I am brand-new to this site so let me know if this is the wrong forum... I recently called 7 contractors/carpenters to add a full dormer to my unfinished attic, I live in the north east. Only 2 returned my call, and only one came to my house. He never called back with an estimate. So, out of 7 builders I got zero response. Is it because attic renovation is considered a small job in the recent good economy. Are attics a messy or difficult job?. I figured I will wait for the recession and someone might be interested. Any opinions?

 

Since I am a contractor, I will tell you how it is with dormers. Dormers are what are called labor intensive work. The materials do not cost much, but high in labor. It is what is called piddily work. I would just say off the top of my head that you could figure $1200 to $1500 for a small to medium dormer. Most people do not want to pay that much. Everyone trys to get things for nothing. You are that way also since you wanted to wait for a recession. Let me tell you about recessions. The good contractors and carpenters work right through recessions. No problem. The bad ones go out of business. In the contractor world, if a customer evens mentions the price or how much will it cost, there is a 95% chance the person cannot afford it. The customers that get their work done are the ones who just call up and say come on over I have work for you and when can you start. I just looked up my records for 2000 and 87%
of my jobs, I never gave an estimate or price. Good Luck

 

Hello

Jackis right on....Some times if you have a good set of plans with all the information on them you may find a contractor that would take on the job...but if the contractor has to guess what you want and then do it and make you happy .....He has lost any profit....He may have had in the job with a bid/contract...time and material jobs
like this have a problem...the home owner can not see why it cost so much and are unhappy....the contractor looses again.......SO..Good Luck ...with your dormers.
If you should find a good contractor to do the Job Make sure you know every thing you want done before you start and do NOT change any thing to do with the job...this will cost you and the contractor money....no one is happy....