Block Layer Rates

john2020

Anyone know the going rates for block layer in the Monaghan area, house size is 3,000 sq foot, trying to get an idea of what I would expect to pay for block layers, the house is standard cavity with bradstone finish with key stone corners.

mcneil

john2020 wrote: »

Anyone know the going rates for block layer in the Monaghan area, house size is 3,000 sq foot, trying to get an idea of what I would expect to pay for block layers, the house is standard cavity with bradstone finish with key stone corners.

1euro cash for 4inch block. Through the windows and gables suare

Dermobrickie

There's a lot more to it than the price per block. Any decent Brickie would have to see plans before they they decide on how to price it.

Boaty

47 euro per sqm for two 100mm leafs.

john2020

1 euro per block seems to be the average rate, getting building drawings at the moment to make it easier to price, is there much of a different in rate for laying bradstone? or is this much the same as the standard block

Dermobrickie

john2020 wrote: »

1 euro per block seems to be the average rate, getting building drawings at the moment to make it easier to price, is there much of a different in rate for laying bradstone? or is this much the same as the standard block

Yea the Bradstone will be dearer. It would be priced per sqm. Not sure what the rate is now a days.
A euro a block isn't bad but u never mentioned if it's built in insulation or pumped.
If u pm me I can put u on to a good Brickie in monaghan.

john2020

I was thinking of going with pumped insulation, I'm not sure which one is the best, but some people seem to swear by the pumped insulation

mickdw

Get an overall price.
I've seen this time and again. self builder gets genuine good overall price from good blocklayer. They also get a per block price from cowboy. Cowboy will estimate block quantity on the low side. Client figures cowboy price seems rather good based on this assumed block quantity. cowboy gets job, block total is far more than assumed, cowboy gets paid more than expected and also throws in charges for fitting calls, lintels etc whereas overall price had all this included.
Don't be caught line this. If someone prices per block and estimates x amount of blocks, tie them to overall price based on estimate.

mcneil

mickdw wrote: »

Get an overall price.
I've seen this time and again. self builder gets genuine good overall price from good blocklayer. They also get a per block price from cowboy. Cowboy will estimate block quantity on the low side. Client figures cowboy price seems rather good based on this assumed block quantity. cowboy gets job, block total is far more than assumed, cowboy gets paid more than expected and also throws in charges for fitting calls, lintels etc whereas overall price had all this included.
Don't be caught line this. If someone prices per block and estimates x amount of blocks, tie them to overall price based on estimate.

I know excellent blocklayers who charge per block then charges for the cills extras etc.. once they get the job. It doesnt mean they are a cowboy if they leave the extras for when they get the job. Its just savy buisness from them. Its the same throughout the business world. Its just up to the client to be cute knowing this when pricing up.

mickdw

I didn't mean that all people who charge per block are cowboys just that it'd in everyone's interest to know the cost up front.
The scenario I explained is typical of how a cowboy will price work though, deliberately under estimating quantities to give client a cheap looking price then screwing them when they get to site.
If my post can help the op to avoid such a scenario then it's all good.
If they are going with a price per block, it's a mine field so needs to be nailed down.
Overall price is much easier to nail down - Basically price to carry out blockwork as per drawings including installation of all insulation, dpcs, cills lintels, flues and filling chimney if possible.
On price, charging through openings can lead to dispute all by itself before you get to the rest of it.

Dermobrickie

mickdw wrote: »

I didn't mean that all people who charge per block are cowboys just that it'd in everyone's interest to know the cost up front.
The scenario I explained is typical of how a cowboy will price work though, deliberately under estimating quantities to give client a cheap looking price then screwing them when they get to site.
If my post can help the op to avoid such a scenario then it's all good.
If they are going with a price per block, it's a mine field so needs to be nailed down.
Overall price is much easier to nail down - Basically price to carry out blockwork as per drawings including installation of all insulation, dpcs, cills lintels, flues and filling chimney if possible.
On price, charging through openings can lead to dispute all by itself before you get to the rest of it.

That's the exact point I was making as well. It's OK saying a euro a block on a boundary wall or something. But on a house it's different. I would always be wary of a man that says a price without seeing the plans and even the site.

mcneil

mickdw wrote: »

I didn't mean that all people who charge per block are cowboys just that it'd in everyone's interest to know the cost up front.
The scenario I explained is typical of how a cowboy will price work though, deliberately under estimating quantities to give client a cheap looking price then screwing them when they get to site.
If my post can help the op to avoid such a scenario then it's all good.
If they are going with a price per block, it's a mine field so needs to be nailed down.
Overall price is much easier to nail down - Basically price to carry out blockwork as per drawings including installation of all insulation, dpcs, cills lintels, flues and filling chimney if possible.
On price, charging through openings can lead to dispute all by itself before you get to the rest of it.

I know blockies who price right through the openings and this usually covers the cills/lintels. they price the peaks sq and this covers the chimneys,cutiing peaks etc... Some just price differently and they usually are near each other anyway

john2020

I have been given the number of blocks and quanity of bradstone required to build, plus I'm having working drawings done up specific to the build, to make it as difficult as possible to nail any extras out of it. Was thinking going with an overall price for the block work, but just want to be sure that I'm getting the best price, I know a couple of guys that have peoped houses, one back in 2012 he payed 10,000 euro for 2,500 square foot house brick finish, and another guy just last year 2016 payed 12,000 euro plus 3,000 on extras for 3,200 square foot house bradstone finish.

mickdw

Yep but my point is it needs to be nailed down. There is generally a limit size for opening in terms of being paid through etc.

mjp

For a 2,500 sq foot house how much extra on average would most blocklayers price for fitting cavity board insulation. Also is pumped cheaper than board or much of a difference. Cavity size will be 200mm.

FiOT

mjp wrote: »

For a 2,500 sq foot house how much extra on average would most blocklayers price for fitting cavity board insulation. Also is pumped cheaper than board or much of a difference. Cavity size will be 200mm.

Pump it, definitely the easier and cheaper solution. We are getting our 2650sqft house pumped today, 200mm cavity to the tops of the gables: €4750.

john2020

Is there any specifics to the quality of pumped insulation or is it all the same?

FiOT

john2020 wrote: »

Is there any specifics to the quality of pumped insulation or is it all the same?

Not sure I understand?

Quality in terms of u value? The way it's pumped? If it reaches everywhere?

john2020

Yes I mean the U value of the insulation, I guess to go with a low U value the insulation would be more expensive

FiOT

All of the pumped insulation we were quoted for was around the 0.16 mark and prices varied between €4600 - €5500.

Be careful when you are looking online at u values etc. Make sure to ask what u value you get based on your blockwork make up e.g. doing you have a regular block on the edge for your inner leaf or is it a thermal block. Some of the websites give their u values based on thermal block inner leaf which we don't have so our value was ever so slightly lower as a result.

ht9zni1gs28crp

Also block wall with cavities over 200mm should really be built from both sides, the decent blocklayer will know this and price accordingly.