Home construction prices in Canada...what the heck is going on?

[MotorSeven]

My wife is from Manitoba. her sister and a friend are here visiting. The friend is currently building a 1,000 sq ft home(one & one half baths) on a full walk out basement. This is in a rural area near the Riding Mountain National Park(no it is not a remote site). She is telling me that her quotes for wiring(no fixtures) is $26K. Then she goes on to say the plumbing quote is also $26K(not fixtures, well is dug along with a trench to the house).

I told her to run not walk away from those "contractors" and shop around for new one's since I have never heard of such rubbish. So for you other Canadians, are these prices not outrageous? Because if they are in line, as soon as my house is done I will hire a crew and spend the summers up there making "millions":laughing:

 

[tractorshopper]

Not from Canada, but watch Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection all the time and believe prices are higher there for several reasons: one) must work around the weather and short construction periods; two) much like Michigan where I'm originally from, most work is done by trades who are journeymen and it's much more like paying a college grad to do this work since they have labored and learned for years before they can do contract work; three) because of the very demanding permit process and high level of codes that is more stringent than we are used to here in the Southeast, and four) related to three, construction techniques and materials differ than what we would also be used to here. Imagine the additional concrete necessary there as well as insulation, etc.

I have a cousin who is a plumber in Michigan and not only does he make great money during the construction period each year, he is also a union guy and they have some stipend paid out the rest of the year (maybe unemployment too? Don't know). Saves appropriately, etc, works hard in the spring and summer into early fall, then hunts and fishes.

 

[tractorshopper]

Also should have mentioned permit fees and of course, TAXES!!!

 

[Mike476]

Without a detailed knowledge of what it is Americans have for building codes, permit fees, labour and material costs and yes, TAXES, hard to draw any meaningful comparisons but I can tell you this, like any part of the world where there is healthy growth, it can get expensive. Not unusual to see people come east with what they call "Alberta money" and build a mansion.

Having sub-contracted our house 10 years ago, those costs seem high for both. I paid close to that for the plumber, which included the broiler, in-floor heat on ground floor and all fixtures, 2 and a half baths, corner whirlpool and shower in master bath but excluding the well (385 feet cased 260 feet, with high volume pump $6000..).

The electrician was close to $20K, excluding fixtures, all wiring etc included as well as emergency generator panel. They also ran the undergound 200 Amp (2x100) amp service out to the shop.

Saved some money sub-contracting but it took us almost a year to complete the build, closer to three when considering it took me almost two years to clear the 2.5 acres and mill the wood from it to build the shop, remove the stumps / root rake and finish the burn piles, mostly weekends and evenings.

 

[MotorSeven]

Let's break this down. Since I am still building my house I have a reference point. Mine is 1080 sq ft on a full basement, 2.5 baths. All of the rough in plumbing supplies(PVC drain pipe and Pex water lines) came in under $2K. It took my 74 year old Father In Law(who is a retired plumber) & I about a week of 4-5 hrs days to do rough-in. I am guessing finish work will be another day. Soooo, installation time is about 35 hrs x 2.

Now go to Manitoba, and just for the sake of argument double everything. $4K, in supplies and 140 hr installation @ $50 an hr = $7000. So I get about $11K and even if I stretch it to $13K that is still a zillion miles away from $26K.....something is way way wrong.

 

[DieselMonk]

Just wait until you order up some concrete!

 

[Paystar]

That why modulars are gaining popularity around here now. For example for a 1600 square foot to build $280.00/sq ft. where the modular works out to $74.00.

 

[Mike476]

10 years ago, 3400 total finished sq/ft came in at just over $50 sq/ft. We did a lot of the work ourselves to bring it in at that price. And we bought the 4 acre lot for $12.500 in a subdivision. Can't touch a 2 acre lot in the same subdivision for under twice that today.

 

[trihounds]

We did a build 10 years ago as well for just under $200/sq ft and we managed it ourselves. Builders quoted us around $225 a foot. 3 acres here today start at 180K land only. Ridiculous - cost to build is much higher than buying existing.

Got a concrete quote 2 weeks ago for 3 yards delivered. $750. I therefore mixed 8,500+ pounds on my own and it was still $450 or so.

Edited to say, M7, I've read your thread from start to current and love what you've built!

 

[Lloyd_E]

Down this way a very basic, and I mean very basic house starts at $150.00-$175.00 per sq ft. This does not include lot, septic, well, landscaping etc.
I had a rough quote for an addition I was planning about 10 years back. The 20'x18'(720 sq ft) two stories was estimated at $120k.

Not sure where copper prices stand on the world market but that might be driving the price up. Both trades use it.