Hire someone to build, or do it myself?

[JDTank]

Well, the truth is, I can't afford to pay someone.

We want one shelter, 12FT deep by 24FT wide. Side walls will only be halfway up. The rear wall will be completely enclosed, and the front will be completely open. We received quotes from 6 different contractors. The CHEAPEST, for this basic structure, was just under $5,000. Needless to say, contractors out here are crooks, pure and simple.

While this does seem like a very easy, basic build, I did not want to under estimate it.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

If you have six quotes and they are similar in price then rest assured your contractors are not crooks. It's the cost of doing business.

You don't say where you are in your profile. The old rule of thumb was a contractor could double the cost of materials and cover his labor expense and then add profit. It still works on some projects. So go down to your box store and fill out a build sheet with everything you think you are going to need. Add ten percent for waste, twenty percent is more like it with the grade of help most contractors have to work with these days. Double that number, then add thirty percent for overhead and profit.

If the thirty percent seems unreasonable then figure in equipment rental, insurances, fuels, bs time entertaining dumb client questions etc.

An expense most clients don't consider is my liability insurance, it comes out to about five percent of the tab. That's insurance protecting me from you or yours doing something stupid and getting hurt while I'm doing the job or afterwards. That doesn't cover workmen's comp, me if I fall off the roof building your project etc. It only protects me by protecting you.

Don't feel like I'm picking on you. I get the same complaints from contractors when it comes to other contractors, lawyers, doctors, etc. Everyone assumes everyone else is a crook when the truth is we are all just trying to get by.

Well, the truth is, I can't afford to pay someone.

We want one shelter, 12FT deep by 24FT wide. Side walls will only be halfway up. The rear wall will be completely enclosed, and the front will be completely open. We received quotes from 6 different contractors. The CHEAPEST, for this basic structure, was just under $5,000. Needless to say, contractors out here are crooks, pure and simple.

While this does seem like a very easy, basic build, I did not want to under estimate it.

 

[BuilderML]

Well, the truth is, I can't afford to pay someone.

We want one shelter, 12FT deep by 24FT wide. Side walls will only be halfway up. The rear wall will be completely enclosed, and the front will be completely open. We received quotes from 6 different contractors. The CHEAPEST, for this basic structure, was just under $5,000. Needless to say, contractors out here are crooks, pure and simple.

While this does seem like a very easy, basic build, I did not want to under estimate it.

Don't Quote me on this but i would think without seeing any plans and having nothing else to go on a 12x24 box. I would say your in the area of $1500-$2000 in material only. Its tough to say without alot more detail. Is just under $5000 really out of the ballpark? Maybe, I would think 1 day or 2 days to build. $800-$1000 per day Labor.
That is without company profit which could be 15-25%. So $2000 Material, $2000 Labor, $4000 Total plus 20% ($800) Total= $4,800 . So just under $5,000 is not crazy but i would say it is on the high side. Again i have not other details as far as what type of materials you want to use and how you are expecting it to be finished. Hope this helps.

 

[JDTank]

I used to have a connection with a veteran carpenter/builder, but he has since retired and does not want to break his back anymore, can't blame him!

Last time he quoted me materials only it was about $1,500 for everything. That was 4 months ago. So, you have to understand why I don't want to pay an additional $3,500 to someone else.

I know the cost of doing business, I used to own my own business. Thankfully I was able to get out in the nick of time before things went ugly years back. I am pretty sure I am going to try and tackle this one by myself. The building spot we chose is the best of our bad ground here. It is soft and uneven. However, we already found a good contractor to do the pad for us, and that job is booked. He is going to make the pad 15 x 30 FT. He is going to dig down about 12 inches to remove all the muck and bad overburden. Then he is going to put in large rock, pack it, small rock, then pack it. At the same time, he is going to install the sonotubes in the right locations for the beams that will hold up the structure. While he is here, he is going to fill in about 400 feet of ditch for us that has needed to be done for years. Price for that said and done, materials and all, $1,800. Steal of a deal in my opinion.

So really, I don't have to dig any holes, or prep the ground, that will be done. All I have to do is build a square structure...I don't think it could get any easier for me?

 

[newbury]

Well, the truth is, I can't afford to pay someone.

Well why didn't you tell us earlier?

We want one shelter, 12FT deep by 24FT wide. Side walls will only be halfway up. The rear wall will be completely enclosed, and the front will be completely open. We received quotes from 6 different contractors. The CHEAPEST, for this basic structure, was just under $5,000. Needless to say

That's about $17/ square foot.

A 12x24 run in shed from Horse Barn Prices & Horse Barn Costs at Alan

costs $6.1K.

So $5K sounds reasonable DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE AT.

Tell us location, maybe it's time for a TBN barn raising.

 

[JDTank]

Well why didn't you tell us earlier?


That's about $17/ square foot.

A 12x24 run in shed from Horse Barn Prices & Horse Barn Costs at Alan

costs $6.1K.

So $5K sounds reasonable DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE AT.

Tell us location, maybe it's time for a TBN barn raising.

See, those are the kinds of places that make me mad. No offense to you, your just posting some info to help me. But, what gets me riled up is, you know that company gets awesome pricing for buying in large volume. So, that shed likely has $1,200 worth of lumber to it. $1,200 worth of lumber...and they want $6,000 for it. Now, consider that the workers, or whoever is building it, likely does hundreds of them. They can likely build them very fast, and knock one out in a day. Even if you figure 2 people at $25 an hour, for 8 hours each. Add in benefits and all that stuff, call it $40 an hour. So, that is $640 in labor. With materials and labor, it likely costs that company $1,900 roughly to build that shed.

$4,000 profit seems pretty **** good in my book. I don't want someone else getting rich off of my back, and that's what bothers me. I have to go to work and make this money the hard way, only to give it away to someone else...not if I can help it! I have made up my mind, I will build this thing myself come **** or high water.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

[JBourquin]

Yeah do this and let us know how you make out.:duh: After your done watch another YouTube video on rocket building and you'll get hired to work for NASA. That must be how all the pros come to do what they do they watch YouTube videos.:laughing:

Building a shed is hardly rocket science, no matter how good you want us to think you are. Besides, my post was pretty thick with sarcasm, but apparently you miss that part.

 

[dave1949]

"I have made up my mind, I will build this thing myself come **** or high water."

That's the spirit! A 12x24 open face shed is not difficult to build.

 

[BuilderML]

Building a shed is hardly rocket science, no matter how good you want us to think you are. Besides, my post was pretty thick with sarcasm, but apparently you miss that part.

]
"If you're mechanically inclined then you should have no problem. Just watch a few videos on YouTube and you'll be a pro in no time.."

Sorry i don't see the thick sarcasm in that line. I wouldn't say "good". I would say Best, yeah thats better !!!:laughing:

 

[Deere Dude]

Go for it. Even if the contractor can get wood cheaper and you don't save all that much, you will gain a ton of experience for the next project you want to build. It may not be, "I know it will be done right," because it might not be as good as a good carpenter can do, but you will have pride in it and is a good stepping stone for that house or addition you want to tackle down the road. You may have to sit back for a few hours to ponder some problem area, but it shouldn't be a problem.