Windows Supply V Supply & Fit, Rule of Thumb ?

ChewyLuey

Hi All

I know this is a bit of an abstract question and depends on the Window company in question but is there any rule of thumb for the price difference between Window Supply and Window Supply and Fit. I am aware that there are warranty issues for supply only but wouldn't mind exploring all avenues. It is for changing of existing timber single glazed windows in bungalow to double glazed.
Thanks

sinnerboy

Windows supply €300-400m2

Window installation €250 ea*

Windows spec and access to install affect price - i.e. *assumption is you provide all site access needs incl. power + scaffolding .

gears

€250 to fit a window seems a bit high, I would have said half that would be expensive. Assuming of course theres not a huge amount of tidying up (re-plastering etc) as it's a replacement job.

sinnerboy

2 men x 3 hours x €40 = €240 to

remove existing window carefully into skip
install + seal new windows and make good ( skim plaster internal )
fit new window board

What would you - being fair and reasonable - expect ?
Pay a lesser rate ? Expect it done quicker ?

sinnerboy

It is near impossible to find anything anywhere that does all three especially in the building world

gears

For a resonably sized window, I would think it not unresonable for one man to do that job in 3 hours. The existing window could simply be cut out with little or no damage to the opening surrounds or needing the window board removed. If the new window is correctly measured it could be fixed in place through the frame and the glass installed after fitting leaving minimal re-plastering. Even if the window board needs changing it's hardly a complicated job.
I do accept that when replacing windows it could take considerably longer as plaster could simply fall off when removing an old window, the window board could be rotted to the core or even worse find no lintol over the old window all of which can happen and would increase the cost of changing windows.

braftery

Hi there,

To give you a guide companies are probably charging between €25-€45 per square metre for fitting ... depending on the quantity of material.

Revenue have a strict rule about this.

Windows sold supply only are vatable at 21%, supply and fit is vatable at 13.5%

If you are the end user of the product you cannot reclaim the vat on the purchase. This can negate quite a bit of the price difference.

Cost of fitting materials.

Does the supply price include ALL fitting materials ?

Straps
Wedges
Shims
Foam
Mastic / Silicone

If not, then you need to allow for these, and make sure you get products that are ok to use with the windows that you have bought (ie: that will not void the warranty).

If you are fitting more complex items, large fixed windows, sliding or folding doors, etc ... you will need a decent laser level (visible beam).

In general, I think it is better to arrange supply and fit as you have one company to speak to if you have a problem with either element of the job.

braftery

In my opinion it is always better to take out the old windows from the inside.



The old straps (if there are any !) will have to be found and cut away.
The window board will have to be removed.
Old window removed and skipped on site (or packed on truck)
The internal plaster will need to be cut back to allow the new window to be placed in position.
The internal plaster will need to be cut back further where new straps are going to be fixed.
Window Positioned (Plum, level and true)
Window straps fixed back on inner block.
Foam filled into the gap surrounding window. (if you dont do this you are throwing away your money changing your windows as all the heat will simply pass out around the side of the window).
Silicone seal around the outside.
Plaster up the inside

Minimum 3 hours per window, if all goes well !

For a bungalow with 8-10 windows, onsite time 3.5 days for 2 men, if you want a good job.

PS: Dont forget bathroom and kitchen windows may have tiles to be dealt with !!

650gs

40 euro per hour multiply that by 8 hours equals 320 euro per day multiply that by 5 equals 1600 euros per week I must be under pricing myself by at least 50% that seems an awful price even 3 years ago.
I couldn't charge that for a man I would be out of business

braftery

650gs you are dead right !

€40/hr is sinful ! €320/day !

Even with these deductions:

€20 Transport: Van Loan (16k/5 year loan) = €424/month / 21.5days (4.3weeks/5)
€4.4 Van Service/Maintainence/NCT = €1000/225 work days)
€15.15 Insurance: Van (1000/year / 225 work days) + Professional Ins (2500/225)
€6.97 Phone (€150/month / 21.5)
€20 Fuel (Diesel/Petrol)
€35 Fitting Materials (€7/sq mtr x 5mtrs/day)
€5.33 Accountant Fees (€1200/225)

Its still €213.15 per day before tax !!

650gs

I see where your coming from but everyone is different and everyone charges according to there cost you have a van at 16,000 mine is a 05 Transit cost me 5,000 servicing you allow 1,000 for the last two years two services a year cost me 320 a year your van insurance cost at 1,000 mine with Quinn cost 380 and you have 2,500 for company insurance mine again with Quinn cost 1,800 your phone 150 per month mine 80 your accountant 1,200 mine 500 I just finished a job in Pembroke Road Dublin 4 all windows changed, new window boards and made good 2 men 1 hour to remove and 1 man 1 hour to make good so that's total 3 hours @ 25 euro per hour plus materials it still works out a big difference between our pricing I charge a company 30 euro per hour and private 25 when I add vat I charge 21% on materials and 13.5 on labour and if its a rented apartment or house the landlord can claim back vat.
That's a big sentence its all about trying to keep the cost down and still give a good service and we seem to be doing well at the moment but trying times for all

braftery

I admire your ability to keep your costs that low !!

By the way I dont disagree that €40/hour is high ... I was only trying to point out that a self employed persons rate per hour is not all salary