To all
O.k here it is, six squares of roof, 1 1/2 stories, 8/12 pitch, two layers of asphalt shingles, one layer of wood shakes, complete tear off, resheet with plywood, two rolls of roofing felt, three tab shingles reinstalled. materials provided by homeowner. dumpster included in my cost. working alone, no ground help to clean up. labor only bid comes to $2,746.90. Home owner says its too much. I’m beginning to second guess my estimating program. This is in northern Illinois.
PatRen
In this FHB Podcast segment, the crew offers expert advice on insulating an old home and finding the right contractor to do the job.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
let the bucko buck it up himself then!
My cost for only the labor would be $1860 for a roofer used to doing it all the time. A carp or home improvement guy who only occasionally roofs would be a little slower.
Then you add your insurance costs and overhead at a conservative 50% for roofing and you have $2790. Now you need to pay for the dump fees and woinder where you are going to find any profit in this job.
Sure you could make wages if you are hungry after a long winter. Maybe that's what he's banking on
Excellence is its own reward!
When someone tells me my price is too much, I ask them, "how much were you wanting to spend?" If they tell me some ridiculous number then I wish them luck and go on. But I NEVER change my price. Once the bid is out it's out. High or Low; it's out. I even had a women tell me the other day that they would have to spend their vacation money to see their grandkids if I didn't come down some. Guess what? I'm doing the job at my price. (You know they are still going to have a vacation) C'mon.
Another thing; everybody wants everything for free. And even at that, they want a million dollar finish. So what if you don't get the job. Put an add in the paper and keep bidding jobs at what you want. You don't need every job that comes your way. Its been my experience that I don't even need most of them, just one at a time.
Edited 3/28/2003 8:53:15 PM ET by mrhodes
he's getting a good deal.. if you bust your hump , i bet you spend 6 days....
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
To All
Had the job up untill yesterday, Homeowner was freakin, said he could get it done at $30 a square install for shingles, $20 a square for tear off, $120 for plywood install, $125 for dumpster. lets see, 30 x 6 = $180, 20 x 6 = $120 + $120 + $125, for a grand total of $545.00 in labor only! Took the contract, tore it up in front of his face, and walked out! (man that felt good!)
PatRen.