Makeitstop

Hi trw144, The second image def looks like zinc to me, but the first looks to possibly be a mix of zinc and composite. It's hard to tell. I've had samples of swiss pearl. It's ok, but it's not what I ideally wanted. I've also had samples of another product called Oko skin. This is also a glass fibre reinforced cement product. Interesting textures to some of that, but again, not for me. The thread that Russdl referred to was started by me, and, is under he extensions sub titled zinc standing seam.

Doesn't sound like an enjoyable experience. The building regs drawings for my job should be sorted over the next week, so what lay ahead for me re: dealing with any council reps remains to be seen. I'm hoping it'll be straightforward, but we'll see. I'd be curious to know how all the varying methods of piling would be viewed. I've had astronomical quotes for what appears fairly simplistic to apparently reasonable quotes for what seems to be overkill. Its baffled me tbf

Oh, nasty. Have you looked into piling methods, or just decided on screw piles for the speed by which they are done? I have a few difficulties in my plot, so am somewhat limited to methods. Some of the price variations I've received have been astonishing.

Is your use of piling only required for your summer house Ian?

Ha, glad to have responses here Simon, so please go for it. The last guy I spoke to did mention that to get that part properly right it does take some time. To be fair, he did provide me with some good info and from what I have been told, he is very good.

Have to admit, I had wondered whether the quotes (from some) were due to having to hire gear. I had no idea of the cost of doing that but I'd doubt it'll be like hiring a 12" disc cutter for a day. Overall, I can see how the cost of installing could potentially be more than might seem reasonable at a glance, especially as there will likely be at least two at work on it. I suppose if I'm going to do it, I'll need to suck it up, but I'm looking into how it can be minimised, without compromising in the standard of finish. I'm unsure of what you refer to re window, as the zinc only surrounds the sliding door. The window is installed within brickwork, so separated from the cladding. Im waiting on one or two others to get back to me, and should the at least know where I am. If I can get all the other aspects of this job to come in at decent cost, then I could tolerate the I installation cost. Hopefully I'll know next week. It's doing my nut now and I'm tired of looking into it.

I've not involved an SE to create a pile design no, so I guess it is a case of them using what I've provided, along with a degree of guesswork, in order to generate their suggested solutions. What confuses me is the variation in two contractors quotes, given the exact same information, which clearly shows the soil under the plot. Still, it is what it is.

Not necessarily. A recent quote of £3k for labour (plus supply of membrane and clips) was from someone seeking work, as hes recently gone on his own. I think it appears to be more a case of being used to seeing the numbers that are, or can be quoted, and putting them forward, perhaps out of habit, or what people think the public will pay. I'm not sure about the view of others, but £3000 for perhaps 10 days work sounds pricey to me.

Well, both were provided with a report of ground conditions, which includes a borehole taken on my plot to a depth of 8 metres. If has a clear description of soil conditions throughout depth increase, with very clear information. This was done by a geotechnical firm that undertook the investigation for the whole development. No neighbours have had any additional works since construction of the properties a few years ago

Yes I get that. I know it's a tough one. One suggested 7 piles at 4 metres and another 12 piles at 6 metres. Both suggest 150mm steel cased driven piles. Of course, for any additional depth, there's a charge, which is to be expected. I'm a bit confused as to the variation in number of piles used though.

Hi folks, Has anyone got any experience of mini piling, (150mm diameter, steel cased bottom driven type) and the typical quantity used for a given area? I know this is a very general question and it may depend on ground conditions, but, having contacted a number of different contractors, and having provided them with the exact same information, I am confused as to how they seem to suggest such differing solutions for the job in hand. It's a single story extension, approx 6.3 metres by 3.5 metres, and will be your normal brick and block construction.

Thanks for that Simon. One of the installers I spoke with mentioned how the edge work around the sliding doors and windows increased the work, and I get that. Having said that, from the quote I had from the same person, it still feels expensive at £3000 for installation, which by his estimation, was likely to be between a week to two weeks work. I'm waiting on hearing from one or two others, but I'm not holding my breath that it'll be any better. I'm unsure how their prices are worked out, but there appears to be far less variation in prices than with usual trades. Thanks for the detailing images too, they are useful to look through.

Looks like American white oak. doesn't colour to an orange shade in the same way as European stuff does, so you should be ok, especially treating them as you have. They look lovely tbf.

Thats a lot of zinc, and an excellent price. What is the product you are using.?

Tosh, Do you know the area you require to be done, and is it for standing seam.?

So was the total for materials was £11.5k.? That would be about right for 14 coils, including membrane, clips etc, from what I am seeing currently re: prices. The total area that 14 coils covers would be approx 180 sq metres, plus the gutter work would have used a bit also. It's a lovely looking job though and I do like the colour you've chosen a lot. If you say it came in at circa £130 a metre overall cost, that's not bad at all and sounds fair.

Be sure to post up some pics once complete GaryM. Would love to see that.

I'll PM you Simon, and can perhaps forward on the drawing. It isn't a complex job and in fact, I've been told so by another installer that was aimed my way from Sean at the metal roof company. (Hes a good guy as you said)

Thanks for the response gc100. Interesting to hear the price for the zinc. £9k worth of zinc = roughly 15 rolls of zinc at current prices. I know that on average that 15 coils of zinc would cover approx 195..ish sq metres of standing seam, but I guess you've had the additional gutter work etc to factor in too, so its tricky to know what actual area of standing seam there was. £130 per metre is fair though, and I would expect that for a premium zinc product. In fact, I spoke to a metals supplier who told me himself that £100 / £130 per sq metre was around a reasonable figure to be paying. When I mentioned the prices I'd been provided with, he just couldn't understand it. I'll be trying to find out next week whether this is viable or not for my job. Hopefully it will be, as it adds a nice detail, but the cost of it has to be realistic. I'm not interested in paying massively over the odds, simply on the basis that the job is not at a large enough scale to make a real killing for installers. We'll see.

I've got samples of all sorts here, from timber to composites, but I prefer zinc. I'll see where I can get on it next week.

I'm in south Wales. Not exactly the zinc specialist capital of the world. Would be easier to find a unicorn here than a zinc roofer. Bristol has a few installers, one of these was my £4k+ quote for greencoat. Ha, you gotta laugh. For the area I have to work, the actual metal is maybe £800 for two 100kg coils, so why it adds up to in excess of £5k for the job I have no idea. I will be speaking to a few others next week, but if I'm unable to get a more realistic price, I'll bin the idea. To answer your question re buildup of substrate, yes, all that would be done and ready to go. I just cannot see how the forming and fitting of the material for the job in hand equates to £3.5k plus for labour.

In fact, no, not the larger firms. Maybe I should give them a go. I was utterly gobsmacked to be quoted in excess of £4k ex VAT for plx by one outfit. Shocking.

Haha, I quite like the missile hatch look. Probably prefer a flatter overall finish though.

Hi Everyone. The thread title sounds a bit "carry on films" I know, but it's about flatroof glazing.. I am looking to put together a plan for a smallish kitchen extension, which will have a flat roof. This faces north, so not the best in terms of light gain. What are the views of people with regard to using one larger rooflight against two smaller ones. When I say two smaller, I'm considering perhaps two at 1m X 1.5m size. no idea on larger as yet. Don't want a lantern and would prefer to keep the profile lower. does not necessarily need to be an opener, although if two smaller, would likely have one as opener. also, if anyone has suggestions for a "reasonably" cost effective option, please do share. Any views on this.?

Rainwater feeds to left side of new structure as you look at it in image.