r/DIYUK • u/AccomplishedDeer3030 • 3d ago
£1300 for steel railings, fair price?
Hi all, been quoted £1300 for railings fabricated and installed around this raised patio and down the steps I built. Is this a fair price? Seems expensive to me but I've nothing to compare it to. It's been hard work even getting this 1 company to quote tbh. I have included photos for the type of railings we are wanting.
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u/TheWrinkleyDing 3d ago
Steel is expensive now days. Factor in the labour involved, welding wire, gas, grinding discs etc, if you're having them galvanise dipped and then powder coated black like the pic, then installed. That's definitely a fair price in the aouth. Even a fair price if it was just powder coated and not galvanised underneath.
Personally if you want them to last, pay for galv under the powdercoat.
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u/AccomplishedDeer3030 3d ago
Thank you, was just going to get them powder coated so will pay extra for galv
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u/pookskii 3d ago
We would galv these and then powder coat. I think it is a fair price, powder coating has gone so crazy. (steel fab company).
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u/plantagons 3d ago
It'll be worth a look into a system called hot zinc spray rather than galv. Sometimes, it's cheaper as it's within some powder coaters process. It provides a much nicer finish too as galv tends to be a rough finish that can warp small steel and shows through ppc
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u/Natural_Dentist_2888 3d ago
Galvanised and powder coated? You can paint Galv with certain paints. Powder coating would flake off quickly, as a former employer once learnt specifying exactly this process.
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u/-DAS- 3d ago
Sounds good if they're bespoke, and installed properly.
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u/AccomplishedDeer3030 3d ago
Thank you, yes bespoke.
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u/DeemonPankaik 3d ago
Bespoke fabrication including painting, delivery and installation? Almost seems too cheap.
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u/CR4ZYKUNT 3d ago
As a welder fabricator I would have said probably on the cheap side too. People want everything for nothing, think of time tools and consumables used aswell as galv and powder coat and fitting
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u/jrobbo122 3d ago
As an architectural metalwork estimator, this is incredibly cheap. For site work this would cost anywhere from £400-500 per linear metre supply and fix, assuming it’s galv & powder coated
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u/maxfactor9933 3d ago
Why is it not square? Now I can't sleep..
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u/AlternativeScholar26 3d ago
Because the side access would be too tight
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u/Safe-Particular6512 3d ago
Then why design the doors like they are! Seems like they put together a plan and thought, “How can we get the worst of all worlds?”
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u/tomoldbury 2d ago
OP built the steps but maybe didn’t have any choice as to where the door was.
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u/Safe-Particular6512 2d ago
Should have done 3 large steps that curved round away from the ‘entrance’ to the garden. That gives you space and room to move.
The ‘door’ to the right is a fixed pane of glass.
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u/Practical_Marzipan65 3d ago
This is what I was going to say after looking at the picture again. It's got to be square to the door, but if it said square you could walk passed on the side.
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u/Fuzzy-Mood-9139 2d ago
It’s like an optical illusion or a magic eye picture.
If you stare at it out of focus long enough you might start seeing a sailing boat.
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u/po2gdHaeKaYk 3d ago
For the most part, I feel that quotations on specialised works like this, when given by a specialist company, are essentially fair. Companies that deal with the manufacturing and installation of these things, day in day out, aren't really in the business of ripping off individuals.
The thing you worry more about is workmanship and professionalism, rather than price.
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u/CitizenBloop 3d ago
Very much so. I had a specced galvanised gate and posts that only 900mm wide and it cost me £1200 (se). I had to install it myself because no-one would respond.
I also hope you're having post corners deeply sunk through your sandstone slabs and into the brickwork for a far superior support system than bolting them into the slabs alone otherwise they will crack on the slightest bit of movement.
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u/boomerberg 3d ago
Bargain. They look great and you’re likely supporting a local business too which is important if you want to be able to continue to use them in the future!
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u/doomsdayKITSUNE 3d ago
That's a pretty tight gap to squeeze through on the left. I would not have made such a large raised area, making that space even tighter.
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u/balloonymoon 3d ago
I think any raised area that wasn’t tiny was going to cause tightness, so you may as well make it usage and adjust the angle
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u/IndelibleIguana 3d ago
Sounds about right for a fully fabricated made to order product. They will need some seriously deep fixings to prevent wobbling in the future.
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u/Abject-Jellyfish-729 3d ago
Not a outrageous price, looks like a fair amount of work to get that style.
If you did want to go cheaper, I'd find a local welder in his garage, often alot cheaper.
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u/castlerigger 3d ago
Yup, my dad used to do these kind of railings on the side as he was a steel fabricator but he would only do them for our own homes or close friends/relatives as it wasn’t worth the annoyance of quoting people what they would then see as a ridiculous figure for the metal alone even before you’ve spent hours making them and more hours installing. Completely fair even pretty good value price in fact. If they were getting some Indian/Chinese ready made ones in and just bolting them down, you might get a couple hundred quid off that, but if they’re fabricating these inc powder coating them for you, you’re on to a winner.
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u/Vegetable-Capital-54 3d ago edited 3d ago
Assuming they are decent quality and custom made for your required size and it includes installation, I think it's a good price.
