AIBU about the builder's bill?

[Sallygoroundthemoon]

I've got an issue that I'd like to run by the MN jury before replying. I've just had some minor work done on the house. I agreed with the builder that he would just charge for his time and it was estimated at about 1 1/2 days work, maybe 1, maybe 2 he wasn't sure. He arrived at 9 on Thursday and left at 2.30 that day then worked 9 to 3/3.30 on Friday so I would figure this to be a day and a half (total was 12 hours tops). However, he has billed me for 2 full days work. He is a lovely man and I don't want to get into a row but I'm on a very tight budget and was thinking of going back to him to say as he didn't work 2 full days would he be able to do a couple of hours short jobs to make it up to the 2 on the invoice. He lives locally so it is not as though he has to travel miles. However, I might be being very unreasonable. I just don't know. I wasn't here and if I had I would have given him more to do to take it up to 2 days if I knew that's what he would do. He is expensive (but very good) so it is not a small amount of money. Thanks. AIBU?

if you've got a good builder I'd keep him on side, they are worth their weight in gold.

I would say that was 2 days going by the hours our builders did when doing our extension.

That's actually a very good point backtowork2015. He is very trustworthy and would not be trying to screw me over. It's just more than I expected.

That is almost 2 full days though, it is not a day and a half. Did he take long breaks? Did he have to go out for materials?

sorry but that sounds par for the course in terms of the lenght of 'full days' builders etc usually put in. Unless he took off and disappered for a long lunch too? when we had our extension done they usually worked about 8.30-3ish, with breaks.

remember too that some of his work time on your job might have been 'off site' buying materials en route etc

Thanks. I accept that AIBU :) and will happily pay the bill. I guess I always think of a full days work as being 8 hours (including a break, usually 8 - 4 for builders) rather than 6 hours (with a short break for lunch) but I will let it go and make sure I understand more about their working hours before I book someone, so I'm not surprised again.

Our builders worked 8 til about 3-4 but had a lunch break.

It's very near to 2 days so not worth falling out with him about, if he's good and trustworthy.

Did your builder have to go off site to buy goods/equipment?

If so this time is also billable.

Yes as others have said he would have had to collect materials at some point. 5 Also he may have reached a point where he had to stop and let thing dry?

Builders days tend to be a bit shorter/more breaks because it's hard manual work

Even if they arrived with materials they would of had to build the time they have to get stuff at some point, travel time has to be paid for at some point.

You have made the right decision:-)

Builders do a lot more behind the scenes than just turning up and doing the job. I'm glad you're paying though, like someone said up thread if you've got a good builder, keep them on side.

its not 2 days work. I would probably pay this time, but next time ask him what his day rate is based on.

If he finished the actual work you agreed then I don't understand what the problem is really? For example, if it was raining heavily one of the days and therefore the bricks (or whatever) couldn't be laid, and he had to come back the next day to finish off what couldn't be finished in the rain ... would you have paid him a third day? No, you wouldn't, as you were paying him to complete a job. He should not have agreed a day rate pay if there was a specific job to finish, thats poor practice on his part. But it swings and roundabouts and a bit of give and take needed here!