Am I Being Ripped Off?

[South2North18]

I am im the middle of works to my garden but cannot shake the feeling that I am being ripped off with labour costs. This is the first time i am ever having works in my garden so i cannot be 100%, especially with the recent cost of living.
Any input or your own costs would be great. Thanks in advance.

Existing garden had approx 100sqm lawned area which was very uneven and about 50 sqm of existing concrete slab patio. I got 3 quotes to build a retaining wall between existing patio and lawn, renew patio (increase the area by about 20sqm) with porcelin slabs.

The cheapest of the quotes came in at £12k for labour only. I was advised materials would be £4k approximately. The other quotes, inclusive of materials were almost double. Went with the £12k quote.

Once the work started, a change in plans included digging up approx 40sqm of soil to level it. This is costing me £3000 labour. Extending the patio area by 45sqm is now another £4500 labour only. The builder looks for a minute, thinks and then gives me a price.

Labour for levelling an extra 40sqm of soil and extending patio by 45 sqm is now £7k. Total labour of around £19k. All in all with materials i am looking st £30k. It feels like i am being ripped off.

You say labour only. Does it include material removal? Machine hire?

If he can't put it in writing, with his address on top with the cost details and exact work he is proposing I would be very very suspicious.
Even a brickie or a roofer doing 1k of work gives a breakdown in writing.

I hate to say it but might a garden designer give you a better idea of the exact work required and how best to execute it.? Paying someone for a plan and construction details might work out cheaper in the long run, as this landscaper seems to not giving you full picture of work involved getting what you want
A reputable landscaper might come up with a cheaper way of getting what you want, working with slope etc.

You can spend 50k on landscaping but it is not necessarily needed

A long time ago I put in a concrete slab patio with tiles on top (terracotta concrete tiles). What I didn't notice was that the whole thing was too high and above the damp proof course. An elementary oversight...we had to cut a French drain down the side. A real landscaper would have noticed or suggested alternatives to my strange fancies.

No, materials are all mine and he has his own digger. It is not a hired digger. Grab and material removal is all at my cost so far too.

Just an update for all. I managed to get hold of one of the other chaps who had attended and quoted. He remembered my garden and works. It was a bit cheeky and awkward to make the call but i had no choice.

He was shocked how much i was being quoted for labour alone. He was not interested in coming to fix someone elses work. He was estimating with the variations, labour should be approximately half the £19.5k my current contractor was quoting.

I cant trust him so i dont even feel comfortable having him carry out the works. Will 99% be telling him to leave site and remove his tools tomorrow.

Please have someone with you when you tell him this, I suspect things could get nasty when he realises his bonus job is falling through.

What does your contract say?

We’ve just had our garden done- new build, so completely bare. Raised beds, large plants for screening, a letter box water feature, screening for the bin store, loads and loads of soil for the raised beds, patio extended. It took two weeks of long days and cost about a third of yours OP.