Spon’s External Works and Landscape Price Book 2010 Spon’s External Works and Landscape Price Book Edited by DAVIS LANGDON LLP in association with LandPro Ltd Landscape Surveyors 2010 Twenty-Ninth edition First edition 1978 Twenty-ninth edition published 2010 by Spon Press 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Spon Press 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Spon Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2010 Spon Press The right of Davis Langdon to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Typeset in Arial by Taylor & Francis Books Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ International Ltd, Padstow, Cornwall All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and cannot accept legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 13: 978-0-415-55260-8 (hardback) ISBN 13: 978-0-203-87243-7 (ebook) ISBN 10: 0-415-55260-5 (hardback) ISBN 10: 0-203-87243-6 (ebook) ISSN: 0267-4181 Contents page Preface to the Twenty Ninth Edition vii Acknowledgements ix How to Use This Book xxiii PART 1: GENERAL 1 Common Arrangement of Work Sections3 Labour Rates Used in This Edition 5 Computation of Labour Rates Used in This Edition6 Computation of the Cost of Materials 11 Computation of Mechanical Plant Costs 12 Landfill Tax 15 PART 2: APPROXIMATE ESTIMATES - MAJOR WORKS 17 Cost Indices 18 Regional Variations 20 Approximate Estimates 21 Preliminaries 22 Demolition and Site Clearance 24 Groundwork 26 Ground Stabilization 28 In Situ Concrete 31 Brick/Block Walling 33 Roads and Pavings 35 Special Surfaces for Sport/Playgrounds 47 Preparation for Planting/Turfing 49 Seeding and Turfing 51 Planting 53 Landscape Maintenance 59 Fencing 61 Street Furniture 65 Drainage 66 Irrigation 72 Water Features 73 Timber Decking 74 PART 3: PRICES FOR MEASURED WORKS - MAJOR WORKS 75 Introduction 75 New Items for This Edition 76 A Preliminaries 94 B Complete Buildings/Structures/Units 100 C Existing Site/Buildings/Services 102 D Groundwork 105 E In Situ Concrete/Large Precast Concrete 125 F Masonry 131 G Structural/Carcassing Metal/Timber 140 H Cladding/Covering 141 vi Contents page J Waterproofing 142 M Surface Finishes 149 P Building Fabric Sundries 152 Q Paving/Planting/Fencing/Site Furniture 153 R Disposal Systems 289 S Piped Supply Systems 313 V Electrical Supply/Power/Lighting Systems 323 PART 4: APPROXIMATE ESTIMATES - MINOR WORKS 331 Approximate Estimates 331 Demolition and Site Clearance 332 Groundwork 334 In Situ Concrete 336 Brick/Block Walling 337 Roads and Pavings 338 Preparation for Seeding/Turfing 342 Planting 343 Maintenance 346 Drainage 347 PART 5: PRICES FOR MEASURED WORKS - MINOR WORKS 349 Introduction 349 New Items for This Edition 350 C Existing Site/Buildings/Services 353 D Groundwork 355 E In Situ Concrete/Large Precast Concrete 364 F Masonry 368 G Structural/Carcassing Metal/Timber 372 J Waterproofing 373 M Surface Finishes 374 Q Paving/Planting/Fencing/Site Furniture 375 R Disposal Systems 438 PART 6: FEES FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 449 Landscape Architects’ Fees 449 Worked Examples of Percentage Fee Calculations 452 PART 7: RATES OF WAGES 453 Building Industry Wages 453 Agricultural Wages, England and Wales 453 Agricultural Wages, Scotland 454 PART 8: DAYWORK AND PRIME COST 457 PART 9: TABLES AND MEMORANDA 467 INDEX 537 Preface to the Twenty Ninth Edition Market Conditions This “credit crunch” edition of the price book reflects a surprising stability in the external works sector compared to other construction disciplines. Whilst all the data from our research at administrative or academic levels suggest that a 20% drop in prices should be in effect overall, this is not exactly the case. In summary, major suppliers have raised most of their prices, labour is stable but with some shorter working weeks in effect and plant prices may be negotiated keenly. The tender market is more competitive however and we may assume that overhead and profit are reduced. Most of the large to medium sized landscape contractors still report full order books, although smaller contractors reliant on the domestic market are definitely experiencing difficulties. Supplier Prices During the course of our price enquiries for this edition we have especially noted the following: the main industry drivers vary; steel is down; cement has increased and further increases are expected - this is driven by energy costs to a large extent; the cost of oil based products