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Discussion Forum

Rough framing sq.ft cost

WillieWonka | Posted in General Discussion on August 22, 2008 07:59am

Any ideas on the best way to figure rough framing costs only, including sheeting the walls and roof?

I have a client who is building an addition, footers and block walls are done. owner wants me to do the framing of floors, walls, and roof and sheet it all with plywood and then leave it sit until next year when they get more $$ to begin the other phases (plumb, elec). I’m more accustomed to giving a sq.ft cost for a finished product, not just for rough framing only. He just wants a general figure, not a hard number, so that he knows the ballpark of about how much it’ll be just to do that much.

I could go thru past projects and figure it out, but since he wants a high level figure I’d prob spend more time trying to break it out from a prior project than to just ask and see if anyone else has a guideline they follow.

If at first you don’t succeed, try using a hammer next time…everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time.  -ME
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Replies

  1. Jim_Allen | Aug 22, 2008 08:54pm | #1

    Warning: barrage ahead!

    Here in TX they frame custom homes as low as 1.75 per foot.

  2. Piffin | Aug 22, 2008 09:38pm | #2

    Somewhere between $2 and $16 oughta be about right.

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  3. vintage1 | Aug 22, 2008 09:59pm | #3

    I could go thru past projects and figure it out, but since he wants a high level figure I'd prob spend more time trying to break it out from a prior project than to just ask and see if anyone else has a guideline they follow

    I don't want to sound harsh, but are you willing to take the advice of internet strangers over actual data you have compiled in your own files?

    I often get tempted to ask this same type of question here.  But then I realize that I am either going to get the $98,500. answer, or the fact that there are too many variables to make someone else's response very valuable.

     

     

    You cannot convey tone in an email.

    1. WillieWonka | Aug 23, 2008 03:01am | #4

      I'm only asking for an approximate figure, not an exact one. Of course I'm aware of many variable, geographic ones in particular. However, if it's $2.50 sq/ft in general, and the owner asked for a general number, and it winds up being $3.25 sq/ft I don't think they'd balk at me. But I appreciate your concern, it's warranted and with merit, but I was only looking for a high level figure so I am ok withit.If at first you don't succeed, try using a hammer next time...everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time.  -ME

      1. mikeroop | Aug 23, 2008 03:08am | #5

        I don't like to give a square foot price. Figure how long you think this particular job will take and then add some divide by sq ft and there ya go 10-15 mins maybe? 

      2. frammer52 | Aug 23, 2008 03:22am | #6

        I guess $150/sq ft?

         

         

         

         

        How close am I?

        1. Dogmeat12 | Aug 23, 2008 04:26am | #8

          $149.50 a SqFt- now try to beat that low price Frammer 52!

          1. frammer52 | Aug 23, 2008 03:17pm | #9

            Man, you're pushing it without plans!!!!!!!!!!!!!<G>

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

            final offer $147.25/sqft

      3. frenchy | Aug 23, 2008 08:02pm | #16

        WillieWonka,

         I spent 17 years selling telehandlers to framers.. I rarely ever found anyone who was the same rough cost per sq.ft.  labor prices varied from below $5.00 a sq.ft. to over $18.00 a sq.ft. (one customer was wildly more than even the highest number but I suspect there was some hanky panky going on).. (but he did wind up buying 2 telehandlers from me and paid cash) 

          

  4. Hudson Valley Carpenter | Aug 23, 2008 03:31am | #7

    I'll do it for $.99/sqft...if I can swim naked in the chocolate river after work every day. 

    1. Piffin | Aug 24, 2008 05:20pm | #19

      has Jim told you yet that he is very offended by your sexist racist remark?;) 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. Hudson Valley Carpenter | Aug 24, 2008 05:35pm | #20

        Me?  Naked at Willie Wonka's chocolate factory?  Swimming in a river of chocolate?  That's sexist and racist? 

        Not unless I was hittin' on an Oompa Loompa chick.

         

         

        Edited 8/24/2008 10:36 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter

      2. Jim_Allen | Aug 24, 2008 06:52pm | #21

        I'm holding off on my "I'm offended posts". I might have to start policing the site soon though. It appears the double standard is once again flooding the site.

        1. Piffin | Aug 24, 2008 07:22pm | #22

          I see that. I haven't been on for a couple days, but my screen this AM was a continue button from whenever I last posted. I hit the button and got a message that this discussion does not exist. Was one of rjw's I think 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. Jim_Allen | Aug 24, 2008 07:26pm | #23

            I would assume that RJW is now banned. I will find it hard to believe though because of his political persuasion.

          2. Piffin | Aug 25, 2008 12:09am | #24

            Dunno.But when all the fo-fo came up a couple weeks ago, somebody said something in a thread that was so ridiculous I sat here laughing, then typed, "That is laughable"I got an email from him whining to me that comments of that sort were not supposed to allowed as they were not in the 'spirit' of the new rules.What?! I can't laugh here anymore? 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          3. Jim_Allen | Aug 25, 2008 12:40am | #25

            That's hilarious. I think this site is ready for a new generation of girl scouts.

          4. frammer52 | Aug 25, 2008 01:44am | #26

            Jim, Bobs still on,but I didn't see anything in the thread that wasn't ok.  MAN I AM CONFUSED!

  5. dustinf | Aug 23, 2008 03:41pm | #10

    I have a very scientific formula for calculating my can't lose square foot price.

    cost of materials X 2, divided by square footage of home. 

    Works like a charm.  Not to drop names, but Jerrald Hayes passed that on to me.

    Either that or I just charge the standard flat rate of $98,500.17.

    It's not too late, it's never too late.

    1. frammer52 | Aug 23, 2008 03:45pm | #11

      Why such a low bid?

      1. Jim_Allen | Aug 23, 2008 03:48pm | #12

        Back in the day (I think that means a long time ago), it was very common for the framers to use the rough lumber bill as their labor price.

        1. frammer52 | Aug 23, 2008 04:31pm | #13

          Yes, and the old rule of thumb was to double the price of goods for an accurate bid. 

          Doesn't always work today.  Small additions are just as tough as large ones to build and small ones can actually cost a lot more on a sq ft basis.  I believe that sq ft prices are not used by most people today, at least for bidding purposes.  If they are used, it is more of a check to determine if they are somewhat acceptable.

  6. User avater
    Huck | Aug 23, 2008 05:10pm | #14

    I recently bid a small addition on a large custom home.  Materials for framing came out to about $15/sq.ft., labor about $15, for a total of about $30/sq. ft.  I don't think square foot prices mean a thing on custom work.  Especially when, like this one, there is a lot of work thats not figured into square footage of house.  Square foot prices make more sense when you're doing something that's done pretty much the same over and over, all over town, like flatwork.

     

    View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles Greene
    CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
    1. Jim_Allen | Aug 23, 2008 06:16pm | #15

      I always say, gimme a square house and I'll give you a square foot price.

      1. User avater
        Huck | Aug 23, 2008 08:03pm | #17

        I always say, gimme a square house and I'll give you a square foot price.

        OK, what's your bid to build another of these babies...

        View ImageView Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com

        1. Jim_Allen | Aug 24, 2008 04:01pm | #18

          I'll give you a fair and square price and we can square up later.

          Edited 8/24/2008 9:01 am by Jim_Allen

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