price for a concrete slab with footing..
I need to pour a slab for my kitchen extension which measures 9’x14′. It has to have a 16″ wide 3 foot deep trenched footing. It has to be dug by hand. Comes out to about 6-7 yards of concrete. It can be poured monolithically. The soil conditions are normal, no problems digging. It must be pinned to the old foundation, some rebar added at the bottom, steel mesh in the middle with vapor barrier, etc. Also needs all the j-bolts installed. I got a price from a contractor to do this job for $4700.00 including getting rid of all the excavated dirt. This sounds high to me. What do you think? I asked the guy if I would save alot if i dug the trench myself and he said no, mostly because I have to get a dumpster to get rid of the dirt. I figured to do it myself would cost me $1800 and that includes paying a buddy’s old man who does concete finishing work for the local public works dept. So do you think its worth it?
Replies
It could be worse, he could charge you $99,575.50.
Seriously, you are being asked to make an everyday consumer decision. He is naming a price. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to decide whether or not you want to buy at that price. The problem you are causing yourself is that you are trying to dissect whether or not this guy is making a ton of money on you.
When you go to the grocery store, do you try to figure out how much it would cost to own a cow and get your own milk? When you buy gas do you wonder if Chevron execs make too much??
You seem to think it's an $1800 job. I can tell you with 100% certainty that I would charge more than that. Maybe as much as your contract, maybe not, I can't see the job and I haven't met you.
If you can, get another bid. See who you like better. Either hire one of them or DIY.
When I buy gas these days I DO think Chevron execs are making too much money. I never said I thought the guy should do the job for $1800.00 I said I COULD! I know everybody has to make money. So if the job cost him $1800 to do then he's making $2900 I was asking if everybody thought it was a reasonable price cause I think its high. I could be totally off my mark though and it could be a decent price
Sheeeeeesh
Craig,
IMO his price is a little high for a 9x14 pad with turned down footings. If you do some of the work yourself aka dig the trench for the footing he must recalc. the quote. Do yourself a favor and get anougher 2/3 quotes. Renting a 10 yard dumpster will run you about $350 to $450. Concrete here in Chicago goes from $85 to $100 a yard for a 6 bag mix and delivery charges are waved for anything more than 5 yards. Typically you'll get XX free minutes per yard to unload so in your case 7yrds x(XX)min.s before you start getting charged a fee by the minute. This is typical in the midwest.
If you think you can handle this very exhaustive work, knock yourself out. I don't recommend that you do but...
You will need:
a few flat shovels as well as a few spades and personnel to man these.
2 wheel barrows unless the truck can get close and the shute extensions reach atleast half the space. The latter is a real time/$$$$ saver!!!!
Rubber boots for all involved--concrete burns are a real bummer.
A boogie board to bring the cream up---this is a serious workout.
all rebar work done well before the truck arrives.
Do not under estimate the force of concrete. You can't have enough bracing!!!
Know what your doing.
OR, YOU CAN HAVE A CONCRETE CONTRACTOR DO IT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT HE DOES [I cannot say what exactly what you job entails because I'm not there but you should be able to find a quote in the $2800 to $3800 range---THE GUY HAS TO MAKE A PROFIT]. This not work for the faint of hart, particularly if you do not have the equipment to ease the burden!
HA-Ha good luck
you're right on about all the hard work but you left out finishing the slab which is an art in itself.pay a pro.
RTC
This sounds high to me.
No, that sounds about right to me. You're "buying" a lot of prep work (and the manual labor for all the digging) which is worth a dime or two.
I figured to do it myself would cost me $1800
That's some sharp-pencil ciphering. I'm not sure I could get formwork and finishing and the 'crete for just that. The doweling, bar, p/e, grading, and the inspections not included. It'd be $500 just for 'crete, delivered. About 2.5 cf in a mason's wheelbarrow, 6.5 cy is 175-180 cf or around 70 trips. Put five hands on it with 5 wheelbarrows, at five minutes the trip, it's--surprise--70 minutes. But, you'll need a couple of finishers for a couple hours (or three, or four, or five--depending on the weather & conditions).
Whlie we are at it, who's paying for the testing on the concrete? You know a local lab? You have the cylinders handy? You want to wager your addition that the concrete is "all right"? (More importantly, when the BI asks about that . . . )
I'm not saying it can't be done. I'm not saying you can't make that price add up. All I'm really saying is I can't make the price add up, it looks low just for parts (concrete, bar, dowels, epoxy, etc.) by about half (to me). That's before labor, too.
This seams like a no-brainer, you can save $2900, do it your self.
Wheres Brownbagg when you need him!
Your out of line suggesting that its to much, do you have the specifics on what his insurance cost him, what his WCI cost him, the cost of those tools that he uses? Yea Yea, I know, he already owns them so he shouldnt need to charge for that, but yet he does, the nerve!
