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Original poster

Driveway troubles

41 replies

Mitosisgirl · 09/08/2021 22:12

Hi all,

We got a quote for our driveway and back garden drive and path to be done up with block paving. It was 9500. This was documented. We agreed to it and asked for a manhole to get block paving, as well as a boundary between us and the neighbour, and a small extra path. He said this would be 2000 extra. This is documented. We went ahead with it. He told us that the manhole was deeper than he had anticipated and when we asked how much extra, he said that he didn't know. The driveway has been done now. And, it's 2800 extra! This was totally unexpected. It's my first house and it's a medium sized house. Our garden and drive aren't that big.

What should we do? The extra 2800 is far too much.

OP posts:
parietal · 09/08/2021 22:23

well it is only £800 extra over what you agreed to.

and I don't know what you mean by the manhole being deeper than expected. do you now have a manhole cover that has the decorative block paving filled in? maybe the builder had to get a special type of cover to fit the hole.

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 09/08/2021 22:27

It's an extra 4800 than the first quote. He is charging us an extra 2800 for a deeper manhole. We did not agree to the extra 2900. Yes, the decorative block paving filled in. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with driveways and manhole covers?

OP posts:
sunglassesonthetable · 09/08/2021 22:51

£2800 extra to the first price sounds loads! More than double.

Livingintheclouds · 10/08/2021 01:17

I'm not sure what the depth of the manhole has to do with it as surely the manhole just covers the access? But I don't know. He should have warned you it was going to be that much more, and I'd ask him to justify it - materials? Labour?

endofthelinefinally · 10/08/2021 01:21

Get a couple more quotes. This sounds strange to me. He should have thoroughly inspected the area before quoting and the job should be itemised in writing.

Auntienumber8 · 10/08/2021 05:15

Was there a manhole already there or has he put one in, it’s not clear.

We just had a new drive and there was a manhole in the drive already it has been replaced and instead of the metal cover it now matches the drive. No extra cost.

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 06:40

@Livingintheclouds

I'm not sure what the depth of the manhole has to do with it as surely the manhole just covers the access? But I don't know. He should have warned you it was going to be that much more, and I'd ask him to justify it - materials? Labour?
Absolutely no idea what happened there. He said that the manhole was a lot deeper than he had thought. It was do to do with materials, apparently.
OP posts:
Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 06:42

@endofthelinefinally

Get a couple more quotes. This sounds strange to me. He should have thoroughly inspected the area before quoting and the job should be itemised in writing.
It was itemised in writing. Then, yesterday, we get a bill stating that the extra cost was 2800!
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Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 06:44

@Auntienumber8

Was there a manhole already there or has he put one in, it’s not clear.

We just had a new drive and there was a manhole in the drive already it has been replaced and instead of the metal cover it now matches the drive. No extra cost.

There was already a manhole cover there and it was quite ugly and in the way. So, we asked for it to match drive.

The driveway contractor is stating that the manhole was a lot deeper than he had thought, so is asking for 2800 extra!

OP posts:
Telegram · 10/08/2021 06:50

Manhole covers for block paving are £50. If it's deep you can use a riser. Another £50. Sounds like he's pulling a fast one.

PigletJohn · 10/08/2021 06:52

Who is "he?"

The neighbour or the builder?

What does "documented" mean?

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 07:03

@Telegram

Manhole covers for block paving are £50. If it's deep you can use a riser. Another £50. Sounds like he's pulling a fast one.
Oh, gosh, really? 😐
OP posts:
Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 07:04

@PigletJohn

Who is "he?"

The neighbour or the builder?

What does "documented" mean?

By "he", I was referring to the builder. By "documented", I meant that he gave us the quote/estimate in writing.
OP posts:
wonkylegs · 10/08/2021 07:07

When did he quote compared to doing the work?
Materials costs have gone up a lot recently (ridiculously, due to international issues with supply and demand) and that may be a factor however he should be explicit and tell you as he was purchasing not just afterwards.

PragmaticWench · 10/08/2021 07:08

I'd ask for a written breakdown of the extra costs, so how much for labour and how much for materials and what those materials were exactly.

johnd2 · 10/08/2021 07:12

2800 is probably the opening gambit of his negotiation for what he'd really like for the job(as opposed to what he quoted to get the job)
So you need to go back and negotiate the other way. Asking for exactly what was done extra is a good start, vague comments about a deep manhole are no use, but perhaps he had to rebuild it brick by brick for some reason? Then you can take it from there.

johnd2 · 10/08/2021 07:12

Also sorry that this has happened to you, it's very stressful!

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 07:14

@wonkylegs

When did he quote compared to doing the work? Materials costs have gone up a lot recently (ridiculously, due to international issues with supply and demand) and that may be a factor however he should be explicit and tell you as he was purchasing not just afterwards.
The first quote was a month ago, and the second quote was a week before the actual work started. We got the bill with the extra 2800 the day the work finished.

I am aware that materials are expensive, but this is ridiculous.

During the work, he said that the manhole was deeper than anticipated, but he did not tell us how much extra it would be. He gave us the bill at the end.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 07:15

@PragmaticWench

I'd ask for a written breakdown of the extra costs, so how much for labour and how much for materials and what those materials were exactly.
Good idea! 😀
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Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 07:16

@johnd2

2800 is probably the opening gambit of his negotiation for what he'd really like for the job(as opposed to what he quoted to get the job) So you need to go back and negotiate the other way. Asking for exactly what was done extra is a good start, vague comments about a deep manhole are no use, but perhaps he had to rebuild it brick by brick for some reason? Then you can take it from there.
That is a good strategy! Thank you!
OP posts:
PigletJohn · 10/08/2021 07:17

By "documented", I meant that he gave us the quote/estimate in writing.

Which was it?

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 07:21

@PigletJohn

By "documented", I meant that he gave us the quote/estimate in writing.

Which was it?

Just checked, it's actually a contract.
OP posts:
Kazplus2 · 10/08/2021 07:24

Hi. This sounds very odd. You have stated the work has completed. Did it take longer than expected? Have they been able to show you the extra materials required for the initial £2000 extra and then the subsequent £2800. Is your quote split between materials and labour. More information required.

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 10/08/2021 07:38

@Kazplus2

Hi. This sounds very odd. You have stated the work has completed. Did it take longer than expected? Have they been able to show you the extra materials required for the initial £2000 extra and then the subsequent £2800. Is your quote split between materials and labour. More information required.
Overall, the work took three days. There was delay in the middle, due to the block paving delivery. There was no delay, because of the manhole. The contract and the invoice does not split between materials and labour.
OP posts:
WB205020 · 10/08/2021 07:59

Sounds extortionate. Even the original quote.
We had a block paved drive done with 2 man hole covers for less than 500 (for the covers).
He is a chancer and I would think about calling another driveway contractor in you area and ask them how much a manhole cover would be. No where near 500.

I suspect overall costs increased and rather than be upfront he has bulked the price out to recover his margin.