I have saved a lot of money and headaches on a variety of new houses with this very simple technique: When I get bids for the foundation work, I insist on one combined price, including both the excavation and the concrete. This way each concrete subcontractor gets a price from his favorite excavator, and submits one complete price. What this means to the general contractor is that you won’t find yourself faced with additional charges by the form setters for extra handwork on a hole that wasn’t to their liking. In my experience, this includes most holes ever dug.
Besides eliminating surprise extras after the competitive relationship is lost, this strategy also results in one less subcontract you will have to let, schedule, supervise and shuffle paper for. Perhaps the greatest advantage, however, lies in simply avoiding a conflict between two subcontractors, with you in the middle.
Douglass Ferrell, Trout Creek, MT
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Smart!
It is real simple. You either manage the form contractor yourself
or you pay the concrete contractor to do it for you at extra charge.
Consider hiring a general contractor to build the house for you
and you wont have any work at all..... but you will have much less
money.
That's a great idea...hey...how bout having the Plumber hire the Electrician, HVAC, Framer, and Roofer. Then the Insulator hire the drywaller, cabinets, and painter, maybe even the floors also. Wow, we should all have thought of that!
2morweeks. Please explain the logic and benefits behind the idea for the plumber to hire the Electrician, HVAC, Framer, and roofer.
I'd like to hear the logic benefits as well 2morweeks. Please enlighten us.
I agree - but have the foundation contractor include the cost of concrete and rebar also.