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@Saint posted:

Ring-ring, ring-ring   . . . here comes the marketing talk

"We're offering home owners the chance to cut their energy bill" Turns out it was for solar panels on yer roof. And as I told them I wasn't a home owner (lie) would they tell me how much said malarkey would set me back - or was it all free?

For a three bed semi it would set you back approx ÂĢ5-7000  So i went and had a lie down

Baz

We got a quote for work on our garden - here goes . . .

Estimate for the work recently discussed to remove existing fence, excavate trench for sleeper retainer and support posted to constructed.

Level the garden roughly 1.2-1.5m from the fence. Build a new boarded fence 4ft high plus 1ft of trellis. Lift and relay paving at the side of the green house.

Materials ÂĢ2694.50 (including 20% Vat added by Suppliers).

Labour ÂĢ2400.00   Subtotal ÂĢ5094.50  +20%Vat on the Labour element ÂĢ480.00

Total cost ÂĢ5574.50

We ask for materials cost to be paid a couple of days prior to an agreed start date, this allows us to order and organise deliveries etc. Labour costs are to be paid on a fortnightly basis as work is being completed, with remainder being paid on date of work completion.

This is an estimate and therefore will be an unlikely possibility that planned costs and durations may differ if we occur any unforeseen circumstances during the work progress.

Saint
@Saint posted:

We got a quote for work on our garden - here goes . . .

Estimate for the work recently discussed to remove existing fence, excavate trench for sleeper retainer and support posted to constructed.

Level the garden roughly 1.2-1.5m from the fence. Build a new boarded fence 4ft high plus 1ft of trellis. Lift and relay paving at the side of the green house.

Materials ÂĢ2694.50 (including 20% Vat added by Suppliers).

Labour ÂĢ2400.00   Subtotal ÂĢ5094.50  +20%Vat on the Labour element ÂĢ480.00

Total cost ÂĢ5574.50

We ask for materials cost to be paid a couple of days prior to an agreed start date, this allows us to order and organise deliveries etc. Labour costs are to be paid on a fortnightly basis as work is being completed, with remainder being paid on date of work completion.

This is an estimate and therefore will be an unlikely possibility that planned costs and durations may differ if we occur any unforeseen circumstances during the work progress.

Good grief Renton That seems a bit steep to meâ€Ķ.have you asked for multiple quotes?

Baz

@Baz  it's crazy, we may as well go for a full retaining concrete wall and the problem would be solved and we could forgo landscaping cos we could just level up with soil. I can't see a retaining wall for a 30ft garden being ÂĢ5,500

Also they are talking about wood sleepers which will eventually need replacing - so it's a 'no' for this option. I would be happier with a concrete retainer anyway. So there you have it, all that work for nothing and even more responsibility to find a builder we can trust, on my shoulders, again

Saint
@Saint posted:

@Baz  it's crazy, we may as well go for a full retaining concrete wall and the problem would be solved and we could forgo landscaping cos we could just level up with soil. I can't see a retaining wall for a 30ft garden being ÂĢ5,500

Also they are talking about wood sleepers which will eventually need replacing - so it's a 'no' for this option. I would be happier with a concrete retainer anyway. So there you have it, all that work for nothing and even more responsibility to find a builder we can trust, on my shoulders, again

Awwww Renton Sounds like that would be the best option â€Ķ..and I’m sure you will be able to find a good builder

Baz
@Saint posted:

@Baz  it's crazy, we may as well go for a full retaining concrete wall and the problem would be solved and we could forgo landscaping cos we could just level up with soil. I can't see a retaining wall for a 30ft garden being ÂĢ5,500

Also they are talking about wood sleepers which will eventually need replacing - so it's a 'no' for this option. I would be happier with a concrete retainer anyway. So there you have it, all that work for nothing and even more responsibility to find a builder we can trust, on my shoulders, again

If it's your neighbours soil you are having to retain, Could you not pin with chicken wire and then plant hedging to hide it?
Something like this:
api4pm8vk__61245.1601323833.1280.1280
It's much cheaper and dare I say a lot prettier than concrete...
Only needs pruning twice a year and allows for small creatures to pass through ..such as hedgehogs

Attachments

Images (1)
  • api4pm8vk__61245.1601323833.1280.1280
slimfern

@slimfern we considered this idea but it would be impossible to trim the hedge on the other side and it would grow over onto the other side quite quickly  - plus we need more support for the weight of the soil slumping down the slope (it's only very slow but it's happening)

So we have a landscaper coming tomorrow at 6pm and another on Wed at 10am ... another I spoke to was saying we will need to dig down into the base of the garden below and suggested ÂĢ8-10k - he also suggested chatting to a structural engineer who would come and have a look for ÂĢ200 and do a full survey - so i e-maild him for a 'chat' first.

