatory about 3x3.5m and I want to get rid of it and have a proper extension the same size instead as the conservatory is basically useless.
Had a builder come out and quote. And he's said £30k+ - and that's for a basic finish, floor done, walls plastered, but that's about it.
That was almost double what I was expecting for what is an extremely small extension.
Can anyone give me some guidance on whether this is about right? It seems an awful lot to me. I know materials have gone up in price since Covid, but I priced it up about 12months ago based on some estimates online and it was looking around £10k, so was expecting £10-15k, not £30k
There are a couple of (very) minor issues that will need to be solved, but nothing like drains being moved or services in the way etc.
Guidance welcomed.
(If it's £30k, it won't be happening - I don't have that amount of money.)
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Feb 2024
7:58am, 3 Feb 2024
2,267 posts
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FurryH
Is access restricted or parking an issue? Is the ground poor meaning bigger or different foundations. Its these specifics that online estmates miss. Some builders price high because they dont want it really or figure it will be hastle in some way.
We are going through the process at the moment and the architect wont even give an estimated build cost due to sky rocketting prices.
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Feb 2024
8:34am, 3 Feb 2024
21,493 posts
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rf_fozzy
Not really to any of those. Parking on my road can be tricky at times, but that shouldn't really be an issue.
No issues with access or ground as far as I'm aware.
Think I've decided if it's going to be as much as I've been quoted it's either not happening or I need to learn how to build and do it myself
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Feb 2024
8:43am, 3 Feb 2024
67,612 posts
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Velociraptor
We also have a useless conservatory a bit smaller than yours and that's around what I'd expect to pay to convert it to a proper structure.
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Feb 2024
8:54am, 3 Feb 2024
23,145 posts
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larkim
10.5 sqm plus a demolition task. Prices at the moment can be anywhere from £1k per sqm to £2.5k (though those online estimates often ignore VAT and the low end is probably out of date now with inflation running the way it has been over the last couple of years) so the quote doesn't look bonkers, but definitely at the top end of pricing. I know what it's like when you've convinced yourself of a price and then no-one wants to quote at similar values.
All you can do is find other potential builders and see what you get; play the game a little - "I've had a quote for £12k for this, but you came well recommended so wanted to give you a chance" etc.
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Feb 2024
9:09am, 3 Feb 2024
21,496 posts
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rf_fozzy
I was expecting an upper end estimate around £20k.
Inflation has been running at ~10%, so a job that would have cost £10k before COVID should now cost £15k.
30k would require 40% inflation.....
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Feb 2024
9:11am, 3 Feb 2024
21,497 posts
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rf_fozzy
But it seems it seems like it's not going to happen.
Can't afford that.
The problem with getting more builders to quote is that so many builders aren't interested as it's too small a job. They want big ones.
I think this builder was expecting me to have the side extension I eventually want to do done at the same time and because I said I'd have to do the two separately, he's then overinflated his price for the conservatory.
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Feb 2024
9:22am, 3 Feb 2024
21,498 posts
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rf_fozzy
(after all, the actual building work is quite straightforward - most of the cost is going to be doors and windows and I know this!)
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Feb 2024
9:59am, 3 Feb 2024
119,249 posts
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Hanneke
Sounds about right to me.
No real comparison, as I actually built a whole "house" including pitched roof, but it was costed up at £35.000 just before Covid, I got planning in January 2020. It ended up costing £65.000 in the end. This included ground work, foundations, trenches for services etc. It was the cost of materials! To give you an idea: I needed a strip of tarmac to join the new entrance with the road. Quoted at £1200. It cost me £4000 AND because of Covid, tarmac was actually not available for 6 months! Delays didn't help me! In that time, concrete went up by 30%, concrete building blocks became £3/piece in stead of £1 and let us not mention the price of timber!!! As we went along, everything rose and rose.
This has now stabilised, but friends are building a house and no-one wanted to give an accurate quote, they all over-inflated to cover their back with still erratically rising costs.
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Feb 2024
10:09am, 3 Feb 2024
25,784 posts
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richmac
Couple of Q's. Does the existing sit on a wall or is it full length glass?
Is it a lean to roof?
Could you do the demolition yourself? Or with mates?
What do you want to use it for?
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DIY question
Nov 2024