Costs

[Lloyd_E]

Need your thoughts:

We are planning a horse barn. Nothing fancy - 30'x26.5'.
Cost so far is estimated at 26k. I will be assisting carpentor/contractor for two weeks. This includes slab, metal roof over boards, board and batten siding. I will be completing doors, stalls, trim etc.

We just received a price for driveway (120') plus barn area (50'x50')
prep - crushed slate for driveway and barn area - organics removed.

We also asked to have a price for riding ring. Are you ready...
$18,000 to $20,000!!!! Is this price off the mark. I have a feeling buddy doesn't want the job. Our carpentor/contractor estimated $1800-$2000 for driveway. His sub estimated $5000 with no commitment to that price.


Land is very level...may have to remove 6" of organics. Area is clay based.

Your thoughts...

Many thanks.

 

[gordon21]

You need to be more specific. What did the 20K include? If it included 1800' of painted fence (inner and outer circle) , 200 fence post holes, a lot of grading and spreading 10-20 truckloads of suitable dirt for riding, that price may be right. Tell us what is included in what you want done. Eliminating paint alone on a long line of fence could drop the bill 2K all by itself. Remember the contracting rule of thumb when estimating. Most projects will run 3-4 times material costs.

For example: cedar split rail fence materials run just about $2.70 per foot. Then you add digging post holes, labor, delivery and placing of materials along the fenceline at the proper place. No one in his right mind would install split rail fence for less than $8 per running foot. Most quotes would be closer to $9+. Your labor is free. Your project may really be for $5K in materials and the rest is all labor. Three workers for a week and a half all working at $30 per hour add up quickly. Add in 10% profit for the deal and that alone adds another $2,000 to the price.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Hi Lewis,

Thanks for your reply. The price includes removing organics - 60'x120' area for riding ring and laying down 4" sand. I am in the process of doing the fencing myself. The driveway area is 12' wide x 120' long plus 50'x50 area for barn - again removing organics and laying down crushed shale.

Price for pad from carpentor/contractor included gravel. Also sub contractor (heavy equipment) Offered $350 for all organics.

Hope this helps.

My fear is the lack of commitment to price - work to be done. He - sub contractor (heavy equipment) is telling me it is ball park, rough estimate.

Breakdown is driveway $5000 plus; riding ring $15000 plus.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm not a horse person and don't understand allot of what goes on with them, but I am curios why you need to remove the top soil for a riding arena?

With building over the soil, you want it gone because it will settle as it continues to decompose, but if horses are running around in circles on top of it, wouldn't that just be a good thing? Adding sand to it will make it softer or more forgiving, but what's wrong if the organics continue to breakd down over the years?

Roads are different and you have to remove the top soil there, but only the top soil. With clay, in my area, you only have an inch of topsoil at the most. Have you checked to see how much soil you have to remove?

Eddie

 

[Lloyd_E]

Hi Eddie,

Viewed your progress on various projects over the months - very impressive.

My significant other can probably answer the horse thing - I am just the mender of fences and stable boy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. I believe the organics get removed for the ring to ensure a level area with compaction of the ground. The sand adds give to the soil. You can also add ground up rubber tires with the mixture too. Also, removing the organics removes the grass which would be a distraction to the horse when training - they like to eat - alot!!!

I won't get into the politics of the area - our geograhpical area has interested alot of people moving in. Raising land prices, construction prices etc. Unfortunately for the locals, the costs have increased beyond
our comprehension. The trades have enjoyed a huge steady incease over the last 10 to 15 years.

I don't mind paying for service - when assisted I always give extra. But I also don't feel I should have to pay over inflated prices either.

Thanks

Lloyd

 

[MarkV]

Lloyd,
Are the prices you are sharing in US dollars? Just to make sure those who know something about horse setups are comparing apples to apples. That does not include me. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

MarkV

 

[Lloyd_E]

Hi Mark,

The prices are Canadian, but our dollar broke the 91 cent mark yesterday against your dollar. Your tourism industry is about to grow!

Would love to do a New England trip soon - maybe in the fall.

Lloyd