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Subject Topic: MOTORHOME FLOOR REPLACEMENT Post Reply Post New Topic
Personmikebs
08/2/2019 at 8:19pm
 Location: Dorset
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I have just been told how much the repair/replacement of my motorhome floor is going to cost me. To say I shocked by the size of the bill is an understatement.

I wonder if any member has had their floor repaired and what it cost them as I'm not certain what I'm being charged is fair and reasonable for this type of work.
The original estimate was approx £1200 and the final bill is four times this.

Any help and advice is appreciated.
Mike


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Mikebs


PersonMannyG
via mobile 09/2/2019 at 9:13am
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How old is the motorhome? That might have a bearing on how you want to go about the repairs. The nature of the build of coach built motorhomes makes repairs you describe difficult as most are built from inside outwards. If the van is 10yrs old or more & the floor is rotten in places then your best bet is to diy using some wood glued together with Isopon P40 which is gpr reinforced car body filly.

I’ve repaired caravan floors thus & it makes a strong & permanent diy repair for little money. Labour costs might be £60p/hr+vat & repairs involving replacing large areas of floor take many hours so a quick repair as described might be better value

If you do pay to get it repaired then you need to get a full estimate of the nature of the work carried out for the money. If the van is fairly old then a repair as I have described might be better than a repair that requires extensive removal of interior with large parts of floor replaced.

Post last edited on 09/02/2019 09:17:33


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Personmikebs
09/2/2019 at 9:45am
 Location: Dorset
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Hello MannyG.
Thanks for your reply. The repair has already been carried out. It is the size of the bill that is of worry to me, I don't know if the amount due is fair and reasonable considering what needed to be done.

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Mikebs


PersonCapt Lightning
09/2/2019 at 10:28am
 Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
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Sounds like they've removed the entire interior before starting any work and replaced it (replacing any parts as necessary) after the floor was completely rebuilt.

I'd ask them for an explanation and comprehensive breakdown of the work.

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Two drifters off to see the world.

I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.


Personmarg6
09/2/2019 at 1:30pm
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I would be asking for a full breakdown of what they actually did, jumping from an estimate of £1200 to 4 times that is a hell of a big difference, and perhaps if you had been told the true cost before work started then you would have gone elsewhere? where you kept informed of the work as it progressed/increased in charge. if not then I think its time to go and speak with a solicitor


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Persontango55
09/2/2019 at 2:14pm
 Location: Lichfield
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It all depends if you had the quote in writing or not. If not and the quote was verbal only then you don't have much support even if you seek legal advice. If the quote was confirmed in writing then you have a strong case against the company in question so a little more advice is needed in terms of how the initial quote was provided.
I got caught out in a similar way last year but the bill the was much smaller in comparison but nevertheless the principal was very much the same. I needed a repair to a porch awning so sent a picture by e-mail of the work required and received a quote by telephone saying it was going to be beteween £60 to £80. I agreed and took the porch awning to the factory which was fairly local and told them to proceed. On collection I was given a bill for £105.00 and said that it was over what I was quoted. I wasn't informed by phone that it was going to cost more but because I was given the quote verbally it was my word against theirs so no refund was offerred but from now on I will always ask for a quote in writing first in order not to be ripped off.


PersonMannyG
via mobile 09/2/2019 at 2:29pm
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If you are saying the final bill was £4800 including vat & the new floor was insulated ply sandwich then the workshop would have needed to have worked continuously on the van for 5 working days to justify that sort of cost. Does that sound about right? How good is the work? Are you happy with it?

It is difficult to see how a floor could have been replaced in one piece so presumably it was replaced in sections? How bad was it originally?


Personmikebs
09/2/2019 at 4:07pm
 Location: Dorset
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Thank you for all your replies.
The original estimate was verbal, I didn't think to get a written estimate, will know next time.

I have been told that over 120 hours was spent on the repair with the bill being 6k. I haven't collected the van yet so can't comment on the quality of the repair. I'm just trying too understand if this bill is fair & reasonable as it seems excessive to me. As mentioned had I had known the cost I would have got quotes elsewhere.

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Mikebs


PersonMannyG
via mobile 09/2/2019 at 5:12pm
 Location: Norwich
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If 120hrs was charged for at commercial rates even at £60p/hr+vat which is cheap for a workshop then £8.5k. That is 2 operatives working on the van continuously for around 8 working days without adding cost of materials.

So too cheap for the time they state which is far in excess of the time required to do a professional job of the type of partial floor replacement that I would guess was required.

You have probably been robbed but unless you want a world of pain throwing good money after bad then best you can do is negotiate with them. Ask exactly what work was carried out & ask them to show you what was done. Probably the price might come down a grand or so. You would be expecting a top class job though.

What was the extent of the floor damage & is the workshop a proper operation ie a main dealer?


woodman2
09/2/2019 at 5:12pm
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So sorry Mike,

But lesson learned I hope.

ALWAYS ALWAYS get a written quotation.

It sounds like they were given a blank cheque.

They may have taken advantage of you, but it is difficult to know for sure.


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Personmarg6
09/2/2019 at 5:13pm
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what exactly was wrong with the floor in the first place? rot or just sections being bouncy?


Personmikebs
09/2/2019 at 6:27pm
 Location: Dorset
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Thanks again for all your replies.
I was told that the floor was partially rotten and more rot was found as the work progressed.
I think this is one of life's painful lessons that I will have to chalk up to experience.

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Mikebs


PersonMannyG
via mobile 09/2/2019 at 6:44pm
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I think you need to clue yourself up a bit if you are going to run an older motorhome. While you might not be able to diy you do need to have an understanding of the nature of any faults & issues that might occur then you can ensure you do not get ripped off. It does appear your workshop has been charging you by the hour for their own lack of expertise.

For example the state of the floor is easy enough to assess yourself so you can at least have an idea of the extent of the repairs required. You need to familiarise yourself with how everything works so you can specify the repairs needed rather than rely on the assessment of those who are in a position overestimate prices for their own personal gain.


PersonLukeledge
via mobile 09/2/2019 at 9:03pm
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I had a similar problem with a 2005 swift motorhome , the more they investigated the more of the floor was damp and was going to need almost complete replacement, was going to be about £6-7k. I cut my losses and sold as a repair project.... Lesson learned, check for damp before taking on a older motorhome! The repair guy was very disparaging about swift and Eldiss motorhomes, saying they invariably had damp problems!


Personmarramc48
09/2/2019 at 10:16pm
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Quote: Originally posted by woodman2 on 09/2/2019
So sorry Mike,

But lesson learned I hope.

ALWAYS ALWAYS get a written quotation.

It sounds like they were given a blank cheque.

They may have taken advantage of you, but it is difficult to know for sure.

Always confirm acceptance of any verbal or written quotation in writing, preferably sending by recorded delivery and keeping a copy of acceptance letter and postage details. (Just in case !!!)


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mm48j



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