I recently had to quote for a double garage with store room above.  This needed piled foundations due to a large oak tree nearby.

I got 2 quotes for the piling.

One was for about £5,500 + vat

The other was for £10,000 + vat

This excluded the ring beam.  It was only for the piling (12 piles @ 300mm diameter)

Piles down to 6 metres.  After that it could cost extra.

Customer still thinking about it..............

The difference between the quotes was a bit worrying but until my customer makes a move I'm not going to waste any more time on this project investigating into the piling quotes.

This is for High Wycombe area.  Hope this helps  

Problem with all this is that all piling companies charge a 'set-up' fee.

Usually around £1,500 + vat.  That's just to turn up with all their gear.

It's like asking a gang of bricklayers to turn up and lay 3 bricks and expecting to pay them just £1.50  

[quote author=JerryD  link=1108549066/0#3 date=1108584791]It's like asking a gang of bricklayers to turn up [/quote]

That's where your argument falls flat on its face. Getting the brickies to turn up is the first challenge.....

HM

I can lay bricks giz a job Jerry

"Getting the brickies to turn up is the first challenge.."

I'm amazed how many companies fail to respond to a RFQ. We're just completing the construction drawings for a new house and my Architect has sent out RFQs to numerous companies over the past three months (for everything from Bricks to ventilation systems to services). Some reply very quickly but around 30% don't even respond!  I'm not talking about small orders and nor companies that are likely to be "too busy". I'm talking mostly about manufacturers and/or distributors.  If I were a shareholder in one of these companies I wouldn't be for much longer!