I'd suggest that you get another bid or two. Maybe this guy is just on the high end of what the market allows. Check into it.
Doug
If you do decide to do it yourself, rent a powerbuggy if the truck can't reach. Basically think of (very) minature dump truck. It has about a half yard bucket that is hydraulically controlled. Even if the truck can reach, it would be pretty cheap insurance against the truck cracking your sidewalk/driveway.
It was about 80 bucks for four hours up here (Metro Detroit)
if you dig it yourself, by hand, form its, compacted the soil, remove the excess soil and just spread it in your yard, hell with dumpster. nobody hauls off good dirt. lay rebar. lay plastic. do everything but the concrete. and the cheapest that I would touch it is. $2000. and I will even pay for the cheapest weakest concrete I can find. You have no choice in the matter. and that really is a good price.
But then what do I know about concrete.
Edited 5/22/2006 7:48 pm by brownbagg
You do not have any info on your profile ,where you live would help. $4700.00 in South Jersey for the work you describe is downright cheap.Seven yards of concrete here costs about $740.00 ,more if the truck sits more than 45 minutes.Rebar and mesh,$200.00 or so,anchor bolts plastic ,formwork etc. all add up. Have you ever tried pouring seven yards of concrete? If you have not, and you try this pour with your buddys father,I'm pretty sure it may be the last time you try to pour concrete.
Pay the contractor to do the work, if you do it and it comes out lousy,the rest of the kitchen will come out the same way.With the rest of the work you can take your time to do it right, but concrete work won't wait for you to consult your Time Life books for what to do next.Just kidding a bit, I don't want to see you kill yourself with this job.
mike
You should get a couple of prices to compare. About 2 years ago I got 2 crawl space foundations 10'x16' and a 10'x1'2 shed pad and a 5'x12' front stoop complete with excavation for $5500 on Long Island. The next guys price was closer to $10K. I was leary about the cheaper guy, but he came recommended and I have had no problems, could have been a little cleaner but at that price I can live with it.
Aren't you on Long Island?
If so, $4700 is a bargain.
Yes I live on Long Island. I know the contractor has expenses, and needs to make a living. I was just asking if you guys thought it was a decent price. As for the post about having the concrete tested for the psi, I've never seen ANYONE or HEARD of anyone doing that where I live. As far as inspection that was included with my building permit and the BI doesnt watch the guy pour, he comes before the pour and measures down to make sure your at three feet. Then he leaves. The job is in an easy location, there's no digging concerns, the ground is level, so I thought $4700 was alot. He's making $2900 for one days work, albeit a long day. Its just my opinion, thats why I turned to you guys. Alot of people on here take it so personally when you question about what someone charges is fair. Remember I;m in the business too I'm not some naive homeowner with no experience. I have a pretty good handle on what things cost in remodeling. It was just a question to put out there to see what every one else thought! Thanks!
7 yards? Compacted, rebar laid, poured and finished? Location out East? $4700? That's a deal.
I think there are three things that are really tough to DIY and come out ahead.
Hanging rock
Taping rock
Concrete
Maybe 4...roofing
Maybe 5...framing
It's a reasonable question to float and I'm surprised you're getting so much flak over it. To help you gauge, I paid $2000 for a 24x36x5" slab. Concrete cost about $1K which left my sub with $1k to pay himself, a helper and his business expenses. I had originally planned and scheduled to pour and finish the slab myself with two helpers to pour, float and hand-trowel. On the pour day it rained, forcing me to hire the backup. He had a full set of move-fast gear, including power trowel, power screed, and chute extension. I am glad that I spent the money.
On another occasion I paid $8,000 for a walkout foundation for the same project, including at materials, forms, etc. Got a good product and the number included the extra rebar that I specified. My location is coastal Maine.
Just some data points to help you decide. Betcha you know what I'd do next time... at least where major concrete flat work is concerned.
Pete
Last time I did concrete work ...
It took a day to hand dig the footings 12"x48"x140'. 1 day for forms and rebar. 22yds of concrete. 4 hours for a pump truck. 4 hours more for me to finish the concrete.
$100 tips for the 2 concrete truck drivers and the pump driver.
Less than $2000 for 26x32'.
I think the fellow wants to much.
I Think The Fellow Wants Too Much
Ive got an idea,toss your shovel in the mini van, ride over there and help the guy out
when you get done,come back and tell everyone what you figure the job was worth
oh yeah by done i mean after yall do the grinder action that its gonna take cause you guys havent ever finished for tile or whatever before but hey- how hard can it be right?
Due to recent budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel will be turned off until further notice.
Edited 5/23/2006 6:03 pm ET by mrmojo
yes , its too much if you do it yourself, but he has excuvator note, insurance, labor, material, dumpster, accountant fee, county licence fee. profit margin,, truck note. For a turn key price, its not bad.