Builder aibu

[rooty123]

I've just had invoice from builder that's 10% on top of original quote, so £1000+ extra

We've queried it with him as was told there were no extras when we asked if there were going to be - throughout project. The reasons for extras seem unfair, ie extra floor tiles when he knew how big the floor was at the start, putting a shelf up we said we'd be happy to do, a different style plug socket (same price online).

The flooring is the biggest extra and it's doubly annoying as we went for a cheaper tile to keep in budget, his addition makes it more expensive than our first choice of flooring.

I'm furious. Aibu not to pay for the extra tiles?

Sorry that's me on laptop above 🤪

Appreciate plaster costs have gone up.
It's still a dirt cheap product. The cost involved in plastering is mainly for the labour involved.

OP, you had a quote (not an estimate) so that is what the actual cost should be. If product costs go up, unless stipulated otherwise in the contract, the builder will have to bear that cost.

I'm not sure about the tiles as the quote includes 25 square metres but I would argue that it was his mistake in not calculating correctly. This is debatable.

I wouldn't pay for him to have put up a shelf that I said I would do. If he said he'd do it, I'd expect it to be thrown in for free.

As for the different socket, how much extra did he charge for it? Had he already obtained the other one so had to take time to return it? Time involved in him re-ordering the different one? It isn't as simple as just the difference in cost.

On the whole though, you are right to refuse to pay the additional cost if he didn't point out these at the time. I'd pay the original bill, refuse to pay the extra costs and see what happens. I certainly wouldn't be afraid of him taking me to court.

I'm not even sure if he did have to pay more for tiles anyway, they all arrived it one go. He measured again before getting them and never mentioned then that it was more than quote.

Think he's trying to cover other losses and using the flooring as a cover for it.

Is it a quote or an estimate? Assuming a quote then he can't vary it if the details are the same- certainly not for something like the size of the floor, which has not changed.

Does the quote specify the type of tile?
If so, he should be refunding you for the cheaper tiles.

Or the type of plug socket? Usually they will just say standrd/white electrical fittings. So on the plug sockets he should be paid more if he can demonstrate they are more than he would have paid- but it will be a trivial amount.

Presumably the quote specifies a payment schedule? If there is any wiggle room I'd be keeping 10% back for issues which come up. If not be incredibly detailed with your snagging and sign off.

He will want to get paid soon because he has bills to pay. Make sure you get in writing that your final payment is settlement in full and make sure you don;t opay until you are completely happy.