such as plastics and asphalt have risen; aggregates and builders merchant supplies are lower. Many of our other suppliers have requested that we apply minimal price changes or none at all. The most notable cost increases were implemented by the large precast suppliers who increased their material prices by 12%. Labour Rates Last year we reported that the labour rate was being stabilized by the broad use of eastern European labour. Unofficial reports indicate that this labour force is largely returning to their original homes as economic conditions are less harsh than those in the UK. The reality of the labour situation is that whilst wages cannot be reduced there have been redundancies. There is probably less overtime paid and there are certainly firms who have placed their staff on shorter weeks. The wage rate used this year is therefore reduced to £18.25 per hour for major works and £20.50 for minor works. Plant Rates Most of the plant suppliers referenced in this publication have advised us during our update to keep their prices the same. Some, such as site plant hire, have reflected a 10% reduction in rates. In truth we are aware that there is a lot of idle plant in suppliers' yards. It is general knowledge amongst hirers that a “squeeze” can be put onto suppliers for hire rates. Tables and Memoranda We remind readers of this section at the back of the book. It is often overlooked but contains a wealth of information useful to external works consultants and contractors. viii Preface to the Twenty Ninth Edition Profit and Overhead Spon’s External Works and Landscape prices do not allow for profit or site overhead. Readers should evaluate the market conditions in the sector or environment in which they operate and apply a percentage to these rates. Company overhead is allowed for within the labour rates used. Please refer to ‘Part 1 General’ for an explanation of the build-up of this year’s labour rates. Prices for Suppliers and Services We acknowledge the support afforded to us by the suppliers of products and services who issue us with the base information used. Their contact details are published in the directory section at the front of this book. We advise that readers wishing to evaluate the cost of a product or service should approach these suppliers directly should they wish to confirm prices prior to submission of tenders or quotations. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information given in this publication, neither the editors nor the publishers in any way accept liability for loss of any kind resulting from the use made by any person of such information. We remind readers that we would be grateful to hear from them during the course of the year with suggestions or comments on any aspect of the contents of this year’s book and suggestions for improvements. Our contact details are shown below. DAVIS LANGDON SAM HASSALL MidCity Place LANDPRO LTD 71 High Holborn Landscape Surveyors London 14 Upper Bourne Lane WC1V 6QS Farnham Surrey GU10 4RQ Tel: 02070 617000 Tel: 01252 795030 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Acknowledgements This list has been compiled from the latest information available but as firms frequently change their names, addresses and telephone numbers due to reorganization, users are advised to check this information before placing orders. ABG Environmental Geosynthetics Ltd Agripower Ltd Unit E7 Broomfield Farm Meltham Mills Road Rignall Road Meltham Great Missenden West Yorkshire HD9 4DS Bucks HP16 9PE Geosynthetics Drainage Tel: 01484 852096 Tel: 01494 866776 Fax: 01484 851562 Fax: 01494 866779 Website: www.abg-geosynthetics.com Website: www.agripower.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Aco Technologies Plc Alumasc Exterior Building Products Ltd Aco Business Park White House Works Hitchin Road Bold Road Shefford Sutton Bedfordshire SG17 5TE St Helens Linear drainage Merseyside WA9 4JG Tel: 01462 816666 Green roof systems Fax: 01462 815895 Tel: 01744 648400 Website: www.aco-online.co.uk Fax: 01744 648401 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.alumasc-exterior-building-products.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] Addagrip Surface Treatments UK Ltd Addagrip House Amberol Ltd Bell Lane Industrial Estate The Plantation Uckfield King Street East Sussex TN22 1QL Alfreton Epoxy bound surfaces Derbyshire DE55 7TT Tel: 01825 761333 Street furniture Fax: 01825 768566 Tel: 01773 830930 Website: www.addagrip.co.uk