ᐅ Are additional work items during house construction reasonable and fairly priced?
Created on: 3 Nov 2022 22:00
D
DominicHannove
Good evening,
We have received an offer from a general contractor and are wondering whether the following additional items are reasonably priced and make sense:
1. Compensation for fittings and sanitary fixtures when purchased by the homeowner (warranty only covers up to the rough installation stage; concealed installations remain our responsibility):
Compensation for ground floor WC: Hand basin including faucet, WC including flush control (flush tank remains our responsibility)
Compensation for attic bathroom: 1 washbasin including faucet, WC including flush control (flush tank remains the responsibility of Bösteinhaus), shower faucet and shower set including rail (connections remain our responsibility)
Compensation: €2,420.00
The sanitary fixtures included would be: Brand Vigour series “Derby” or “Derby Style”, alternatively brand Geberit series “Renova Plan” or brand Villeroy & Boch series “O.Novo”; faucets: brand Vigour series “Derby”, alternatively brand Hansgrohe “Talis S” or brand Hansa series “Hansapinto”
2. Removal of the fixed central mullions on double casement windows, replaced by installation of special flush profiles
Additional cost: 3 windows x €160.00 = €480.00
3. Installation of a secondary entrance door as a wooden door to the utility room, offset against the omitted window, including security fittings and insulation matching the front door, solid door leaf, including locking system matching the front door
Additional cost: €2,020.00
4. Installation of a skylight in the attic hallway, approx. 78 x 118 cm (31 x 46 inches), compliant with the energy saving regulations, brand Velux type GGU MK 06 Thermo (pivot window)
Additional cost: €1,360.00
5. Supply and installation of rough tongue-and-groove boarding, 24 mm (1 inch) thick, made of Nordic spruce or fir, dried, staggered installation with screws onto ceiling joists or collar beams
Additional cost: €1,840.00
6. Concrete staircase, white plastered, with beech steps and risers made of washable white Forex panels, with railing according to building specifications and steel handrail or alternatively masonry railing with internal handrail, with storage room and door under the stairs including light outlet and socket
Additional cost compared to standard staircase: €4,800.00
This “standard” staircase would be: A nicely shaped open staircase with solid wood steps in laminated beech, with continuous railing made of modern round tubing
7. Installation of an additional shower in the guest WC as a flush-floor, tiled design approx. 90 x 150 cm (35 x 59 inches) with installation of one floor drain and required large-area sealing, wall enclosure up to 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) height according to drawing, shower area tiled to 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) height; shower faucet and shower set including rail to be provided by homeowner
Note: a shower partition must be installed by the builder on-site
Additional cost: €1,990.00
8. Creation of a tiled niche in the shower in the ground floor WC, approx. 30 x 60 cm (12 x 24 inches)
Additional cost: €340.00
9. Creation of a masonry and tiled shelf behind the washbasin in the ground floor WC, height 1.20 m (4 ft), approx. 0.8 linear meters
Additional cost: €200.00
10. Installation of an additional cold water connection in the ground floor WC next to the toilet (for future installation of a bidet spray by the builder)
Additional cost: €290.00
11. Creation of a tiled shelf next to the bathtub according to drawing, height approx. 50–60 cm (20–24 inches)
Additional cost: €190.00
12. Installation of a laundry chute from the upper bathroom to the utility room (ground floor), 300 mm (12 inches) spiral seam pipe with laundry bag and secured flap for inserting laundry
Additional cost: €1,160.00 (alternative: laundry chute as homeowner’s own work, we provide only ceiling opening 350 x 350 mm (14 x 14 inches), additional cost: €180.00)
13. Installation of all switch boxes in deep form for retrofitting wireless smart home systems by own work
Additional cost: €560.00
14. Installation of AEROPAC SN (Siegenia AUBI) demand-controlled ventilators. Draft-free and whisper-quiet operation, individual air regulation, dust filter function, including core drilling and socket
Additional cost: number of bedrooms 4 x €1,100.00 each = €4,400.00
What do you think?
Are there items that are overpriced?
