Figured PR was the best place for expert advice

Both my neighbour and I want to do a side return extension and plan to share a new party wall (approx 5m long). Excluding drainage, what would you expect to pay for foundations and the wall (brickwork to dpc and then blockwork on both sides)

as they're starting first, his builder has just quoted me £10k for our "half", which is about double what I thought it would be.

We're in North Herts if that helps.

5.7 billion is the wall quote.

i might be a few bob short

Pay for the wall and then ask Mexico for reimbursement, it's an incredible deal.

The upgrade of the Great Wall of China comes in at a bit more than that!

Very difficult without having a look/seeing plans, but that seems 2-3k over

They're probably using Festool...

A festool trowel and plumb level set would be a thing of beauty.

the carpenter I just sold my first child too only used festool.

Explains alot.

cheers lads. Going to ask for a breakdown. Couple of other builders have told me i'm being ripped off but don't trust any of the feckers.

True Level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-wbWGwZ7_k

Tad ungrateful to HH

present company excluded of course

The Chinese Nancy Pelosi will have been added to the cement mixture years ago.

Surely the bigger question here is can you trust your neighbour?

I've a few Festools now. The DeWalts were good but nothing on these lovely bits of kit.

Any plans friedchimp? I don't think we have enough information.

I have a few builders to ask. I do planning applications too.

So 20k for a 5m long cavity block wall? How many storey?

Materials would be ~1k. 2 men could have it done in a week. 19k divided by 2, divided by 5 = builders taking home 1.9k each per day. You do the math!

Seems an extortionate price to me.

Your quote isn't from a builder in Letchworth by any chance?

No, why is there someone from Letchworth I should be avoiding? This one's based in Stevenage.

I had a poor experience with one some years back. No experience with Stevenage builders even though it's my local town

Hum. That explains a lot of things.

If it's a side return extention - then only one storey probably

10K (20K) for that seems crazy expensive - it's likely that the builder is just taking the piss because you both have to agree to it (if they've already started on the other side)

That’s a bad start. They’re all either cowboys or conmen in St. Evenage.

Shit, just re-read the thread, I thought the 10k was the shared price

They're doing you sans lube.

Well explain them to me then

Your neighbours builder might have agreed to give a convenient breakdown for the work. Charge for the other non shared work parts more cheaply, but charge more for this job.

You will already know, living near there.

That's what i thought, cheers HH.

5k absolute max for a 5m cavity block wall (in total - both “halves”!). That would allow ~1k for materials and 2 men 2 weeks at £200 a day each.

Still expensive, especially when you consider that it wouldn’t take that long and that one of those men would be a labourer on a pittance.

Cheers cb

I really don't. Beautiful countryside that I go walking in regularly, great pubs. A very good hospital that has done well for my family. Great communications, I can be at my favourite pub or restaurant in Soho within 50 minutes.
We also have a very good local councillor. But you wouldn't know anything about that.
Only downside is that the local rugby club is a shithole

You don't just lay out the blocks along the flowerbed in a nice line and throw some cement between them. There's the foundation for a start....

Well. I'm told I'm a very good Councillor. But I'm sure you, St K know better.

I've worked in Stevenage and have appeared on stage at the Gordon Craig theatre.

FYI, it's pronounced "COUNCE - iller". I think they've been trying to tell you something else.

Well, that has flown over my head.

Unusual for me as a crossword solver and compiler.

Blimey, no lift companies in Stevenage. I guess you were consulting for Airbus Defence and Space?
They are to demolish The Gordon Craig Theatre. I assume you played Widow Twanky

Nope, I've been in pantomime though. I was there with a principal ballet dancer from the Royal Ballet school.

Her husband was a Finance Director of a certain company. She was gorgeous. Her walk was as though she'd got a shampoo glass on her head.

Go on. Have a guess as to the real role.

What are they going to put up in its place?

Forgot to add. Barbara Windsor was in it.

Yes, as detailed in his post.

I’m quite aware what’s involved in construction, thanks.

Any 2 man team who can’t dig a foundation, pour concrete and build a 5m wall in a week of work isn’t worth his salt.