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Started By
Message
Is this contractor on crack?
Posted on 3/21/20 at 12:25 pm
Posted on 3/21/20 at 12:25 pm
TLDR - $26k estimate for a 500 square foot deck, stairs, and railings.
So, over the past 7/8 years, I've been helping a buddy that owns a canal home on Galveston with rebuild work both inside and out. Over this time, it's been nearly a 100% overhaul, with us doing most of the work ourselves.
The top deck has been put off until last, and it is now well beyond its last leg. We're getting a bit older, and PROBABLY don't want to do this one last project. He texted me this am and asked about material cost to replace the decking, stairs, and railings - the dimensions are approximately 25' wide and 20' deep, extending over the canal and boat lift; all approx 10' above the slab / lower deck.
I did some quick calculations, and I came up with ~2k for material only (pine all around). He went the contractor route, got an estimate for 26k and was shocked. Hell, we built his entire same sqft lower deck where there was none before, and then rebuilt the boat dock and extended the surrounds (new joists / headers for all) for a total of $1500 in the past couple years.
Does anyone do this professionally? Is this contractor on crack? I can see 10k for a basic deck/stairs/rails by a pro... but 26k?? For a weekend's worth of work and 2k of materials?
Screw learning to code - I need to build decks.
So, over the past 7/8 years, I've been helping a buddy that owns a canal home on Galveston with rebuild work both inside and out. Over this time, it's been nearly a 100% overhaul, with us doing most of the work ourselves.
The top deck has been put off until last, and it is now well beyond its last leg. We're getting a bit older, and PROBABLY don't want to do this one last project. He texted me this am and asked about material cost to replace the decking, stairs, and railings - the dimensions are approximately 25' wide and 20' deep, extending over the canal and boat lift; all approx 10' above the slab / lower deck.
I did some quick calculations, and I came up with ~2k for material only (pine all around). He went the contractor route, got an estimate for 26k and was shocked. Hell, we built his entire same sqft lower deck where there was none before, and then rebuilt the boat dock and extended the surrounds (new joists / headers for all) for a total of $1500 in the past couple years.
Does anyone do this professionally? Is this contractor on crack? I can see 10k for a basic deck/stairs/rails by a pro... but 26k?? For a weekend's worth of work and 2k of materials?
Screw learning to code - I need to build decks.
12
Posted on 3/21/20 at 12:36 pm to LSUnivFan
the economy is crashing
he will want to do it for half that in a couple of weeks
he will want to do it for half that in a couple of weeks
Posted on 3/21/20 at 12:42 pm to LSUnivFan
Yeah, that sounds way high to me. I Had a 12'x12' done last year for a little over 3 grand.
Posted on 3/21/20 at 12:53 pm to LSUnivFan
Doubt it, probably has a backlog of work that will get him through 2020. Bulkhead/dock builders are busy a cat covering shite in LC and are working for the 1% mostly.
Posted on 3/21/20 at 12:59 pm to LSUnivFan
Sounds high but I would expect it to be more than your average deck since it is up high and sounds like over water. Probably needs to rent man lifts etc. was that using thick marine grade treated beam for the runners and through bolted on the pilings? That all adds up quick but $26k seems high I would have though t in the $10k range
Posted on 3/21/20 at 1:14 pm to bayoudude
that’s a fair point Bayou... if the GC wants to replace ALL the substructure in the joists/beams/headers (all 12 by) then that would roll up the costs quick... But I still can’t see 26k.
Unless it was in Trex, with terracing and tiki hut and built in hot tub and anything else one can imagine. That’s over $50.00 per square foot on the build. This house can have a 3rd story tacked on to it - including plumbing and elec - for that price per sqft.
Unless it was in Trex, with terracing and tiki hut and built in hot tub and anything else one can imagine. That’s over $50.00 per square foot on the build. This house can have a 3rd story tacked on to it - including plumbing and elec - for that price per sqft.
