gardener quote - is £2k reasonable?

[jclm]

We would like a large (free standing) trampoline for our 10 x 8m garden. Our gardener will remove 5 raised beds and will level out the garden as it slightly on a slope, in preparation for the trampoline. The gardener has suggested either bark or limestone chippings to go on the floor - not sure what would be best? He will put a weed membrane on before the bark or limestone chippings.

The gardener has quoted £2k - it is quite expensive because access to the back lane is not possible. Is this a reasonable sum? We can't get another gardener for love nor money (they are all booked out now until September!) I might be able to do the work myself by watching You Tube videos but this would mean I have to take a week or so off work to get it done. Please give me any advice or information as I am totally at a loss (never had a garden before)!!!

If that’s what he charges then that’s what he charges 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Shedbuilder, I simplified and run my own business but PMSL at 'certain way to never hear from again' as, IME, every tradesperson I've dealt with has been happy to break down pricing for bigger jobs.

Sounds a fair price
If you did it yourself you would need to factor in;
Price of tools
Cost per hour for labour
Cost of driving to wholesaler for materials
Cost of Business insurance

As someone else said, will your child use it? I'd personally save my money and just take them to a trampolining place once a week. It's not a very big garden so dunno how having a sunken trampoline will effect the resale value of it.

Seems a lot for a very small garden and piece of equipment your kid might never go on tbh. Why are you getting rid of raised beds?

I'd get a net around the trampoline rather than fart around with bark or other surfaces. And assuming the slope isn't too severe just dig out the bit of ground that the trampoline 'legs' sit on rather than the whole lot. We did that - it meant that the rear legs were buried about 6 inches which obvs means you've that much less underneath the trampoline but my dcs weren't anywhere near heavy enough to need that 6 inches when they bounced.

But this isn't a bigger job, is it? Is the OP going to be one of those people who, given a breakdown which includes a skip priced at £300, will phone around and find a slightly-too-small for the job skip at £220 and insist on that? Clients tend to forget VAT, too, IME.

And it's just occurred to me that the other factor that could complicate things is weather. Barrowing tons of soil through a house or a narrow side entrance is going to be a nightmare in bad weather. This is something that clients never take into account. Tradespeople estimate what a job could cost if everything goes according to plan and also what it might cost if things don't. They usually, if they're wise, price somewhere in the middle. Clients don't get this. They never make allowances for unknown unknowns, weather etc.

OP's best bet for saving money is to manage the job herself, buy her own skip and materials and hire agency labourers. Of course then OP has to factor in the monetary value of her own time and effort.

Sounds cheap

"@Thisnameasnttaken123 ah just seen your recommendation of limestone with a thick mat. Can I ask what are your reservations re bark?"

Bark can just be really dirty I wouldn't want my kids coming off the trampoline getting their socks filthy.
Or when they used to throw it around and get it in their hair when they were little.
I saw a PP suggest rubber chippings.
I also have had those before and they were fab, just think with limestone if you ever want to move house limestone is attractive and not necessarily something prospective buyers would see as something they would want/need to get rid of.

To answer the questions above, we need a trampoline for my son as he is aggressive and often has meltdowns (he has ASD). We need to encourage him to get rid of energy in a safe environment. Often our trips to trampoline parks do not go well as he has sensory overload which results in panic and a meltdown. The occupational therapist has suggested a trampoline so we will try.

We are getting rid of raised beds as we have just moved into this house, with a very large garden on three levels. The trampoline will go on the third level. We don't have time for gardening and need the space so the raised beds will go!!

So now you reveal that all the material has to be barrowed down steps (I presume) as well! £2000 is sounding like a bargain.

@Shedbuilder

So now you reveal that all the material has to be barrowed down steps (I presume) as well! £2000 is sounding like a bargain.

Unnecessarily harsh? Literally OPs first post says clearly her garden is on a slope and there is no access to the lane behind.

She's not suggesting the quote is unreasonable, she's getting a sense check from those who have had gardening work

Ask yourself - do you have the 2K? Can you afford to pay that? Is it worth it for you son?

In my experience big jobs in the garden take way longer than you think and levelling a slope by hand is no easy task.

Given that you would be unlikely to complete in a weeks annual leave and end up working on it for a while in evening and weekends - how much is your own time worth?

To me, given the reason you want it and the access issue and the slope that needs dealing with. I think it would be worth it. And then you'll still have your annual leave.

Can't comment on price but FWIW my brother has ASD and buying a trampoline was the best thing my parents ever did - he would literally spend hours out there at a time and it really helped to let energy out and control his anger. Obviously can't guarantee your DS will be the same but hopefully it helps him too

I think it's a good price. Wouldn't touch bark as pp have said , cat poo , mess and also the temptation of throwing it around. (Also have a son with asd)

I'm attaching a photo of the garden. We wanted bark or limestone chipping as it will be muddy once the raised beds are removed. Is this a good move or is there another option?

We just had 1 single 19ft round swimming pool base levelled and paved, took almost a week and over 1k, id say its reasonable.