On 29/5/08 17:41, in article , "+mrcakey"
wrote:

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
+mrcakey wrote:

And the really expensive bit - laying the path. It's about 25ft long and
about 2ft wide and we're planning on slabs over sand. We've been quoted
£900 for this (£600 for labout - 4 days). My girlfriend's thinking is
that
if it takes a pro 4 days to do this then it'll take us even longer. My
thinking is that it can't be THAT hard can it?!!! And we can do it in
stages anyway - dig out the trench, add the edging, fill the sand, add
the
slabs. Is that feasible?

They are taking the ****. (assuming this is slabs, and not natural stone
flags)
For a garden path of ~25ft long, I'd charge around £200, and possibly
less, depending on access and removal of old materials.
My basic charge is £30 per square metre supplied and fitted with 450mm
square slabs. 600mm slabs are slightly more expensive (in area compared
to 450sq), so maybe £35 a square metre.
It would take a day maximum, and that is myself only working.
Alan.


All the old materials will be gone - just soil left.

Are you in the Manchester area by any chance?!!!!

Phil


I do suggest you keep an eye open in local shops, parish magazines etc. and
talk to neighbours, too. All might be sources of good labour at reasonable
prices. The overall feeling seems to be that you're being ripped off at
current prices quoted. 4 days and that price is simply ridiculous and I'm
afraid I think they know they're dealing with novices at gardening.


--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'