Tender for Building Contractors

Wexford-Bass

Right so, after getting the planning permission, and now I'm looking to get a few quotes from building contractors, etc. Does anyone have any examples of tender letters, and/or advice, as I would like to send off the plans to around 5 or 6 contractors this week, get the pricing down, and so I can turn the sod and start.:D

Poor Uncle Tom

Do you have a tender pack? Working Drawings, Full Specification, Safety and Health Plan, Basic Contract, Schedule of works, etc., or are you just looking to tender on your planning permission drawings only?

Wexford-Bass

I was thinking the basic tender letter and architect drawings, ask for breakdown etc. Then when I would narrow down the contractors, I would send them off the pack...... but the trouble is wording the tender letter...wouldn't know what one looks like even...

RKQ

The more detailed the information you supply the more detailed the quotes will be. It really is worth doing your homework, finalising every decision, every material and giving as much detail as possible. A full specification is crucial.

Planning drawings are usually for planning permission only. They rarely show enough detail to build the structure.The detail on your Planning drawings is an important factor. Many Agents drawings don't show much detail or specify many materials while some Agents submit very detailed drawings with full specifications - levels of detail can vary dramatically on planning drawing. A Building Contractor will require full detailed drawings & specification to price accurately.

There are many self build websites that give information on letters, contracts etc. Homebond & RIAI & others provide standard Contracts. Of course Professional help can be very beneficial at this stage.

bdoo

I've been tendering lately myself, basically I went through the house from foundations to roof covering and everything in between and decided what I wanted.

I made out a spec and sent it out with the plans. My site is grand so a strip foundation will do the job but I still covered my arse by saying 'to engineers specification' wherever there was something potentially problematic.

Also if you ask for Personal Choice sums for sanitary wear etc. to allow you to work out exactly what it's going to cost - builders only allow for cheap and cheerful stuff.

PM me and I'll send you what I have, I spent a good while on it cos if you don't every builder will be quoting for a different job and the prices can't be compared.

Poor Uncle Tom

Why risk missing something by doing it yourself, there are people out there doing this every day for a living..

BTW, a PC Sum is a Prime Cost Sum not a Personal Choice Sum and it has a very specific function.

MasterBlaster01

Hi There,

I am planning to embark on a full renovation project on a older property we have just bought- re-wire, re-insulate, re-plaster, re-plumb, new heating system, windows, 400sq ft extension, new bathrooms etc, etc...

I need to get tenders also. Regarding the work that i need done, what are the lists of specifications that I need to be concerned with providing to get the more accurate and like for like quotes? To what level of detail should I be providing? Is there anywhere that i can see or view a sample full renovation spec or similar? And if a detailed list is provided, will builders quote by individual details of the spec.

I am a bit lost on this whole project as i have zero experience but plan to do all the necessary research and prep work to bring me up to speed asap...

Thanks for any help..:)

sydthebeat

MasterBlaster01 wrote: »

Hi There,

I am planning to embark on a full renovation project on a older property we have just bought- re-wire, re-insulate, re-plaster, re-plumb, new heating system, windows, 400sq ft extension, new bathrooms etc, etc...

I need to get tenders also. Regarding the work that i need done, what are the lists of specifications that I need to be concerned with providing to get the more accurate and like for like quotes? To what level of detail should I be providing? Is there anywhere that i can see or view a sample full renovation spec or similar? And if a detailed list is provided, will builders quote by individual details of the spec.

I am a bit lost on this whole project as i have zero experience but plan to do all the necessary research and prep work to bring me up to speed asap...

Thanks for any help..:)

Preparing working drawings and construction specification requires years of education and experience to get anyway good at. The specification should be such to resolve design issues ie what level of heating control do you require in relation to the quality of build.... or what efficiency solar collectors do i need to meet my energy performance co-efficient. At all times cost - benefit analysis should be paramount. If you dont have the experience you cannot possibly analyse costs to benefits.

MasterBlaster01

I won't be doing the drawings for the extension and have an engineer lined up to help with this. I have not got the years of experience to allow me to draw up a quality construction spec for the project but I do know that to ensure I am getting the best price/job I need to spec as much as possible. I need to attempt this and crash course into it.....as best I can. It is no good me saying, as I don't have the experience I can't do a good plan.
I need to learn..quick, and attempt it.

So far I am bringing myself up to speed on windows and insulation. I have a very reliable plumbing and heating contact so will take his judgement there. And I have taken a lot of good info from the 'things I wish I had doen' sticky.

Can I get a list/opinions of the areas and sort of stuff that I should also be spec'ing to a degree of detail. With this I can then do my homework and research each of these areas as best I can. I am a quick learner

Thanks all....

MB

sydthebeat

MasterBlaster01 wrote: »

I won't be doing the drawings for the extension and have an engineer lined up to help with this. I have not got the years of experience to allow me to draw up a quality construction spec for the project but I do know that to ensure I am getting the best price/job I need to spec as much as possible. I need to attempt this and crash course into it.....as best I can. It is no good me saying, as I don't have the experience I can't do a good plan.
I need to learn..quick, and attempt it.

So far I am bringing myself up to speed on windows and insulation. I have a very reliable plumbing and heating contact so will take his judgement there. And I have taken a lot of good info from the 'things I wish I had doen' sticky.

Can I get a list/opinions of the areas and sort of stuff that I should also be spec'ing to a degree of detail. With this I can then do my homework and research each of these areas as best I can. I am a quick learner

Thanks all....

MB

http://www.eason.ie/look/9780415403597/Materials--Specification-and-Detailing/Norman-Wienand

the above is a handy book which would educate you to a proper working knowledge

MasterBlaster01

Excellent - thanks.

seclachi

I would consider seeking out a professional who could assist you with getting a spec together, eg an engineer. It would be a few thousand euros, but it may pay itself back, as if you went and did it yourself and left out something major out of the spec the builder could potentially screw you for it. Many people I have spoken to have said that in the current climate builders will give great tender prices, but with an eye to making back money on extras.

That being said, I`m sure plenty people have managed it themselves, but I think if you have no experience of the trade it would be a very steep learning curve.

My other personal advice is when you do get your tenders back from the builders make sure you go through them with a fine comb, even with the tightest spec they may quote for different things, such as pumped insulation instead of kingspan style stuff etc. If your spec isnt tight that goes double, the cheapest guy may not be the best as he could be missing half what you need.

topsparks

masterblaster01 if your looking for a price on the electrical installation of your project PM me and ill give you my details. leinster areas covered