My house is falling apart....

Goddamn it, just even thinking of the work-level there is killing my syntax. I just need to figure out how to talk to an electrical contractor without getting ripped off.

There are alot of variables that can affect cost. If your existing wiring uses armored "BX" cable - a pair of wires in a flexible metal conduit - the upgrade could be as cheap and easy as replacing the outlets, as the electrical boxes behind the outlets should already be grounded. If you have access to a cold-water pipe less than 5 feet from where it enters the structure, you can use that as a grounding point. Otherwise you're probably looking at running new wiring to the circuit breaker or fuse panel (definitely if you have an old house with knob-and-tube wiring with completely separate hot and neutral wires, which were never grounded). It will be fastest and cheapest if your electric panel isn't too far away, and if there's a basement or attic to run the wires through.

Probably best to install entire new circuit(s) with new wiring and outlets if you don't have BX cable. The per-outlet cost should drop as more outlets are installed. Just calling out an electrician will typically cost almost $100, and they'll need to break out the tools and testing equipment just to upgrade one outlet. Additional outlets should cost less; the final cost is largely dependent on how long it takes rather than number of outlets, as the materials cost is cheap.

(note: the above applies for the US; electical code and wiring schemes are different in other countries and i'm not familiar with them).

At least the area where I'm first looking to replace the outlets is near the electrical panel and there's a nearby bathroom. Thanks for the info!

We've just had a corrugated garage roof removed/replaced.

During the build, the builder (who had been out to see the roof) emailed to say that the roof was asbestos and that this would cost an additional £300-£400 to dispose of.

The original quote says they will "remove existing corrugated roof panels and discard". The bill isn't itemised, price-wise, and I'd assumed that this was straight-forward.

Is the "discovery" that the roof might contain asbestos a reasonable one? (Meaning the extra cost might be reasonable). Or am I having this piss taken out of me?

The roof is currently left in the garden.

I have paid around three quarters of the invoice (for the work done). Is it reasonable to withhold the remainder until the waste roof has been removed.

Anyone?

It's reasonable to discover asbestos unexpectedly. But first get another quote for its removal.

honestly that doesn't seem like a lot for asbestos removal, but yeah I would get a 2nd quote for reference

Thanks both.

I think the thing I'm struggling with is that its a corrugated garage roof and I'd imagine that a builder would look at this and go "Hmm, this might be asbestos" and treat accordingly (rather than agree to the work and then half-way through the day think "Hmm, this might be asbestos". That is, its not something that is hidden. So, I guess, I'm left feeling like I've employed someone who can't do their job or I'm having the piss taken out of me. I'm open to the idea that I'm being a dick, though.

Once I worked on a school re-wire where some crooked company had faked their asbestos report and me + a partner in crime at the time had been doing everything short of snorting and having snowball fights with a load asbestos pipe-lagging in the void under the school. There is often corruption and bullshit where asbestos removal is concerned. When it is done under correct site regs it is very expensive work, involving mobile shower units, highly trained operatives - who have more than the basic "oh -thats what that shit looks like" Asbestos Awareness course behind them. Air tests and the complete sealing off of areas during removal are all time consuming and expensive.

In my experience there are plenty of hack builder types who will bullshit people about asbestos removal being costly and then just fly-tip it on some greenbelt.

This is just my tuppence worth, sorry if it is not helpful or quite depressing.

That is dirt cheap for asbestos removal - I would assume he's doing it without standard abatement/disposal procedures (which are costly).

I never dealt with corrugated panels but it looks like the difference between corrugated steel and asbestos is pretty obvious.

Hereabouts, when asbestos is properly disposed of, a receipt is issued by the qualified disposal site to the contractor who removed it, a copy of which is to be given to the person who is paying for the removal. This system helps to prevent it being tipped on some greenway.

Probably going to pay for asbestos removal, from a recommended company.

What would be my legal standing re not paying the original builder his full quote (his quote says he will dispose of the roofing, which clearly he hasn't done)? He claims the quote only included £50 for the disposal of the roof though this isn't itemised with a price.

every time they find asbestos on Property Brothers it's $1500 for removal