How can quotes for work be so wildly different?!

[notnowbernard]

Need quotes done for damp-proofing for mortgage purposes

Quote 1: Minor damp issues in 2 areas, work not urgently required but if we wanted to do it it would cost £1800

Quote 2: Damp in 4 areas, strip back and damp-proof, re-plaster etc. That's £6k at least (prob more)

Both took damp readings throughout but used different readings
One was small local firm, one a nationwide
One turned up in work-gear, the other was in a suit

What do you think?

we had similar difference in quotes for some work we wanted doing (not damp stuff) and we put it down to the bigger company (with the much higher quote) not really wanting the job as they'd prefer to have a bigger job - it was roofing but we figured they'd prefer a full house roof over our job and hence were pricing us out.

Meant to say, we'd had a 3rd quote which was more in line with the cheaper quote (it was actually cheaper still but the bloke didn't even come out to see what we wanted done )

It was the national that gave the different quote

Meant to say in OP, they used different reader metres, and got (very) different results!

National gave HIGHER quote meant to say (dur)

Bump for evening crowd

I'd get a third quote. I'd also be more inclined to trust a local company than a national.

I'd get independent damp people in to check, they don't gain anything if you need work done and will therefore give you proper advice. Saved us about £6k in work (we still needed stuff done, but not as much as any or the damp firms we had in - 3 quotes all found damp in different places for different reasons).

Thanks all

Am going to get a 3rd quote done - have been recommended a local co. by a friend who had similar issues

Am v reluctant to fork out money on stuff that isn't 'proper' damp and isn't essential work, when I'm selling anyway!

ignoring any damp-proofing treatment they recommend, what was diagnosed as the cause? Water does not spontaneously occur, so it mostly comes from condensation; leaking pipes and drains; dripping gutters; blocked airbricks, and damp earth piled up against walls.

Damp-proofing treatment does not cure any of these causes.

If you invite into your home sombody who sells damp-proofing, he will try to sell you damp-proofing.

PJ - yes it's interesting that the small quote was from the general building firm, who aren't solely damp-proofers... The national guy was from a damp-proof company.

I personally think any high readings were due to condensation. Our building is Victorian, v common occurrence in this geographic location as well. DP reckons there might be a genuine bit of damp on an exposed (to the elements) wall but surely not enough to warrant hacking back to brick 4-5 walls in different rooms! Or maybe I'm seeing what I want to see... I guess we need the 3rd quote