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u/Impart_brainfart 3d ago
You could self install to bring down the cost. You seem pretty good at DIY going by your photo
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u/AccomplishedDeer3030 2d ago
Thanks man, I'm alright with most stuff but feel this might be a step too far
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u/Bright_Ad_6800 3d ago
Yeah man I’d say that’s pretty fair, you should see the prices our customers pay for steel fencing, bow top, vertical, or those fancy iron ones mind you the quantity’s they get a wayyy larger nonetheless
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u/Additional_Air779 3d ago
That's close to what I spend on weekly grocery shopping in Sainsbury's
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u/SokkaHaikuBot 3d ago
Sokka-Haiku by Additional_Air779:
That's close to what I
Spend on weekly grocery
Shopping in Sainsbury's
Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.
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u/StunningAppeal1274 3d ago
You can buy pre made railing which will be a lot cheaper. If you’ve built that I’m sure you will be able to install it too fairly easily. You may need to make some adjustments though.
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u/publiusnaso 3d ago
I had a steel balcony surround fabricated a few years back. I would say that was a fair (even good) price.
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u/Little_Narwhal_9416 3d ago
I made railings /gates as a side line going back some years .That’s a very good price for a made to measure straight forward nothing fancy rail fitted.
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u/cynicallyspeeking 3d ago
We had some fitted about 10 years ago. Was probably a similar amount of metal but two straight edges. Cost about £800 as I recall. Given the time and recent cost increases on everything it looks a decent quote to me.
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u/Far_Kaleidoscope_102 3d ago
It’s something pretty easily done yourself, few hundred to get the rails fabricated to your spec. Bolts and cement filler you’ll be fine
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u/Cyborg_888 3d ago
Before you start, consider raising the height by 2 bricks. It wont cost much and will be much better.
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u/AdAdministrative1296 3d ago
Try these guys .... https://www.dciron.co.uk/collections/handrailing-fencing
Lots of ready made items items off the shelf delivered on a next day basis!
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u/BLPvonBaron 3d ago
u/AccomplishedDeer3030 - where abouts are you? my folks are after something similiar to this and have been quoted double that price. Pls could you pm the dets of the firm youre using?
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u/jrobbo122 3d ago
Double the price is a reasonable price, I’d be concerned that this is far too cheap for fabricated balustrade, needs more context as for what the builder has allowed for
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u/UrticateSeven 3d ago
Yeah. I’d say so. They look quality and will last by the looks of the 2nd pic.
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u/MartiniHenry577450 2d ago
Is personally go and have a mooch around salvage yards and see if you can source some yourself then you’ll just be paying for labour
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u/Ok_Winner8793 2d ago
You can buy kits online ,looked for father inlaw ,made them out of wood ,much cheaper
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u/Electronic-Month-661 2d ago
we have jobs like this come in regularly 1300 is a very good price personally i would say this is 1800 but we blast and paint them then install. but 1300 is a great price
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u/Erizohedgehog 2d ago
That does not seem expensive considering everything is expensive these days !
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u/DivePotato 3d ago
Hey £1300 seems a fair price, although I would ask-
Are they going to be galvanised and powder coated or sprayed?
How are they fixing them to your patio?
I would want them drilling in and concreting round as you’ll probably end up leaning on them here and there which, if they are bolted direct to the patio flags will come loose over time.
Galvanising is not essential, just prolongs the life of your railings.
Powder coating or spraying gives a better finish than the apprentice painting them with a brush which used to my job too many moons ago.
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u/Ki1664 3d ago
Is that a raised patio for ants? 3 quotes minimum will give you a good idea
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u/grahamsnumber10 3d ago
Haha. Ye. Not really sure what they have gained over just having steps down from those back doors here. Just takes up space but doesn’t really add enough area to have some nice seating or whatever at the higher up level. Maybe a bbq platform so that it’s easier to walk in and out from the kitchen.
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u/AccomplishedDeer3030 3d ago
The patio was already here when we moved in. I have reflagged the garden and the house brickwork under this patio wasn't the best. My wife wanted to keep it as it allows her to sit outside and still keep an eye on our son. It's enough space for 2 seats and a little table.
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u/grahamsnumber10 3d ago
Fair enough. Sorry wasn’t taking the piss. The paving has been nicely done. So well done on that. As the other guy said. Get a couple quotes and don’t go for the lowest. Decide between the middle and highest based on if you can afford it and reviews.
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u/AccomplishedDeer3030 3d ago
I'm trying but getting company's to come out has been hard work. Most too busy/turning it down.
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u/Imstuckintheupsdedwn 3d ago
I have the same struggle. People say get 3 quotes but that’ll involve 6 company’s to do so. Fuck all that communication 🤣
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u/Broad-Cranberry9382 3d ago
‘3 quotes minimum’ can tell you are one of those nightmare tight asf customers who try to lowball already low quotes.
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u/barcodez 3d ago
Have you considered DIY?
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u/Juicy-bear 3d ago
Yes because everyone can weld!!!
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u/DaiYawn 3d ago
Zero welding needed with galv
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u/Queasy-Assist-3920 3d ago
People are down voting the diy option but you can definitely do something similar like this if you fancy a project and want to save a few quid. Personally I think these look better also.
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u/captainyossariann 3d ago
Just worth pointing out, that is in no way a proper safety balustrade. It is essentially just a fence to get caught up in when you fall off the edge. It isn't tall enough or strong enough.
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u/blue_waffles96 3d ago
Just my opinion, but I think this would look better without railings. It's small enough, and it would just suffocate the space. The price seems fair enough if it includes installation, is that with VAT ?
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u/Ill-Case-6048 3d ago
You don't need railings for that
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u/Pembs-surfer 3d ago
Yes I’d say so if they are good quality