Need Sanity Check on Estimate
#1
03-21-10, 12:55 PM
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Need Sanity Check on Estimate
All,
I received an estimate last April from a contractor to rip out and pour me a new concrete 250 sq. ft. garage floor. Will excavate down 1 foot, add in a 6 inch course 3/4 #8 gravel bed with wire mesh, rebar, and pour 6 inches of 3500 PSI concrete with fiber on top. Will also install mesh, thinset and stucco on the foundation block. I decided to postpone the project until this year and I am now ready to pull the trigger. Had the contractor come back and wanted to hold him to the $2500 estimate he gave last year. Only think different this year is I now want him to construct 3 concrete block steps. He said the steps would be $250 each ($750 for the 3). He's also adding in another $300 on top of his estimate last year for "increased prices" for concrete. My question is does $750 sound reasonable/in the ballpark for 3 steps? I'm about 30 minutes outside of Manhattan. I understand the $300 increase for the higher price of concrete but $750 sounds a bit high for 3 steps. I also think he realized his bid was too low and now he's trying to goose it up. Anyway, appreciate your feedback. Thanks all
FC
I received an estimate last April from a contractor to rip out and pour me a new concrete 250 sq. ft. garage floor. Will excavate down 1 foot, add in a 6 inch course 3/4 #8 gravel bed with wire mesh, rebar, and pour 6 inches of 3500 PSI concrete with fiber on top. Will also install mesh, thinset and stucco on the foundation block. I decided to postpone the project until this year and I am now ready to pull the trigger. Had the contractor come back and wanted to hold him to the $2500 estimate he gave last year. Only think different this year is I now want him to construct 3 concrete block steps. He said the steps would be $250 each ($750 for the 3). He's also adding in another $300 on top of his estimate last year for "increased prices" for concrete. My question is does $750 sound reasonable/in the ballpark for 3 steps? I'm about 30 minutes outside of Manhattan. I understand the $300 increase for the higher price of concrete but $750 sounds a bit high for 3 steps. I also think he realized his bid was too low and now he's trying to goose it up. Anyway, appreciate your feedback. Thanks all
FC
#2
03-21-10, 01:03 PM
Super Moderator
Personally...I think the whole things sounds pretty cheap. I was quoted almost $4000 for a simple driveway/parking pad of about 600sf...but this was outside beside my garage, needing not much more than a little grading and forming.....
And I'm in a pretty low cost area.
And I'm in a pretty low cost area.
#3
03-21-10, 01:28 PM
You'd better sign quick even with the price increase. If he is quoting labor and material, that is cheap, especially up nawth. You didn't say how high the steps were. If only one course, then give yourself a break and do it yourself. If more than one course, then it seems fair.
#4
03-21-10, 01:48 PM
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Alright, thanks guys. He's def cheaper than some of the others that bid. Just wanted a second opinion and you've convinced me. Appreciate it.
FC
FC
#6
03-22-10, 08:36 AM
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Thanks Chandler. Got him from ServiceMagic.com | Get Matched to Top-Rated Remodelers, Plumbers & More where he has 24 5-star reviews. I reached out to two customers who said he was great so I think he's the real deal.
#7
03-27-10, 09:03 AM
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Quick follow-up gents. Getting ready to pull the trigger on my garage floor project. My contractor wants to "make holes on lateral walls of the garage to install U-Bars every 16 inches". Can someone here please tell me if this is normal protocol when prepping a floor for concrete and what is a U-Bar? He is the only contractor who suggested doing this - all other proposals were tying rebar to the WW mesh - that's it. Thanks FC
#8
03-27-10, 09:09 AM
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Quick follow-up gents. Getting ready to pull the trigger on my garage floor project. My contractor wants to "make holes on lateral walls of the garage to install U-Bars every 16 inches". Can someone here please tell me if this is normal protocol when prepping a floor for concrete and what is a U-Bar? He is the only contractor who suggested doing this - all other proposals were tying rebar to the WW mesh - that's it. Thanks FC
#9
03-27-10, 08:05 PM
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that is to tie the floor to the foundation, and I would do that myself if i was replacing the floor.
murphy was an optimist
murphy was an optimist
#10
03-28-10, 04:18 PM
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#11
04-07-10, 01:15 PM
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Follow-Up Question
Hi all, My guy will be pouring my concrete garage floor tomorrow. He did not use a vapor barrrier/retarder after laying down the gravel and before the welded wire mesh and rebar. Here is my question - Do I absolutley need a vapor barrier here or can I do without it? I just want to be done with this project. Thx FC
#12
04-07-10, 02:14 PM
You don't need a vapor barrier after the gravel, just on the dirt. This keeps the moisture from the dirt from migrating up into the concrete. If there is no VB under it all and you've got a pour scheduled for tomorrow, it's too late.
#14
04-09-10, 11:32 AM
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Floor was poured yesterday and concrete steps built. Looks great. I'll see if I can post a few photos. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions and help.
