I disagree with the builder about material costs. I have built an extension on a year-round adapted holiday home outside Stockholm. The extension is 4*3.5 meters over two floors. On the ground floor, there is a hallway, bathroom, toilet, pump room, and a living room on the upper floor. I have also built a veranda of approximately 30m2. We agreed on the labor cost, and I received an indication that the material cost, including transport, would be around 80-100,000 (including VAT). Now he wants 160,000, which seems outrageous - or? This only concerns materials for the foundation, floor, interior and exterior walls, and roof as well as the veranda. So NOT doors, windows, plumbing, electricity, sheet metal, or interior cladding like tiles, etc. What is a reasonable material cost? It feels like he is trying to make up for the material because the construction took a little longer than planned - but that's not my problem. Grateful for answers and any tips on a consultant I can hire to review the material delivery notes and assess if it is reasonable.
Joakim
Joakim
Thank you, I've been thinking about doing that. But the risk is that I might get a material spec. with not just "my" material. Is there any template/calculation for what and how much material is needed to build x m2 (in my case about 25m2)?
If you look at the issue from a legal perspective and what payment responsibility you have, this might help you.
If you entered into an agreement (written is best, verbal can still work) after the new year, the new Consumer Services Act applies. The burden of proof for what has been agreed between you both lies entirely on the contractor. If it is only a verbal agreement, your word in a potential court hearing will carry significant weight compared to the contractor's - but stick to the truth - it always pays off (document everything on paper regarding what has happened, good for memory!). If you have written an agreement based on ABS05, that is absolutely the easiest!
If you have been given a price - even if approximate - for materials, that is what should apply. The exception is if you have explicitly made an agreement that you will pay actual costs for an unspecified amount of necessary materials afterward...
It may be the case that you reach a point where you want to settle - then it might be good to have a material specification as well as a work specification prepared as a basis for negotiation. A construction engineer can create this - costs a couple of thousand for your extension.
Contact your consumer advisor or a construction lawyer. The difference between 80-100 thousand and 160-thousand is well worth investigating thoroughly...
Good luck!
If you entered into an agreement (written is best, verbal can still work) after the new year, the new Consumer Services Act applies. The burden of proof for what has been agreed between you both lies entirely on the contractor. If it is only a verbal agreement, your word in a potential court hearing will carry significant weight compared to the contractor's - but stick to the truth - it always pays off (document everything on paper regarding what has happened, good for memory!). If you have written an agreement based on ABS05, that is absolutely the easiest!
If you have been given a price - even if approximate - for materials, that is what should apply. The exception is if you have explicitly made an agreement that you will pay actual costs for an unspecified amount of necessary materials afterward...
It may be the case that you reach a point where you want to settle - then it might be good to have a material specification as well as a work specification prepared as a basis for negotiation. A construction engineer can create this - costs a couple of thousand for your extension.
Contact your consumer advisor or a construction lawyer. The difference between 80-100 thousand and 160-thousand is well worth investigating thoroughly...
Good luck!
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