How much to change a radiator?

[wendybird77]

I think my builder is over charging me for changing out two radiators and boxing in the pipes. I'm not having them moved, just putting new column rads in. Obviously it depends where you are, but how much should this cost generally?

Glad you've asked this question Wendybird, I dont have an answer but wondered what it would cost to get a radiator changed to a smaller one in my kitchen? Any idea?

How much is he charging?

I paid £350, which included the cost of the new tall column radiator just before Xmas. Old radiator removed, new fixings on wall at 45 degree angle to previous. Piping was all flexi stuff, so just bent the other way. Wall replastered where old rad removed. Took him about 2 hours altogether.

Buy the radiators yourself and fit them. Get some advice in b and q or wickes or similar. Look online.

I begrudge paying anyone for fitting stuff we can do ourselves with care and effort.

Although gas, electrics and big jobs we leave to the professionals.

My best guess would be £200/ea + parts without seeing the job! Based in Surrey (London higher, most places lower..). How much has he quoted/charged you?

For the ones he hasn't had to move pipes for he's charging £380 and £355 - I have bought the radiators and he's charging £128 to box in one set of pipes. I'm being fleeced aren't I? He hasn't yet done the work, it was added on to other work he's doing in the house. We're in the South West.

Sorry, that isn't quote accurate - I don't think the pipes will fit exactly - so will need a bit of work - not just taking off old and putting on new. It is the same location for the rads though.

A large column radiator would cost more than that, without the work.

You do realise that the heating system will probably need drained , refilled and bleed to fit the new pipework which all takes time.

Yes, I know as I ordered and paid for the radiators. The charge is for fitting them. I was talking to some friends who seemed to think the quote for labour (inc. valves) was too expensive. I thought I would consult the collective wise of MN. I'm already annoyed with him about other things, though he is a very nice man. I don't want to challenge it if it is reasonable.

The labour cost does sound high to me even if it does include a couple of valves and some boxing material, I would have thought 200 pounds each is more the mark but I am in north down where the labour costs are a fair bit less.

I am in west sussex and just before christmas i paid £1100 to replace 6 rads. That included the cost of new convectors rads, 5 large doubles and 1 smaller double all with trv's. He had to change the pipe work to fit the new metric radiators including some pipe work that came through the wall. Took him about a day and a half in total but a bit of that was to do other work being done on our extension(fitting pipes ready for the rads in the new rooms) but paid for separately via our building contractor.

I think I need to move to west Sussex

Sounds alot I've just been quoted not much more that to refit my whole bathroom including putting a ladder radiator instead of old normal rad. Only extra is tiling which DH is doing. I'd look for another builder/plumber.