Quick answer. Two quotes with different totals may be pricing different jobs.
What to understand before hiring someone
Comparing them means checking the area, crack repair, sections to be stripped, treatment of steel, mortar, primers, paint and access equipment. Permits, protection and waste also matter.
What to check in the building
Ask for a description of the exclusions and how unforeseen work will be approved. Find out who takes on technical supervision where required and what documented guarantees the contractor offers.
Don't put yourself at risk of falling or handle unstable elements to take a photo: checks at height require proper equipment. If there is an immediate risk to people, protecting the area and calling the relevant services must come first.
How to make an informed decision
A table of line items is usually more useful for a residents' meeting than just comparing the final price. Not all proposals include the same substrate preparation.
It's useful to keep dated photos, previous reports and itemised quotes. These documents help compare diagnoses and identify which part is a temporary repair and which is a full job. Where there is structural damage, asbestos or other regulated conditions, an authorised professional, company and procedure are required.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing on the final price without checking that the line items are equivalent.
- Mistaking a visible stain or crack for the whole cause.
- Ordering cosmetic finishes before fixing active leaks.
- Assuming that rope access, scaffolding or one product works for every job.
Common questions
Is the most expensive one the best?
Not necessarily; what matters is the scope and verifiable technical competence.
When do I need a professional inspection?
When the problem comes back, affects safety, involves several homes or its source is unknown. The recommendations in a guide don't replace a check of the actual work.
Related solutions and reading
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This guide is for guidance only and does not replace an inspection of the property or reports by qualified technicians.