Material prices

[Maxus]

Jewsons recently shut down a branch near me. They were OK actually, but you could tell that some of the staff didn't care which is a shame as some did. I would rather go to jewsons than those thieving bar stewards at Travis Perkins

 

[pettsy]

It’s those free bags of sand

 

[6feetdown]

was told today (dont know if theres any truth) that all is not well in the jewson world!

They always look after the big boys until the country goes to crap then try and muscle in

 

[DaveDCB]

jewson been robbing people for years,get a price off them but if you dont check every invoice you never know what theyll charge you.mate of mine was overcharged nearly 10 grand between price quoted and price invoiced on around 100 grand worth of materials so good enough for them.i got my account stopped for not paying my £26 bill for 2 months and ive spent 100s1000s with them

They all do this, granted jewsons are worse, but they always every one on price for me, I hate having to play them against each other, but when I can find a cheaper online general public price I know the big merchants are just having us trade guys over reach and every time!!

 

[Stroppymonkey]

That’s handy to know, I’m just about to start sorting plumbing bits for our next build, big external oil combi and all rads/pipework etc. If they are keen on prices I’ll use them, not far from us!
You can refer me as a friend if you want, I see they do vouchers?

Top tip, avoid a big oil combi!

 

[DaveDCB]

Top tip, avoid a big oil combi!

Do explain? We have no other option on this job, no cylinder room and it’s got to go outside due to lack of room as well! Won’t be big, only a 24kw.

 

[V8Druid]

That’s handy to know, I’m just about to start sorting plumbing bits for our next build, big external oil combi and all rads/pipework etc. If they are keen on prices I’ll use them, not far from us!
You can refer me as a friend if you want, I see they do vouchers?

how big @DaveDCB ? Pam's daughter had a new Grant external combi beginning of August ... over the moon with it ... we have a Grant internal combi - not a fan of oil combi.s - combi works well on gas, not so much on oil

 

[GazCro]

how big @DaveDCB ? Pam's daughter had a new Grant external combi beginning of August ... over the moon with it ... we have a Grant internal combi - not a fan of oil combi.s - combi works well on gas, not so much on oil

Combis are an inefficient way of heating hot water imho and still what you really call a single point heater (ie only fit for one tap at a time). Unless you have absolutely no other option unvented cylinder is far far better. With insulation on cylinders now the whole "only heating the water you need" doesn't stack up.
Single person in a flat with no bath a combi may be ok but that's it.

 

[V8Druid]

Combis are an inefficient way of heating hot water imho and still what you really call a single point heater (ie only fit for one tap at a time). Unless you have absolutely no other option unvented cylinder is far far better. With insulation on cylinders now the whole "only heating the water you need" doesn't stack up.

agree ..... and oil has to warm up the exchanger 'fore you get anything approaching warm water ... would not be my choice TBH ... gas combi.s on the other hand - virtually instant hot water

 

[GazCro]

agree ..... and oil has to warm up the exchanger 'fore you get anything approaching warm water ... would not be my choice TBH ... gas combi.s on the other hand - virtually instant hot water

Even gas I'd go unvented cylinder if poss, have you seen the kw rating of a gas combi when doing hw as opposed to heating.

 

[DaveDCB]

The thing is, the EPC guys disagree with you all! Oil fired combi gets us much higher EPC rating, gas combi drops us afew ratings! I’ve no idea why, don’t really care what they give us but I have to hit certain targets on new builds/conversions so just go along with it!

Another Problem with gas is we’d need LPG, thus making us pick between flo gas/calor etc which is just hassle! Oil you can at least shop around.

 

[Giles]

I opened new account with markovitz in tideswell 3 years ago now, had accounts with all big boys but they were nearest to job.

Been fantastic, know all staff by name they know me. Get free boxes of tape measures as in 20 x 5m ones, hats pens 1mm slitting disc ex have 20k credit with them get deliveries bumped up can’t fault them, actually they did invite me to a golf day! But can’t be all good

They’ve also got heavy civils side in north Sheffield which is good for us as most builders merchants struggle with the civils etc

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Do explain? We have no other option on this job, no cylinder room and it’s got to go outside due to lack of room as well! Won’t be big, only a 24kw.

Ah okay that's not a big one..

 

[Stroppymonkey]

how big @DaveDCB ? Pam's daughter had a new Grant external combi beginning of August ... over the moon with it ... we have a Grant internal combi - not a fan of oil combi.s - combi works well on gas, not so much on oil

Oil combis are generally superior to gas when it comes to producing hot water as they usually have a primary store and better dhw flow rate. It's the lack of burner modulation when in heating mode that's the downside of any standard oil boiler. And outside is the best place for them nearly every time.

 

[V8Druid]

Oil combis are generally superior to gas when it comes to producing hot water as they usually have a primary store and better dhw flow rate. It's the lack of burner modulation when in heating mode that's the downside of any standard oil boiler. And outside is the best place for them nearly every time.

which unless the heating is on regularly is cold usually, when you turn the hot tap on --- and takes an age to get to a decent temp. to warm the water coming out of the hot tap ... not such an issue in the colder months when the heating is in use, but a PITFA in the warmer months, when said heating may not be on for weeks/months.

 

[GazCro]

which unless the heating is on regularly is cold usually, when you turn the hot tap on --- and takes an age to get to a decent temp. to warm the water coming out of the hot tap ... not such an issue in the colder months when the heating is in use, but a PITFA in the warmer months, when said heating may not be on for weeks/months.

No oil Combis and actually for standing gas combis (if they still do them) have a time clock for hw as well as heating so you can keep the primary store hot, but imho you may as well have a cylinder full of hw instead.

 

[V8Druid]

No oil Combis and actually for standing gas combis (if they still do them) have a time clock for hw as well as heating so you can keep the primary store hot, but imho you may as well have a cylinder full of hw instead.

now't on mine ....... Grant Vortex 26 IIRC

 

[GazCro]

now't on mine ....... Grant Vortex 26 IIRC

Ah now I'm thinking worcester here (older ones anyway) the primary store in them is actually a small hot water tank (could be about 30 litres could be more) so in effect you have x amount of hw ready all the time.

 

[pettsy]

Ah now I'm thinking worcester here (older ones anyway) the primary store in them is actually a small hot water tank (could be about 30 litres could be more) so in effect you have x amount of hw ready all the time.

The Worcester high flow gas are the same

 

[Stroppymonkey]

now't on mine ....... Grant Vortex 26 IIRC

If your Grant Combi is working properly/wired properly and has the DHW control switch live then it should always maintain the primary store ready for instant hot water. Sounds like something wrong to me. Fault could depend on which model you have as they have evolved over the years.