Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey?

UncleRic · 15-10-2007, 14:43

I've had a quote from a local carpenter / door fitter of £420 + VAT to fit (not including doors / door furniture) 9 internal standard doors & 1 folding door. Does that seem reasonable? I have tried to get other quotes but no one else was available to complete the work in the timescale I needed so couldn't really help.

I'd have a go myself but really don't have the time to spare what with other things going on at the moment

ap0gee · 15-10-2007, 14:54

Don't know what the standard rate for a chippy is, but we replaced all the internal doors in our old house (6 in total) over a weekend, plus another day to paint them. I think we paid about £150-200 in total for the tools and materials.

Decorating the living room and hall/stairs/landing in our current house took two guys about a week, and cost about £700 in labour, with about £150 in materials.

So I guess what I'm saying is that £420 seems OK if it includes all the materials, but a bit on the steep side if it's just labour...

Tom_vRS · 15-10-2007, 14:56

Thats only about £50 a door... if you've seem some peoples bodged door hanging you'd say that was very reasonable! It can take over an hour to fit a door, so all of a sudden it doesn't sound so bad.

Pretty sure you could ring round and get it down to around half that for a no receipt

job.

Hanging doors isn't easy. Saying that, I fitted all 6 internal doors in our hallway in one weekend, and all but one of them is perfect!

UncleRic · 15-10-2007, 15:01

The price quoted was JUST for the guy to come over with a hammer / saw (whatever), hang the doors and attach the handles and hinges which I already have. I think I'm going to have to go with him becuase he's the only one available, but I'd rather know I wasn't being massivley ripped off..

ap0gee · 15-10-2007, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleRic

I think I'm going to have to go with him becuase he's the only one available, but I'd rather know I wasn't being massivley ripped off..

It works out about £30 an hour - that's probably about right for a tradesman these days...

Dr Zoidberg · 15-10-2007, 15:07

Is yours a modern house with doors that are exactly square and standard sizes? If so then that's very expensive and you'll be much better off having a go yourself.

If it's an older house with off-square holes that will require a lot of woodwork then it's probably not too far off the mark , but get it in writing that the job is a fixed price.

Either way I'd try and find a few more quotes

heresmo · 15-10-2007, 15:09

Hmm... I think it depends on the job you are asking them to do. For example, very few door openings are "square" so might need precise measurements and shavings from all four sides to make a door fit. Also, metric hinges are smaller and it could be that existing screw holes are in the wrong place, plus might need a wood fillet to patch up existing rebates re hinges.

I'd say to find out exactly what job they were going to do.

If the spec is to trim a bit off the bottom and whack them in, then that's expensive IMO.

Regards
Mo

UncleRic · 15-10-2007, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Zoidberg

Is yours a modern house with doors that are exactly square and standard sizes? If so then that's very expensive and you'll be much better off having a go yourself.

If it's an older house with off-square holes that will require a lot of woodwork then it's probably not too far off the mark , but get it in writing that the job is a fixed price.

Either way I'd try and find a few more quotes

Fair point. Its an older house and the doors are apparently a 'funny' size (although I managed to buy them with no trouble). Maybe its not as bad as I thought then.

UncleRic · 15-10-2007, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by heresmo

Also, metric hinges are smaller and it could be that existing screw holes are in the wrong place, plus might need a wood fillet to patch up existing rebates re hinges.

I hadn't even given that aspect of it a second thought. The doors are the original ones fitted when the house was built. He's actually seen the doors and frames so I suppose he's taken account of those points too. Thanks.

Lady Elanore · 15-10-2007, 15:28

Don’t forget that the bottom hinge goes further away from the bottom of the door than the top hinges is away from the top of the door. Can’t remember what the ratio was, as I was doing the ironing when the bloke was on the telly explaining why they do it. I think it’s because your head is much nearer the top hinge than the bottom, so the effect of the asymmetric hinge placement is to make the door appear balanced and symmetrical.

ap0gee · 15-10-2007, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

Don’t forget that the bottom hinge goes further away from the bottom of the door than the top hinge

6" and 9"

(suppose it's 152.4mm and 228.6mm these days...

)

BeezerDiesel · 15-10-2007, 15:34

I paid around £30 a door for mine to be fitted. Mines a modern house with standard size doors. However it didn't turn out to be the straightforward job we both had reckoned!! A lot of shaving and messing about was involved due to the normal high standards of British workmanship employed when they built (threw together) the house. Plus there's the measuring of where to put the latch and handles, drilling them out etc.
I was going to fit mine myself but very glad I didn't in the end.

Lady Elanore · 15-10-2007, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by ap0gee

6" and 9"

(suppose it's 152.4mm and 228.6mm these days...

)

Funny what sort of sinks in while you are ironing or doing other stuff. Perhaps I should tried ironing when I was doing my O/A levels.

Oh, i just measured mine as I was curious and you are spot on

heresmo · 15-10-2007, 15:38

Another thought if you can only get one quote is to negotiate. I've torn my hair out in retrospect about sums I've paid cos I was told that that was the cost (especially of course when not particularly good job done.)

