Stairs Repairs - Quotes

Discussion in 'Repairs & Maintenance' started by 45degree, 27th May, 2017.

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  1. 45degree

    45degree Active Member

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    Hi All,

    I have an IP in Brisbane and the metal hand railing on the entry stairs is unstable.
    It needs fixing together with the step treads since the timber is rotten so the screws don't hold.

    I got 3 quotes (they all vary slightly in the work to be done), 1 is double the amount of the others ($3000) and the other 2 quotes similar in the $1300- $1500 mark.
    I have seen on gumtree 250 x 50 Hardwood is available at $29 per meter and up to $49 and I understand there is labor as well, however I want to check that I am not getting overcharged for the particular work.

    The rear stairs are old and rotten hence the guy in quote 1 is providing work description for that too.

    Quote 1: $1500 will fix part of front and rear stairs
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The front handrail is insecure.
    The fascia timber on the front landing is rotten.
    There are 2 step treads on the rear staircase that are rotten.
    The fascia timber on the rear deck is rotten.
    There are multiple joists on the rear deck that are rotten.

    Secure the front handrail using new galvanised fixings.

    Remove front fascia timber and supply and install new timber and paint to match existing colour as close as possible.
    Remove the 2 rotten step treads from the rear staircase.
    Supply and install new treads.
    Paint treads to match existing colour as close as possible.
    Supply and install 3 new joists on rear deck and secure decking boards using new galvanised fixings.
    Replace timber fascia on rear deck and paint to match existing colour.
    Remove all waste timber from site to dump.

    Quote 2: $1300 will fix only the front
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Replace 6 water damaged timber stair treads for new.
    Remove water damaged stair treads and dispose at tip.
    Paint prime 250 x 50mm hardwood step treads to ensure longevity.
    Bolt stair treads to existing steel stringers using galvanised cup head bolts.
    Reinstate metal handrail to new stair tread using galvanised screws.

    In qoute 1 only 2 step treads will be changed and the fascia timber front and rear which is less the work then in quote 2 I guess??

    Any thoughts I would appreciate, cheers
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Marg4000

    Marg4000 Well-Known Member

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    Well, in,ess you can do the work yourself, you will to have to pay the going rate. All you can do is get quotes and check out the tradies.

    I know we once overpaid to get a fairly small tiling job done. Only one tiler was prepared to even quote so we went with him. He did a great job but certainly made good money for his time.
    Marg
     
  3. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    Are there photos for the rear stairs?
     
  4. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    $200 extra to fix the rear stairs as well. Go for it.

    Who's going to check out the timber from the bod on gumbytree? Pick up? Spend time travelling only to find it requires milling, contains splits, knots, shakes, borers etc?
    Geez, it may not even be suitable for exterior applications.
     
    Last edited: 28th May, 2017
  5. 45degree

    45degree Active Member

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    I can't do the work myself Marg, I will have to pay it's fine. I just hope I get a fair quote.
     
  6. 45degree

    45degree Active Member

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    @Joynz no photos from the back.

    @Scott No Mates the $200 extra to fix the rear stairs is good for sure but I got the quote later yesterday and haven't spoken to the tradie.
    But do you think it is fair price from quote 1 to have 2 steps fixed and the fascia timber at the rear and the front only secure the handrail and a new fascia timber? Cheers
     
  7. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    Sounds expensive to me.
     
  8. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Why isn't he replacing treads as requested?
     
  9. 45degree

    45degree Active Member

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    What I have asked is to fix the unstable railing whatever the min job needs to be done.

    The guy in quote 1 doesn't seem other steps need to be fixed / replaced to make it secure.
    And the guy in quote 2 says to make it stable, 6 steps need to be replaced because they are getting rotten slowly.

    So I am really getting mixed messages, but I do feel the job can be done for much less and have it all in place secured. My Dad used to be tradie he is retired now and lives o/seas otherwise he would have definitely do the job.
     
  10. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Put it on hipages, serviceseeking or airtasker to get another opinion.
     
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  11. 45degree

    45degree Active Member

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    I think that too, but I also think they want to have a bigger of a job maybe, they don't want to deal with a small job.
    I reckon basic securing the handrail might be done for the $300- $500 mark? Or am I wrong?
     
  12. 45degree

    45degree Active Member

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    Yeah I def think I will get extra quotes /opinions thanks
     
  13. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    The tradie who noticed the rotten rear deck joists may be saving you from expensive future issues as well as showing great initiative - and perhaps a future injured tenant.


    I would ask him about the difference in repairs to the front steps.
     
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  14. dabbler

    dabbler Well-Known Member

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    Is that photos of rotten treads ? look like they are fairly new to me ?

    If I were you, I would get someone to look at the steps and that rail to see if it even complies at all, but people doing stairs all the time should know.
     
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  15. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    All three photos show degraded/rotten wood:

    First photo shows this in the second tread from the bottom, on the end of the tread.

    Second photo shows degraded wood where the rail screws into the end grain.

    The last photo shows 'soft' wood where the screws into the face of the tread have come out.
     
  16. dabbler

    dabbler Well-Known Member

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    One looks a bit iffy, screws are no good, need proper treated bolts, not screws. Rail needs mod so it securely bolts on IMO

    I think the rail is the main problem, changing a tread is pretty straight forward.

    This is the problems with photos, you often cannot tell exactly what is needed. Either way, doing treads and fixing stairs is part of a highset in QLD :)
     
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  17. 45degree

    45degree Active Member

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    Thanks for everyone's opinion and input guys. It is hard to gauge from photos I know.
    Anyhow I have requested another quote and will see what the outcome is. Might take a while me thinks because it took like over a month for this quotes to come through.
     

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