On Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:10:22 -0500, wrote:

On Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:34:48 -0400, "Baldy" wrote:
-snip-
Any rules of thumb or other basis for me to predict how much this should
cost?

How much does a beer cost where you live? Multiply the cost of a beer
times 1104. Then take that figure and multiply times 37 for your sq
ft. Multiply the cost of a hamburger times 130. Then multiply that
times 871. For the gutters multiply the cost of a Martini times 4206.
then multiply that times 280. For debris removal, take the cost of a
complete steak dinner at your favorite bar and multiply that times
1458. Divide by the number of men who will clean up, and take the
final figure and add $112,344. Then add the cost of what you paid for
the house to that. Now, add up all the figures and divide by 3.17824
Find the square root of 37 and add that to this figure. Now add the
cost of the 14.5 12 packs of beer you'll give the workers. Be sure
it's their favorite brand. Now, if one of those workers is a
fisherman, add the cost of one gross of worms, times two. Add to that
the cost of the electricity they will use for their tools, and
subtract 16.8% for the use of the radio because you'll also listen to
the music. Add this to the final figure, and toss in an additional
62.69% because they will overcharge you that amount.

There you go, you now have the exact cost, give or take a few bucks in
case they spill the nails.

Guy that did mine had a brother-in-law in the slide-off business. He
did the debris removal so that only cost me a steak dinner times 1257.
Steak dinners are costly in my neck of the woods, so I saved a bundle.

But other than anomalies like that your formula looks solid. [and if 2
or more people agree on Usenet it becomes truth]

Jim