Will let you know

Saint
Last edited by Saint
@Saint posted:

@slimfern we considered this idea but it would be impossible to trim the hedge on the other side and it would grow over onto the other side quite quickly  - plus we need more support for the weight of the soil slumping down the slope (it's only very slow but it's happening)

So we have a landscaper coming tomorrow at 6pm and another on Wed at 10am ... another I spoke to was saying we will need to dig down into the base of the garden below and suggested ÂĢ8-10k - he also suggested chatting to a structural engineer who would come and have a look for ÂĢ200 and do a full survey - so i e-maild him for a 'chat' first.

Will let you know

I hope the landscaper that was due today has some good news for you Renton .

Baz
@Saint posted:

@slimfern we considered this idea but it would be impossible to trim the hedge on the other side and it would grow over onto the other side quite quickly  - plus we need more support for the weight of the soil slumping down the slope (it's only very slow but it's happening)

So we have a landscaper coming tomorrow at 6pm and another on Wed at 10am ... another I spoke to was saying we will need to dig down into the base of the garden below and suggested ÂĢ8-10k - he also suggested chatting to a structural engineer who would come and have a look for ÂĢ200 and do a full survey - so i e-maild him for a 'chat' first.

Will let you know

What you need is what El posted earlier....2nd picture

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-...cestershire-60983634

slimfern
@slimfern posted:

Any joy today Saint?

Had two visits

One guy was quite thorough and said we didn't need a retaining wall, he'd worked on worse! Suggested several options including railway sleepers, concrete sleepers and a poured concrete wall topped off with bricks then the fence. And repositioning flagstones behind the greenhouse.

Second guy looked about 18 and was much more laid back - again said we didn't need a retaining wall but then said "it's all due to subsidence" - so surely we'd need some reinforcements? He started agreeing to do anything I suggested which was not what I hoped ... I hoped he'd have the answer. His quote ÂĢ2,300 - no quote yet from the first guy.

We'll probably be going for the first guy and if his quote is less than ÂĢ3000 we're going to ask him to level off the grass and raise the flag stones about 4inches - I guess we'll go to ÂĢ3500 if he can do the lot.

What a palaver

Saint
@Saint posted:

Had two visits

One guy was quite thorough and said we didn't need a retaining wall, he'd worked on worse! Suggested several options including railway sleepers, concrete sleepers and a poured concrete wall topped off with bricks then the fence. And repositioning flagstones behind the greenhouse.

Second guy looked about 18 and was much more laid back - again said we didn't need a retaining wall but then said "it's all due to subsidence" - so surely we'd need some reinforcements? He started agreeing to do anything I suggested which was not what I hoped ... I hoped he'd have the answer. His quote ÂĢ2,300 - no quote yet from the first guy.

We'll probably be going for the first guy and if his quote is less than ÂĢ3000 we're going to ask him to level off the grass and raise the flag stones about 4inches - I guess we'll go to ÂĢ3500 if he can do the lot.

What a palaver

Well..I'll keep my fingers crossed for the first guy to come through for you, but am not hopeful for it to be within your ÂĢ3500 budget
Well done though for getting thus far.

slimfern
@Saint posted:

I've just contacted a local pharmacy for some meds advice and a posh sounding, obviously well educated fellow answered, gave good advice - I said thank you and he hung up without acknowledging my thanks or saying goodbye!!

Just show a good education does not mean a decent person with decent manners

Exactly Renton . My mum always said that good manners cost nothing â€Ķ.and she was right .

Baz

Recently our fence blew down, then the light in our laundry went off, our tumble drier is broken and they can't see what's wrong and the gable end of our house needed pointing cos it was leaking. The window in the bathroom jammed open needing new hinges.

Now our TV has broke and my mobile is on the blink and we've had to have our TV aerial replaced. Oh and the ABS light on my car has been going on when I turn the steering wheel despite it being 'fixed' five times.

Saint
@Saint posted:

Recently our fence blew down, then the light in our laundry went off, our tumble drier is broken and they can't see what's wrong and the gable end of our house needed pointing cos it was leaking. The window in the bathroom jammed open needing new hinges.

Now our TV has broke and my mobile is on the blink and we've had to have our TV aerial replaced. Oh and the ABS light on my car has been going on when I turn the steering wheel despite it being 'fixed' five times.

slimfern
@Saint posted:

Recently our fence blew down, then the light in our laundry went off, our tumble drier is broken and they can't see what's wrong and the gable end of our house needed pointing cos it was leaking. The window in the bathroom jammed open needing new hinges.

Now our TV has broke and my mobile is on the blink and we've had to have our TV aerial replaced. Oh and the ABS light on my car has been going on when I turn the steering wheel despite it being 'fixed' five times.

Tell me about it     



VD
Last edited by velvet donkey

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