Concrete estimate sounds high to me???

Redneck in training · Nov 27, 2013

Also consider using concrete bricks instead of plastic "chairs" to keep the rebar from sinking to the bottom.

Rameck · Dec 29, 2013

I am planning a 24' x 24' garage hear in So. Ca. using the county plans which call for footings of 12" wide by 27" deep and 4" sand with 3 1/2" concrete on top of that. I estimated about 14 to 15 cu yards of cement at $88 cu yard. The estimate's I am getting for a finished foundation with them doing all the work, excavation, digging footings, rebar, framing, and laying the concrete are from $8900 to $10,000. I can't figure out why the high cost. The fees for the permits are over $2000.00 and I haven't dug a hole yet. That's why I can't wait to get out of Ca. Though I haven't done anything like this, I have a Yanmar 366D tractor with a backhoe and scraper, so I may and try to do the excavating myself. One person said I could save $400 if I did the excavating myself.

Ralph

ultrarunner · Dec 29, 2013

My brother just paid $842 for a 10 x 16 shed permit with no utilities... I though he was going to keel over.

Concrete is a lot more expensive here too... more like a $130 a yard.

How soon before you are in Mossyrock?

wmonroe · Dec 30, 2013

I would have to look but I think the concrete I bought last summer was about $115 a yard.

buckeyefarmer · Dec 30, 2013

I like rebar in concrete. Not hard to do yourself.

Industrial Toys · Dec 30, 2013

Concrete without steel is too foolhardy to comprehend!

Any time I have priced concrete, it's always a shocker.

Just spent over eighty grand on a driveshed with extensive concrete construction.

The builder (a Mennonite) said something I will never forget.

"It will never be cheaper!"

ultrarunner · Dec 30, 2013

Industrial Toys said:
Concrete without steel is too foolhardy to comprehend!

Any time I have priced concrete, it's always a shocker.

Just spent over eighty grand on a driveshed with extensive concrete construction.

The builder (a Mennonite) said something I will never forget.

"It will never be cheaper!"

That is almost the same as people were saying just before the housing bubble... Today's high price is tomorrow's bargain.

HillStreet · Dec 30, 2013

Ouch, might be a little high although your estimate of $88 per yard is way too low; that is probably the price down the chute without labor. Let's see, basic excavation ought to run no more than $600 on a hole that size and depth. I am assuming a first form/pour for footings, then second form/pour for the walls next day. Then backfill and compaction. Is the contractor hauling in gravel and sand? Material and trucking can really add up, and is any spoil material being hauled away? Is he subcontracting the slab to another contractor (concrete guys around here don't often do walls and flatwork)?, that can add costs. As for your permit cost, that's robbery--your city must love to spend money. Just a thought about doing your own excavation: you can't save enough to make it worth your while. If you have any settling/cracks/washout after you build, the contractor can always say it is YOUR FAULT because you did the site work. Get more estimates, and really insist on written specifications for materials and work methods. Best of luck.

Rameck · Dec 31, 2013

ultrarunner said:
My brother just paid $842 for a 10 x 16 shed permit with no utilities... I though he was going to keel over.

Concrete is a lot more expensive here too... more like a $130 a yard.

How soon before you are in Mossyrock?

Set to retire in April, 2015 unless work lays me off sooner. Already been excavating the property but have another 5 ft deeper to go for the house I want.
Neighborhood contractor gave me a bid yesterday for a complete finish on my 24' x 24' garage for $28,800. Got my tractor running and looks like I will do the contracting myself.

ultrarunner · Jan 1, 2014

Rameck said:
Set to retire in April, 2015 unless work lays me off sooner. Already been excavating the property but have another 5 ft deeper to go for the house I want.
Neighborhood contractor gave me a bid yesterday for a complete finish on my 24' x 24' garage for $28,800. Got my tractor running and looks like I will do the contracting myself.

I've noticed a big runup in prices for many building materials...

Kind of in a similar situation with work myself... gone through several rounds of layoffs... and yesterday, the boss announced mandatory 2 days off every month... situation does not bode well... on the other hand, I still get paid every two weeks and been here since 1991.

It's mighty tempting to comtemplate leaving... plenty of projects waiting for me in Olympia... plus mom needs more help these days...

I know it will be very hard on some of the younger employees... young children, married, etc. Really miss the good old days... mid 90's to about 2003 when company was expanding and the future looked bright... guess I'm really sounding old..