If the contractor knows you need the job done urgently, effectively you are saying that will accept any price, just to get the job done in time. Why not ring them to say that you've found a better quote of £x (much cheaper) (which you could well) so are not sure what to do now? Without closing off any doors LOL.

The difference in the original contractor's favour would be that you're expecting them to do a good job cos you have their quote in writing (as Dr Z says) or they'll surely give you one? But even so, the other one is an awful lot cheaper...

If that doesn't result in a price reduction (it should if you have nine doors, which is a good number in workmen time-planning terms), plus you're not desperate any more, then it should at least ensure you get a job well done.

Mo

ap0gee · 15-10-2007, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

Oh, i just measured mine as I was curious and you are spot on

Woo-hoo!

Lady Elanore · 15-10-2007, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by ap0gee

Woo-hoo!

heresmo · 15-10-2007, 15:48

Interesting... I always wondered about hinge placement. I read somewhere that it was to do with very clever things re physics, that people are smaller than doors and would tend to pull a door downwards, so needed the top hinge higher to compensate (a bit like spreading weight). Dunno though.

Mo

ap0gee · 15-10-2007, 15:56

I think it's purely an optical thing: the hinges appear to be an equal distance from the top and bottom of the door when the average person is stood facing it...

BeezerDiesel · 15-10-2007, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by ap0gee

I think it's purely an optical thing: the hinges appear to be an equal distance from the top and bottom of the door when the average person is stood facing it...

That a bit like the old 'cut the door with a very slight arch to the top' trick so that it fools your eyes into thinking it's straight, where as a straight cut would look curved.
IIRC the Parthanon(sp?) in Athens had this feature on a rather grand scale. Although it didn't feature B&Q budget doors

***JohnD*** · 15-10-2007, 18:03

Door hinges are still sold as imperial in a decent Builders merchant, thus for internal doors usually 3" butts.

If you go to aforsaid merchants do not buy prepacked - they should have loose in brown carton.

If you are in Bucks try Isacc Lord in High Wycombe (they are on the web)
A quick Google for hinges will find you all manner of info.
Jewsons on Gt missenden (Nigel / Colin) or E R Smith nr Chesham would be two B M to try.

Older houses tended to have cast hinges - then again why not reuse old ones?

if gunged up with paint - put in Nitromors for a short while and then remove paint.
(after you have removed from old door)

Hope this helps

15-10-2007, 14:43	#1
UncleRic Powahhhhhh.. Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Buckinghamshire Posts: 777 Members Car: 2002 Octy 4X4 Thanks: 10 Thanked 21 Times in 20 Posts	Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? I've had a quote from a local carpenter / door fitter of £420 + VAT to fit (not including doors / door furniture) 9 internal standard doors & 1 folding door. Does that seem reasonable? I have tried to get other quotes but no one else was available to complete the work in the timescale I needed so couldn't really help. I'd have a go myself but really don't have the time to spare what with other things going on at the moment __________________ ------------------------------------------------- 4x4 Octavia, now with leaner gerbils -------------------------------------------------

15-10-2007, 14:54	#2
ap0gee ASZ Eternal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Leafy Chesh-shire Posts: 6,837 Members Car: Black Magic Fabia vRS Thanks: 345 Thanked 362 Times in 313 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? Don't know what the standard rate for a chippy is, but we replaced all the internal doors in our old house (6 in total) over a weekend, plus another day to paint them. I think we paid about £150-200 in total for the tools and materials. Decorating the living room and hall/stairs/landing in our current house took two guys about a week, and cost about £700 in labour, with about £150 in materials. So I guess what I'm saying is that £420 seems OK if it includes all the materials, but a bit on the steep side if it's just labour... __________________

15-10-2007, 14:56	#3
Tom_vRS Briskodaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fenland, Cambridgeshire Posts: 11,553 Members Car: '97R BMW 328i Saloon Thanks: 682 Thanked 430 Times in 307 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? Thats only about £50 a door... if you've seem some peoples bodged door hanging you'd say that was very reasonable! It can take over an hour to fit a door, so all of a sudden it doesn't sound so bad. Pretty sure you could ring round and get it down to around half that for a no receipt job. Hanging doors isn't easy. Saying that, I fitted all 6 internal doors in our hallway in one weekend, and all but one of them is perfect! __________________ 97/R BMW 328i in Boston Green.