What would you include and what not? (I know some are very individual. For these, I’m more interested if the additional cost is reasonable.)
Are there individual items I should better leave out initially and commission later with the respective specialist?
We would appreciate any advice.
Best regards
We have received an offer from a general contractor and are wondering whether the following additional items are reasonably priced and make sense:
1. Compensation for fittings and sanitary fixtures when purchased by the homeowner (warranty only covers up to the rough installation stage; concealed installations remain our responsibility):
Compensation for ground floor WC: Hand basin including faucet, WC including flush control (flush tank remains our responsibility)
Compensation for attic bathroom: 1 washbasin including faucet, WC including flush control (flush tank remains the responsibility of Bösteinhaus), shower faucet and shower set including rail (connections remain our responsibility)
Compensation: €2,420.00
The sanitary fixtures included would be: Brand Vigour series “Derby” or “Derby Style”, alternatively brand Geberit series “Renova Plan” or brand Villeroy & Boch series “O.Novo”; faucets: brand Vigour series “Derby”, alternatively brand Hansgrohe “Talis S” or brand Hansa series “Hansapinto”
2. Removal of the fixed central mullions on double casement windows, replaced by installation of special flush profiles
Additional cost: 3 windows x €160.00 = €480.00
3. Installation of a secondary entrance door as a wooden door to the utility room, offset against the omitted window, including security fittings and insulation matching the front door, solid door leaf, including locking system matching the front door
Additional cost: €2,020.00
4. Installation of a skylight in the attic hallway, approx. 78 x 118 cm (31 x 46 inches), compliant with the energy saving regulations, brand Velux type GGU MK 06 Thermo (pivot window)
Additional cost: €1,360.00
5. Supply and installation of rough tongue-and-groove boarding, 24 mm (1 inch) thick, made of Nordic spruce or fir, dried, staggered installation with screws onto ceiling joists or collar beams
Additional cost: €1,840.00
6. Concrete staircase, white plastered, with beech steps and risers made of washable white Forex panels, with railing according to building specifications and steel handrail or alternatively masonry railing with internal handrail, with storage room and door under the stairs including light outlet and socket
Additional cost compared to standard staircase: €4,800.00
This “standard” staircase would be: A nicely shaped open staircase with solid wood steps in laminated beech, with continuous railing made of modern round tubing
7. Installation of an additional shower in the guest WC as a flush-floor, tiled design approx. 90 x 150 cm (35 x 59 inches) with installation of one floor drain and required large-area sealing, wall enclosure up to 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) height according to drawing, shower area tiled to 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) height; shower faucet and shower set including rail to be provided by homeowner
Note: a shower partition must be installed by the builder on-site
Additional cost: €1,990.00
8. Creation of a tiled niche in the shower in the ground floor WC, approx. 30 x 60 cm (12 x 24 inches)
Additional cost: €340.00
9. Creation of a masonry and tiled shelf behind the washbasin in the ground floor WC, height 1.20 m (4 ft), approx. 0.8 linear meters
Additional cost: €200.00
10. Installation of an additional cold water connection in the ground floor WC next to the toilet (for future installation of a bidet spray by the builder)
Additional cost: €290.00
11. Creation of a tiled shelf next to the bathtub according to drawing, height approx. 50–60 cm (20–24 inches)
Additional cost: €190.00
12. Installation of a laundry chute from the upper bathroom to the utility room (ground floor), 300 mm (12 inches) spiral seam pipe with laundry bag and secured flap for inserting laundry
Additional cost: €1,160.00 (alternative: laundry chute as homeowner’s own work, we provide only ceiling opening 350 x 350 mm (14 x 14 inches), additional cost: €180.00)
13. Installation of all switch boxes in deep form for retrofitting wireless smart home systems by own work
Additional cost: €560.00
14. Installation of AEROPAC SN (Siegenia AUBI) demand-controlled ventilators. Draft-free and whisper-quiet operation, individual air regulation, dust filter function, including core drilling and socket
Additional cost: number of bedrooms 4 x €1,100.00 each = €4,400.00
What do you think?
Are there items that are overpriced?
