I'm living in Edinburgh area. Been quoted 5500 for a garage conversion. Just wondering if anyone can give me an idea if this sounds good? Any recommendations of people on the area? General advice appreciated!

They have quoted to include all building work(including getting the building warrants etc) Plastering, painting, laying my floor, moving sky cables, wall sockets, radiator. Everything really. They'll even mount my TV bracket for me.

It all sounds great but seem to be having problems getting other companies to quote.

This is all to get my home cinema started. My wife now loves the idea.

[clockworks]

Was the quote from a specialist AV installer, or from a general builder?

When I have building work done, I pay an hourly rate. Most companies will over estimate, to allow for any problems, when giving written quotes. You'll also be paying the wages for the office staff, and profit for the boss.
By employing the builder myself, and buying in any specialist services directly, I avoid all these overheads. I also do some of the labouring and finishing, saving even more.
Builders also like to make a profit on materials, so I order and pay for these directly as well.

The quote sounds expensive to me. My builder charges £13 an hour. The specialist plasterer charges £15. I had 2 new consumer units and meter fitted for £400 - worked out at £30 an hour for electrician and his mate. My builder does all the plumbing and carpentry.

[curvature]

Originally Posted by clockworks

The quote sounds expensive to me. My builder charges £13 an hour. The specialist plasterer charges £15. I had 2 new consumer units and meter fitted for £400 - worked out at £30 an hour for electrician and his mate. My builder does all the plumbing and carpentry.

£!3 per hour? Where do you live? That is cheap for anyone in the building trade these days!

[woody67]

Originally Posted by curvature

£!3 per hour? Where do you live? That is cheap for anyone in the building trade these days!

Its cheap untill a 5 hour job takes 8 hours.

With regards to the OP, a typical single garage conversion - building work up to decs and not including specific AV work will be around the £5k mark, but there will be regional variations.

Also it depends on the work involved - if it is not practical to use the existing floor for any reason, then this can easily add £1k to the cost

Cheers guys,

I'd do the project managing myself but need to work and can't get enough time off.

I'm happy that they'll do a good job as a friend recommended them and I've seen their work.

Again thanks for the comments.

[clockworks]

Originally Posted by curvature

£!3 per hour? Where do you live? That is cheap for anyone in the building trade these days!

I live in Cornwall. My builder is self-employed. He was only charging £12 an hour last year.
£13 an hour is a pretty good wage in this area, where most people are only getting just over minimum. I live like a king on £11 an hour!
I've also just found a gardener who works for £7 an hour. They both work extremely hard, as all their work comes from personal recommendation - they can't afford unhappy customers.

[leaky5]

I did a garage conversion for a play room a couple of years ago. First quote from specalist company was in excess of £8000. This was to brick up, supply/install window, run electrics, screed floor and plaster. Second quote was £5000 from a general builder, for the same work.
In the end I arranged all my own subcontractors and did the whole job for about £2500. Here is a rough breakdown. All tradesmen were recommended by one of the others or friends.

Bricks £100. (Hard to find brick). Brick layers, 2 man days £200.
4 panel window fitted by Fensa company £600.
Floor screeder £240 + £200 materials.
Various blocks, plaster board, insulation etc £300.00
Plasters labour and materials £450.
The rest was for a local handyman to install electrics, decorate and finish. This was in the days before part p electrical regs came in to play.

[snoz]

£5500 is a fair price.

[benmc]

I have just had a Garage Conversion company quote £14,500 for a 6m*2.5m Conversion!!!!!

I had 2 builders who did not bother to quote.

I have decided to do it myself and including
AirCon (£1300 Fitted)
£500 of tools
£500 Architect and Building Regs
my whole budget is £6000.

So £5500 sounds a good quote.

Ben

[mrscalex]

Mine was done about 5 years ago for £2500 but I think that was very cheap. I recently suggested to a friend who's thinking of doing the same that I would expect to pay £4000 now.

I don't think £5500 is outrageous if you get a quality job done but I do think you could shave a bit off.

[shahedz]

a mate of mine had his done in London and that cost £ 7500. All electrics no plumbing. I think £5500 is very good, check references on the builder. I have never found a builder that charges £13 an hour. or charges by the hour for that infact.