Assigning trades yourself - what can be saved by doing so?

Oh yes, right... But in search of

I have a friend who is freshly divorced... Should I give you the number...?

But I want to give another example where we really noticed the money issue. We are currently building the workshop. We are contracting it directly. A 6x8m shell is already standing. But I am concerned about the roof. It is 14m x 7m = 98m². We awarded the roof here nearby to a carpenter. It is a gable roof, truss construction. Including covering matching the tiles of the main house (same tiles), the roof cost us 16,500 euros. Including work, the all-around worry-free package.

The main house has a roof of 11x12m = 132m², truss roof, hip roof. So it is bigger and more complex – no question. But it came to 34,000 euros. More than double! If you went by square meters, it should have cost 22,224 euros.
Just because it is a hip roof, 12,000 euros more??? What do you think, is that still in relation to each other?

What do you think, is this still in proportion to each other?

In my opinion, this cannot be answered (How high? Scaffolding? Including roof plumbing? What scope?). You have certainly already paid attention to comparability regarding roof tiles, number of penetrations (vents, satellite dish, windows). Structural engineering, i.e. thickness of the beams, could also be different ... And a hip roof is of course different from a gable roof. And then offers still vary, but the cheapest provider may only be available in 6 months or so ... In my opinion, it depends on the individual case.

In my opinion, it cannot be answered (How high? Scaffolding? Including roofing plumber work? What scope?). You have surely already paid attention to comparability regarding roof tiles, number of penetrations (ventilations, satellite antenna, window). Structural engineering, meaning the thickness of the beams, could also be different... And a hip roof is of course different from a gable roof.

And bids still vary, but the cheapest provider might only be available in about 6 months or so... In my opinion, it depends on the individual case.

So, in my opinion, the comparability is given. The price includes only the roof including plumber work in both cases. The one penetration with a window in the main house had to be paid for separately – however, an insignificant trifle compared to the price.

Both needed scaffolding, whereby the scaffolding at the main house was of course higher, but then it must also be allocated to many other trades. The beam thickness at the garage is even almost better, at least equivalent. So I see nothing that could make a difference of 12,000.

I’m saying, whoever built under socialism can do it in capitalism before breakfast. Anyone wondering why a hip roof costs significantly more than a gable roof, but maybe not?

Tendering is an art in itself. Comparing offers by price is quick, but the pitfalls / clauses are in the text, the specifications make the difference.

Checking whether the level is satisfied is only the smaller part of the inspection. Evaluating overtime hour claims is already somewhat tricky, and the same applies to quantity deviations. A professional is definitely not superfluous.

Who wonders that a hip roof costs significantly more than a gable roof, but maybe not?

So you think 12 thousand euros more for the hip construction is about right? Isn’t that a bit excessively much?