I was quoted £195k for my extension. Is this Normal in Oxford?

[NameyMcNameName]

Just wondering if this is normal?
it’s a simple 6m x 6m flat roof extension, with a kitchen and small shower. Some stud walls. Velux windows and bifolds. This is our first quote. We have another few builders coming around.

Our architect put together a materials list for us and figures came up to around £41k. I have been told we could get the shell exterior and stud walls done for around £80-90k by 2 architects on viewing and one of our small jobs builder who renovated our kitchen.

is this how expensive things are now in South East England? I could build a whole house or buy an /apartment for £195k!

I’d say the builder doesn’t want the job. Could the architect suggest any local builders?

He doesn’t want the job. Find another builder.

Seems high but if it were includes a luxury hand built kitchen then it could be reasonable, without the kitchen you need to add £££ for that too.

i paid £52k 10 years ago, pitched not flat and things have gone up a lot so i would expect £100k from a number out of the air perspective

Thanks for the replies. It definitely sounds like they don’t want the job. Why not just say, we don’t want it instead of giving me a palpitations!

52k 10 years ago would be about 85k now I think. Which is still reasonable/affordable to me. But 195k… it’s not even a high spec. It’s just standard build.

My dad used to to that if he didn’t want a job. And if the person is mad enough to accept he didn’t mind doing it

Def don't want to do the job. We are having a much larger extension done for under half that (and not flat roof!) in an expensive market town in the SE.

Why not just say, we don’t want it instead of giving me a palpitations!

because if you will pay that then they will do it, and because who knows, if some other job falls through, they can always negotiate with you.

Our same size extension 4 years ago, we were quoted £85k but it ended up costing £120k in the end as materials jumped up massively whilst we were having it done

Just remember that prices have at least doubled since Covid so £52k 10 years ago would be at least £130k now

Does seem a bit pricey. But that is a 400 sqr foot extension. So is almost the size of a lot of 1 bed flats.

I guess it also depends a lot on the kitchen fitments - £50K is not outrageous for a luxury kitchen. If you do the same on the bathroom that could take up a lot of cost.

Velux windows in a flat roof ?

The only way to really know if you are paying to much is to get a comparison quote from others. For example the foundation excavation might be particularly problematic.

The idea that you can fit in a 400 sqft extension in your garden suggests you may well be paying a big house premium.

130-150k I’d guess will be the best you’ll do

We’ve been told by an architect that DP works with regularly that single storey extensions are costing £200k for the shell - that’s London.

the architect has nothing to lose / gain from telling DP that.

Bloody hell no. I had a similar extension in the south east and paid a quarter of that. Good grief.

When?

We paid £40k for a (pitched slated roof, plasterboarded but not plastered/finished internally) extension of the same size in the south of England in 2012. This included a massive, timber framed double height window.

Our architect had guesstimated it would cost £25k!

To keep costs down we did all the internal work ourselves - fortunately DH can plaster etc. The kitchen (bespoke timber cabinets which I painted - from an independent kitchen co) came in at under £10k plus appliances.

I imagine with the increase in labour/materials costs, the extension alone to shell finish would now be more like £125k.

£195k does seem high imho.

I would say £150000 would be to be expected

You think £85k to build the 6m x 6m shell, fit a new kitchen and shower room. Finish walls, floors and tiling and install velux and bifold doors should be doable?
why not break down what yiu think things would cost.
foundations
building shell
kitchen fittings
appliances
shower room
tiling
electrics
lightung fixtures
flooring
painting

break it down and see what you think each aspect would cost

They do that where I live too. Quote super high as they don't really want the job, and if anyone says yes, then they make a killing. Trouble is, there are so few reliable tradespeople that people say yes out of desperation, and all the prices go up.

That's very high. We paid that for a 13m x 4.5m, part double (half), part single extension in SE last year (not including kitchen and bathroom fittings, decor etc). That builder doesn't want the job.

@NameyMcNameName did you end up finding a builder quoting you a reasonable price? We’re on the lookout for a builder for renovation+extension work so we’re wondering.

It’s true, however unbelievable it sounds. Unfortunately.