15-10-2007, 15:01	#4
UncleRic Powahhhhhh.. Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Buckinghamshire Posts: 777 Members Car: 2002 Octy 4X4 Thanks: 10 Thanked 21 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? The price quoted was JUST for the guy to come over with a hammer / saw (whatever), hang the doors and attach the handles and hinges which I already have. I think I'm going to have to go with him becuase he's the only one available, but I'd rather know I wasn't being massivley ripped off.. __________________ ------------------------------------------------- 4x4 Octavia, now with leaner gerbils -------------------------------------------------

15-10-2007, 15:07	#6
Dr Zoidberg Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: On the back of an AA truck with a failed turbo Posts: 10,744 Members Car: Octavia II 2.0 TDi Elegance Thanks: 30 Thanked 194 Times in 145 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? Is yours a modern house with doors that are exactly square and standard sizes? If so then that's very expensive and you'll be much better off having a go yourself. If it's an older house with off-square holes that will require a lot of woodwork then it's probably not too far off the mark , but get it in writing that the job is a fixed price. Either way I'd try and find a few more quotes __________________ Alex "I laugh in the face of danger, then I hide until it goes away" www.drzoidberg.co.uk

15-10-2007, 15:09	#7
heresmo Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,550 Members Car: Thanks: 50 Thanked 142 Times in 122 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? Hmm... I think it depends on the job you are asking them to do. For example, very few door openings are "square" so might need precise measurements and shavings from all four sides to make a door fit. Also, metric hinges are smaller and it could be that existing screw holes are in the wrong place, plus might need a wood fillet to patch up existing rebates re hinges. I'd say to find out exactly what job they were going to do. If the spec is to trim a bit off the bottom and whack them in, then that's expensive IMO. Regards Mo __________________ Last edited by heresmo; 15-10-2007 at 15:10. Reason: Doh! Came in at same time as Dr Z.

15-10-2007, 15:28	#10
Lady Elanore Geordie Lass Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: in the ceiling watching you..... Posts: 11,056 Members Car: BMW 1 series Thanks: 221 Thanked 226 Times in 136 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? Don’t forget that the bottom hinge goes further away from the bottom of the door than the top hinges is away from the top of the door. Can’t remember what the ratio was, as I was doing the ironing when the bloke was on the telly explaining why they do it. I think it’s because your head is much nearer the top hinge than the bottom, so the effect of the asymmetric hinge placement is to make the door appear balanced and symmetrical. __________________ . Amanda - All's fair in Love and Car

15-10-2007, 15:34	#12
BeezerDiesel Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Exeter Posts: 549 Members Car: Golf GTI Thanks: 24 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? I paid around £30 a door for mine to be fitted. Mines a modern house with standard size doors. However it didn't turn out to be the straightforward job we both had reckoned!! A lot of shaving and messing about was involved due to the normal high standards of British workmanship employed when they built (threw together) the house. Plus there's the measuring of where to put the latch and handles, drilling them out etc. I was going to fit mine myself but very glad I didn't in the end. __________________ Andy 05 Golf GTI 91 Polo GT Fabia vRS now gone but not forgotten.

15-10-2007, 15:38	#14
heresmo Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,550 Members Car: Thanks: 50 Thanked 142 Times in 122 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? Another thought if you can only get one quote is to negotiate. I've torn my hair out in retrospect about sums I've paid cos I was told that that was the cost (especially of course when not particularly good job done.) If the contractor knows you need the job done urgently, effectively you are saying that will accept any price, just to get the job done in time. Why not ring them to say that you've found a better quote of £x (much cheaper) (which you could well) so are not sure what to do now? Without closing off any doors LOL. The difference in the original contractor's favour would be that you're expecting them to do a good job cos you have their quote in writing (as Dr Z says) or they'll surely give you one? But even so, the other one is an awful lot cheaper... If that doesn't result in a price reduction (it should if you have nine doors, which is a good number in workmen time-planning terms), plus you're not desperate any more, then it should at least ensure you get a job well done. Mo __________________

15-10-2007, 15:48	#17
heresmo Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,550 Members Car: Thanks: 50 Thanked 142 Times in 122 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? Interesting... I always wondered about hinge placement. I read somewhere that it was to do with very clever things re physics, that people are smaller than doors and would tend to pull a door downwards, so needed the top hinge higher to compensate (a bit like spreading weight). Dunno though. Mo __________________

15-10-2007, 15:56	#18
ap0gee ASZ Eternal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Leafy Chesh-shire Posts: 6,837 Members Car: Black Magic Fabia vRS Thanks: 345 Thanked 362 Times in 313 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? I think it's purely an optical thing: the hinges appear to be an equal distance from the top and bottom of the door when the average person is stood facing it... __________________

15-10-2007, 18:03	#20
*JohnD* BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: old house Posts: 523 Members Car: oil suspended delights Thanks: 0 Thanked 45 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Fitting internal doors, does this sound pricey? Door hinges are still sold as imperial in a decent Builders merchant, thus for internal doors usually 3" butts. If you go to aforsaid merchants do not buy prepacked - they should have loose in brown carton. If you are in Bucks try Isacc Lord in High Wycombe (they are on the web) A quick Google for hinges will find you all manner of info. Jewsons on Gt missenden (Nigel / Colin) or E R Smith nr Chesham would be two B M to try. Older houses tended to have cast hinges - then again why not reuse old ones? if gunged up with paint - put in Nitromors for a short while and then remove paint. (after you have removed from old door) Hope this helps

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