Some of you may recall that we are struggling with a leak in the slab and secondary floor damage. It ihas not been easy to deal with the insurance or to get response from the plumbers, but I finally have one estimate. WOuld be grateful for your thoughts on the price.
The situation is that there is an underslab leak in the hot water line feeding two full baths and one half-bath. Everything it feeds is within a 14×14 footprint.The heater itself is on the 2nd floor. The hot line drops down, goes under the slab, and pops up to feed the lavs and showers. We have decided to cut off the leaky copper line and run a new one above the slab. We will also replace one shower/tub valve set (and we already own the replacement parts).
The quote is $1,800, which does not include replacing the sheetrock.
Does that sound reasonable?
Replies
it sounds kind of high to me in that the actual plumbing work to be done will be accomplished in two days of labor and very little in the way of materials.
that is not including the labor for demo and clean up from said demo which may be another two days labor and plumbers hate to do that.
if the 1800 includes demo, clean up, and a trip to the dump, and all the work does actually take around 32 man hours its not bad, two men, two days, plus extra for variables, it is a repair!
you could probably get it for less if you did the demo, clean up, and trip to the dump. just remember to give him plenty of room to work when you demo, if he has to take off more sheetrock (plumbers dont like demo) thats strike one.
also what area are you in? that affects price a lot, if you are a connecticut yankee or city of san fran its a bargain!
I am in Dallas.
its really pretty cheap
Sounds reasonable to me, or even a little low, though we don't have all the facts. I don't know where segundo lives, but in the rest of the world, plumbers don't work for the $50/hour +/- that his $1800/32 hours works out to. In most major metros its more like $90/hour plus, so assuming the work can be done in one day with two guys, the number sounds about right. I'm thinking it's might be more than a day's work for the two guys with the demo and all, so that's why I say it's reasonable or even a little low.
Bob
i was thinking plumber and helper, and figured 32 man hours as a max for the job, with a trip to the dump and said it might be high if it was only the pipe and valve (supplied) repair with demo and clean not included, and did mention it was a bargain for some areas.
i freely admit to not being an expert on pricing and estimating, was just suggesting the different scenarios, if i can get $90 per hour to plumb, with nothing more than a van, my garage, and a cell phone, even more with a helper thats what i need to be doing! that works out to $180,000 per year with 2000 billable hours!
$1800 is low - go for it.Segundo - in that scenario you'll work more than 2000 hrs/year, but you won't get 2000 billable.
If you really think there is 2000 billable hours in a year you are either, 1) not in the buisiness, or 2) you do it and have no life.
well i did mention a helper, i didn't say all the hours are mine,
i am not in the "business" rather a licensed general contractor that bought a job, did ok, then went back to being a more regular employee until the next opportunity to really be "in the business"
in other words a failed contractor, failing in that i am not a gazillionaire, despite actully making a small profit, and going back to being an employee
that being said one of my problems is that i am not specialzed enough, i do both residential work when that is booming, trained as a framer in the tracts of so cal mid 70's, and heavy industrial/class "A" construction
i held journeyman cards in carpenters(1062, 1622, 713), piledrivers (bridgebuilding local 34), millwrights(102), and ironworkers(433,317). extensively certified welder gets me in with all the pipe trades, my resume gets me in as superintendent jobs for govt contractors, as well as in nuke plants as a craft worker.
i really like framing, my first love, but there is just no money in it. i am an excellent plumber, and should focus my energies on that, i can probably make more as a plumbing contractor than i can as an employee, trouble is if i get a chance to frame a house at the beach, or work on the rebuilding of the world trade center i am tempted.
sounds cheap!
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Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
its like HVAC. how much can you afford to be cool. How much can you afford t take a hot shower
or the cost of sand fill;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Another reason to learn to DIY, esp. since you already have the parts.
Remember your labor is TAX FREE!
Sounds like only a 1 day job for 1 person to me.
However, for hiring something out, $1800 is about right, in the time/cost same ballpark as other repair tasks. E.g., to repair an automatic transmission (once you know how and have the tools) only takes about 1 day also, and the minimum there is usually $2000.
Look at what the dentist and the docs charge, but DIY minor surgery (stitches, etc) and dental work (fileing or pulling teeth) was a whole 'nother thread<G> .
You probably already spent a few days dealing with insurance and plumbers, by now you could have done it and no increase next year in insurance rates either.
Let's say this is your first time at this type plumbing task, it will probably take you 1 day learning and 2 days doing, after that you will know how (lots easier and fewer tools than transmission repair). That's $1800/3 = $600 per day tax free for DIY.
Also, when you DIY, think of the good excuses to buy more tools!!!!!!
Example: We had a big windstorm here last week. A few years ago, DW wanted to know why I REALLY needed a backhoe (dont do anything constructin for hire). Just clearing some trees up about made it pay for itself in a few days. One neighbor just brought by a couple sixpacks of Henry's Dark for clearing a few big branches for him (gratis for neighbors of course).
Buy tools, buy more tools, buy another house to store the tools, RAH RAH DIY.