What would you include and what not? (I know some are very individual. For these, I’m more interested if the additional cost is reasonable.)
Are there individual items I should better leave out initially and commission later with the respective specialist?
We would appreciate any advice.
Best regards
I understand that quite a lot of fixtures and fittings are supposed to be provided by you. In particular, for showers, you should be aware that the type of fixture needs to be decided early on—for example, whether it is built-in (concealed) so that it can be installed in the right place by the main contractor.
Regarding the 50 euros on site for the drywall installer and the niche in the shower: this covers the drywall work for the niche, but it is not yet tiled. Tiling the niche will account for the majority of the additional cost from the main contractor, as it involves extra work for the tiler.
Regarding the 50 euros on site for the drywall installer and the niche in the shower: this covers the drywall work for the niche, but it is not yet tiled. Tiling the niche will account for the majority of the additional cost from the main contractor, as it involves extra work for the tiler.
X
xMisterDx3 Nov 2022 22:34DominicHannove schrieb:
Is the drilling always deep enough for the deeper boxes? So is it just about the plastic boxes themselves with such an "upgrade"? No. The electrician drills as deep as necessary.
I doubt anyone nowadays still struggles with standard boxes; the deeper boxes are simply more convenient for modern electrical installations. That saves time during wiring, and time is money, etc.
Of course, I can’t rule out that your general contractor might have a tight-fisted person involved who only drills and installs 46mm (1.8 inches) deep boxes. Replacing them would be a huge effort—chiseling out the old boxes, awkwardly moving the cables aside, drilling deeper, and replastering new boxes.
I’m just saying, I find the extra cost a bit cheeky. But if you have to pay for it to get guaranteed 68mm (2.7 inches) deep boxes, then unfortunately that’s how it is.
X
xMisterDx3 Nov 2022 22:35kbt09 schrieb:
(...)
And regarding the 50 euros for the drywall installer and the niche in the shower... while this covers the niche in the drywall, it does not include tiling it yet. Tiling the niche will account for the majority of the additional cost from the general contractor (GC), as it means extra work for the tiler.You can also speak directly with the tiler.
As soon as a GC is involved, the price increases significantly because they naturally have extra work and also want to make a profit.
xMisterDx schrieb:
Not good advice. I’m not even bothered by the tram, which currently runs 50m (165 feet) in front of my window.
At least choose decentralized ventilation. If it annoys you too much, you can always remove it later, insulate, plaster, and then it’s quiet.
Installing it afterward causes much more effort and especially mess. You’re right. Better to have some ventilation than none at all. My advice would be more complete: central ventilation (shut down the 4K system to deactivate it, although I wouldn’t find that very appealing either ;-))
I have heard several times about decentralized ventilation units praised as whisper-quiet. I would never install those in a new house (“noise” causes health issues).
xMisterDx schrieb:
You can also speak directly with the tiler. Well, tiling is usually the responsibility of the general contractor, and if you want to create a niche like that, you really need to coordinate properly with both trades at the right time. I’m just thinking of the thread we had recently: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/nachtraegliche-balkon-befestigungs-vorrichtung.44428/ ... the client should also be involved in that.
And here it’s about a total of 340 euros compared to an unknown amount for the two contractors working separately on their own agreement.
X
xMisterDx3 Nov 2022 22:45Sure. But he wanted an estimate of the costs. And I find 340 EUR for a 30x60cm (12x24 inches) niche in the shower outrageous, nothing more, nothing less. Even if that meant an extra 1m² (11 sq ft) of tiles due to cuts, plus half an hour extra work for the tiler, plus half an hour for the drywall installer... we’d end up at 150, at most 200 EUR. The rest is pure profit for the general contractor.
Because if you pay the tiler 100 EUR on the invoice, you can be sure your tiler actually gets at most 80 EUR if he does the same work for the general contractor.
PS:
Net prices, of course.
Because if you pay the tiler 100 EUR on the invoice, you can be sure your tiler actually gets at most 80 EUR if he does the same work for the general contractor.
PS:
Net prices, of course.
Similar topics