Posted on 3/21/20 at 1:19 pm to LSUnivFan
I do not understand shite like this.
the price he gave you is the price he is willing to do the job for.
no, he is not “on crack”. To that contractor yours is a 25K job, for whatever reason. Fortunately you retain the option to get alternative opinions
the price he gave you is the price he is willing to do the job for.
no, he is not “on crack”. To that contractor yours is a 25K job, for whatever reason. Fortunately you retain the option to get alternative opinions
Posted on 3/21/20 at 1:36 pm to LSUnivFan
Guy could be crazy busy and gave you the home run price
Did you even bother to get a competing number to see if he’s in the ballpark before running here? Or if your buddy thought it was so outrageous why not just call the contractor and explain your concerns and ask for a breakdown on the price?
Did you even bother to get a competing number to see if he’s in the ballpark before running here? Or if your buddy thought it was so outrageous why not just call the contractor and explain your concerns and ask for a breakdown on the price?
Posted on 3/21/20 at 2:24 pm to LSUnivFan
I’m in construction. Don’t pay over $20/SF. Unless there is something special like having to get the materials there by boat or high dollar deck boards (Trex or Ipe) then that is absurd.
Posted on 3/21/20 at 3:58 pm to LSUnivFan
you priced based on cheap lumber
he most likely priced using resin or polymer decking boards that can be way way higher priced but are better and never rot
doing it once and doing it right is not cheap. your pine lumber deck would need rebuilding/replacing in a few years and that's why it only costs $2k
he most likely priced using resin or polymer decking boards that can be way way higher priced but are better and never rot
doing it once and doing it right is not cheap. your pine lumber deck would need rebuilding/replacing in a few years and that's why it only costs $2k
Posted on 3/21/20 at 4:10 pm to LSUnivFan
Is he actually building it out of pine? I'm not aware of contractors using pine in that environment. The price to do it right is much different than the DIY price.
10' will require engineering and permits
Should be built out of weather resistant wood (not any variety of pine) or an engineered product.
Let me make sure i understand, you two guys were going to build a 10ft high 500sqft deck partially over a canal in galveston?
Whats the wind/uplift load on a deck that size? What are the approved structural connectors for deck to pile and piles to footings? Just curious
10' will require engineering and permits
Should be built out of weather resistant wood (not any variety of pine) or an engineered product.
Let me make sure i understand, you two guys were going to build a 10ft high 500sqft deck partially over a canal in galveston?
Whats the wind/uplift load on a deck that size? What are the approved structural connectors for deck to pile and piles to footings? Just curious
Posted on 3/21/20 at 7:06 pm to LSUnivFan
You call Steve from Tiki? He does all the reno work around there.
Posted on 3/21/20 at 8:43 pm to LSUnivFan
He doesn’t want the job but, if your friend agrees, the contractor hits the jackpot. 
Posted on 3/21/20 at 8:51 pm to Yewkindewit
Around here, the general way that they price jobs like decks and stuff. Whatever the materials cost, labor will be the same price + 10%. Of course if they need to rent extra equipment, that's going to cost extra.
OK, I guess I have to explain for the morons. If my material cost $1,500. The labor will cost $ 1,650. Final cost $3,150.
OK, I guess I have to explain for the morons. If my material cost $1,500. The labor will cost $ 1,650. Final cost $3,150.
This post was edited on 3/22/20 at 9:18 am
Posted on 3/22/20 at 8:18 am to auggie
I can promise you contractor's aren't living on 10% above costs anywhere for small projects
This post was edited on 3/22/20 at 8:18 am
Posted on 3/22/20 at 8:44 am to shawnlsu
yeah that’s a good way to go broke.
10% on a 25K job isn’t worth the site visit in the first place
10% on a 25K job isn’t worth the site visit in the first place
Posted on 3/22/20 at 9:07 am to shawnlsu
Huh, On my deck the 2 guys finished in a singe day, made 800 bucks each. That's Ok money.
Posted on 3/22/20 at 9:09 am to shawnlsu
quote:
can promise you contractor's aren't living on 10% above costs anywhere for small projects
He didn’t say cost +10%, he said cost, plus the cost for a labor charge, plus 10%.
As said the guy is likely busy and quoting high, it’s also possible he is doing something like replacing some pilings or something like that.
Posted on 3/22/20 at 10:47 am to LSUnivFan
Does he have to set pilings in the water? That is the only thing that can explain that. If not, I’ll do it for $20k.
Posted on 3/22/20 at 3:07 pm to Putty
Get 3-4 bids apples to apples . Throw out the high and low . Get references
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