Ask The Trades - Day rate

mjc GDPR opt-out	Day rate Jul 21^st, 2006, 1:49pm I have been asked to do some work for friend, they want me to split a large bedroom into two. What sort of day rate is charged nowadays for general building work? I am in Wiltshire if that makes any difference. Cheers Martin
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Deluks

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Re: Day rate
Reply #1 - Jul 21^st, 2006, 4:12pm

Your question makes me wonder if you've done this kind of thing before? or are you just very good at DIY in general?

A builder would charge anywhere between £100-200 for a days work like this. More if they had a labourer as well. Who's supplying the materials? How long do you estimate to do the job? Even if you are a DIY expert it may be still more cost effective for them to get a pro in who could knock it out in half the time.

The ultimate question is, how much of a friend is this person? Best mate for life, or your sisters brothers neighbour?

In any case, if they are a friend of any sort you should only charge them 'mates rates' which I would expect to be between £0 - £90 a day depending on your expertise.

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Stair GDPR opt-out	Re: Day rate Reply #2 - Jul 21^st, 2006, 5:41pm My experience is that it’s better to charge your mates the full rate or nothing If it a small job for a couple of hours then nothing If you are getting into days work then full rate or if feasible swap hours the hours you do on their job get them to help you on paying work But as said above depends on type of mate
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JerryD

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Re: Day rate
Reply #3 - Jul 21^st, 2006, 7:02pm

I don't get involved with freebies. I charge everyone the same rate. A day to me is a day.

Why should I work cheap for a 'mate' while he's at work on full pay?

mjc, the fact that you're asking means you are not a pro so how do you stand regarding insurance or claims against you if anything goes horribly wrong? A mate is a mate until you muck up his house!

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TIMBA-WOLF Board Moderator Offline Timba-Wolf..... Var@*sh, should be banned!! Posts: 7158 Total Thanks: 15 For This Post: 0 KENT,(under a tree!!!!) United Kingdom Gender: Trade: Joiner	Re: Day rate Reply #4 - Jul 21^st, 2006, 7:18pm Quote: to split a large bedroom into two. how big is the chain saw,
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Stair GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 15 For This Post: 0	Re: Day rate Reply #5 - Jul 21^st, 2006, 10:44pm [quote author=WOLF link=1153486199/0#4 date=1153505904] how big is the chain saw, [/quote] LOL :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D
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mjc

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Re: Day rate
Reply #6 - Jul 21^st, 2006, 11:37pm

As regards being a "professional" or not I guess I am somewhere inbetween Undecided

I have spent the last 12 months or so renovating a house (i.e. gutting it completely and just getting close to finishing) so I am attempting to make a living out of it.

I only asked about rates as I want to feel comfortable in the amount I ask for doing the job.

As regards insurance, that will be taken care of as the last thing I want would be to screw something up and be liable for it personally.

And as for 'mates rates' I agree with JerryD here, I will be doing what I consider a professional job and would therefore expect a professional rate.

Cheers

Martin

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Deluks GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 15 For This Post: 0	Re: Day rate Reply #7 - Jul 22^nd, 2006, 12:19am Well most people charge what they think they're worth, regardless of the standard of work. Only you know how good you are, so the balls in your court. So good luck with the job and let us know how you got on...and how cheap/expensive you were
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JerryD

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Re: Day rate
Reply #8 - Jul 22^nd, 2006, 7:19am

mjc, when you say you're in Wiltshire 'if this makes any difference', well it does make a difference. The rates payable throughout the country vary enormously as far as I can tell.

In south Buckinghamshire you could charge between £200 - £300+ a day ( a friend of mine is currently charging £400 a day for a 6 month project!) plus any profit you can make on materials. We are, however, all time served, experienced builders with masses of plant, machinery, tools and equipment and can therefore take on very complicated and unusual jobs.

If I was pricing it I would be charging £300 a day + materials.

Wiltshire may be different?

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woodsmith Global Moderator Trade Member Author Offline Posts: 4397 Total Thanks: 135 For This Post: 0 Gender: Trade: Joiner	Re: Day rate Reply #9 - Jul 22^nd, 2006, 8:53am I live in Shropshire, wages are low here and about £120-150 per day is the going rate. The problem then is that many of the chippies have few tools because they can't afford to spend the money
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JerryD GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 135 For This Post: 0	Re: Day rate Reply #10 - Jul 22^nd, 2006, 9:31pm [quote author=woodsmith link=1153486199/0#9 date=1153554815] The problem then is that many of the chippies have few tools because they can't afford to spend the money [/quote] So how do they cut a roof if all they have is a mallett and an old teaspoon?
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TIMBA-WOLF

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Timba-Wolf..... Var@*sh,
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Re: Day rate
Reply #11 - Jul 22^nd, 2006, 9:53pm

Quote:

with masses of plant, machinery, tools and equipment and can therefore take on very complicated and unusual jobs.

and there was me a thinking JD, that like most builders you were always on the CADGE!!!!!!

"'ere chippy got a chisel, ...i wanna chase that conc block!!" or..." Painter , got a good brush i can borra... i wanna put on the last coat of R.I.W !!!"

Grin

i know AS IF!!!!

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AS HONEST AND LOYAL AS THE TIMBER-WOLF. --VAR@*SH, DON'T YOU SWEAR AT ME!! PAL!!&&I DON'T SUFFER FROM INSANITY- I DAMNED WELL ENJOY IT!!!!!

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Stair

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Re: Day rate
Reply #12 - Jul 22^nd, 2006, 11:36pm

[quote author=WOLF link=1153486199/0#11 date=1153601613]

and there was me a thinking JD, that like most builders you were always on the CADGE!!!!!!

"'ere chippy got a chisel, ...i wanna chase that conc block!!" or..." Painter , got a good brush i can borra... i wanna put on the last coat of R.I.W !!!"

Grin

i know AS IF!!!! [/quote]

Painters are the only trade I cant remember ever lending tools to

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TIMBA-WOLF Board Moderator Offline Timba-Wolf..... Var@*sh, should be banned!! Posts: 7158 Total Thanks: 15 For This Post: 0 KENT,(under a tree!!!!) United Kingdom Gender: Trade: Joiner	Re: Day rate Reply #13 - Jul 23^rd, 2006, 12:32am not been on the job too long then !!!
Back to top	AS HONEST AND LOYAL AS THE TIMBER-WOLF. --VAR@*SH, DON'T YOU SWEAR AT ME!! PAL!!&&I DON'T SUFFER FROM INSANITY- I DAMNED WELL ENJOY IT!!!!! IP Logged

JerryD GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 15 For This Post: 0	Re: Day rate Reply #14 - Jul 23^rd, 2006, 6:50am In my experience it's plumbers who are always on the cadge: Can I borrow your steps? Got any solder? Just lend us that club hammer What sandwiches you got today? etc etc
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TIMBA-WOLF Board Moderator Offline Timba-Wolf..... Var@*sh, should be banned!! Posts: 7158 Total Thanks: 15 For This Post: 0 KENT,(under a tree!!!!) United Kingdom Gender: Trade: Joiner	Re: Day rate Reply #15 - Jul 23^rd, 2006, 8:28am Quote: What sandwiches you got today? thinking about it ........... YES!!!!! (Mark and Steve...you know who you are........ if you read this that is!!!)
Back to top	AS HONEST AND LOYAL AS THE TIMBER-WOLF. --VAR@*SH, DON'T YOU SWEAR AT ME!! PAL!!&&I DON'T SUFFER FROM INSANITY- I DAMNED WELL ENJOY IT!!!!! IP Logged