Is this a lot of money?

[FizzyPink]

We have quite a small garden which is totally open to the street and not really useable because of this. We had a family member who was going to do it for us but they’ve just been so flakey and unreliable I decided to get some quotes from other builders.

The garden is roughly 10m x 4m and we’re wanting to have artificial grass laid and then a standard fence along one long and one short side. The two quotes I’ve had are for £6k and £5k. This does also include digging out the stones that currently cover the area.

I think I was expecting more £3-3.5k so this seems quite steep but maybe that’s to be expected? We’re probably only going to live here another year or two so now thinking it’s maybe not worth it. We’re South London if that makes a difference

When you say open to the street? Do you have parking?

So it’s a weird layout to describe, maybe I need to draw a picture.

Its a ground floor flat and you go out what is basically our back door to reach the garden but it’s at the front of the property. So just in front of our garden space is a shared parking space and a bit of grass with a tree and then the street. We’ve got a tiny picket fence at the moment but it’s pointless and anyone could walk straight off the street into the garden (which a lot of our friends do!)

We really want it fenced and the grass put down because we can’t keep any garden furniture out there and the pebbles are really sharp and uneven so you can’t comfortably sit on the floor

It does sound alot. You could prep the ground yourself.

Also how long would you expect to wait for a quote? The guy I liked the most and felt was the most experienced came over to look at it yesterday afternoon but haven’t heard anything from him yet

Sounds reasonable for london.

Average quality grass tends to be about £75 m2 supply and fit. Plus you’ll need to remove the stones/skip/ new base etc.

Then there’s the fence even very cheap fence panels are about £25 each then you’ve got all the extras plus the fitting.

You might find it slightly cheaper but I suspect under £5k is unrealistic.

That sounds about right to me, the labour cost alone will be around £2k plus 2k for the grass plus another 1 to 2k for the fence materials and waste removal

So I’ve just had another quote actually from the guy I thought was the most knowledgeable and asked lots of important questions which the others didn’t. However, it’s only for £2,500 and when he came round he said he would give us a choice of fencing and grass which we haven’t had yet so do you think this is just for labour?

I don’t know how to ask without sounding like I think it’s ridiculously cheap if it’s for both

He’s laid it out like this and then at the bottom it says total £2,500

"Install new artificial turf to all areas" doesn't say 'supply' because all the other items give a specification for the materials.

I think that quote didn't include the cost of the grass.

That makes sense actually, how would you word a response to clarify? I don’t want to sound like I think it’s very cheap compared to other quotes

Could you buy some bamboo screens on amazon and put them up yourself?

We could but they wouldn’t be secure so would defy the object of doing the garden which is to make it secure.

I’m keen to go with the £2,500 quote, just need to work out a way of asking whether it includes the materials and if not how much they would be!

Just respond 'can you confirm whether this includes all materials?'

Have you considered Facebook, etc., for the grass? I've just seen someone in Salisbury selling their grass and underlay for £250 - one of the pieces is enough to do your garden. You might be able to find something more local. Just a thought!

Looks like that's an invoice not a quote too. Leaving yourself wide open here. Faux grass could be another £1000 on top of that, then sand and weed control matting another £150 . Doesn't say anywhere it will be laid flat, so could be lumpy. What about drainage ? All a bit up in the air for my liking.

Given he said you’d have a choice of fencing, ask him to show you samples of the materials for the quote, and then let him correct your assumption if wrong. That way, he thinks the quote is high if he didn’t include them, so will be more open to negotiating.

Also, consider hiring someone from a cheaper area eg Newcastle and giving them petrol money. Could work out a lot cheaper.

A proper grass lawn would be cheaper and nicer

Why do people want artificial turf?

Have you not heard of global warming and wildlife being in trouble?

How do worms and insects live beneath artificial turf?

Birds need worms and insects to survive - the great circle of life breaks down.

What happens to the plastic turf when you have finished with it? Landfill or incineration presumably.

Get a real lawn.

Yes I understand the hate for the artificial lawn but we live in a tiny flat and the area is really quite small so realistically have nowhere to store a lawn mower. Plus currently there’s only slate pebbles on the area so we’re not removing anything where wildlife might be living.

Aah here are the reall lawn crew. Bugger off with it. If someone wants artifical grass then it is no one elses choice. Ffs. Judgemental!

I have dogs and kids and our lawn was shit. It looks incredible now its artificial. I also have RA so really struggled cutting and maintaining a lawn and now it looks amazing all the time with zero effort.

Having artificial grass laid can be v expensive if done properly, the base thoroughly prepared. The cost of the ‘grass’ is the least of it. I suspect that’s what’s whacking up your costs.
A year or so ago (also London) we paid £1600 for a tiny patch of ‘lawn’ (less than 3 x 2m) in the v small garden of a rental property. We had 3 quotes and they were all much the same.

I think I was told £45pmsq for mine but we are in Yorkshire. Garden was trashed after a rear extension.

Pros, best thing we ever did, very little maintenance, occasional brushing the leaves off it, bit of weedkiller, the grass dries very quickly after rain, no muddy clothes or grass stains on clothing. Football can be played and not leave a patch of just mud (as they had previously done).

Cons, it gets hot in summer, but you just slip flip flops on, put down a beach towel.

We still have loads of birds visiting (sometimes their bird song is very loud, so not affected them coming here for food) and they sunbathe! They sit there with their wings spread wide open just basking. It is adorable to watch.

So interestingly I’ve confirmed with the 3rd builder and the £2,500 quote includes all materials as well as labour. I can’t believe he’s less than half the price of one of the other quotes we had!
He was also definitely the most thorough when checking it all out and I’ve had photos and personal recommendations from 2 of his previous clients so seems good to go

Hmmm. I'm having roughly 32msq of fake grass and thats 3.5k alone?

That sounds a lot! This one is saying £15 a msq should give us a medium to high end choice of grass but if we wanted top of the range it will be slightly more. We’re having 35 msq done.

However looking back at the initial quote we have of £6250 he was charging £20 a msq but the majority of his quote was for the labour and he planned to do it in the double the time as our cheapest quote