"George E. Cawthon" wrote in message


My first question would he, who takes 2-1/2 to hang a screen door. $150
should have included the screen door cost and the installation.

Many years ago I used to have a sideline business selling and installing
storm doors and windows. typical aluminum door was less than an hour, but
I've done jobs that were three or four hours. Not seeing what was involved,
neither of us can say if the time was fair or not. Being out of the
business for many years, what I sold then could easily translate to $300 or
more today for a quality product.


As for labor costs, realize that $75 and hour translates into $150,000 per
year working full time (if he doesn't work full time it is his problem not
the customers). Might be common where some people live, but not where I
live or ever have lived. Few people make $150,000 per year and certainly
no labor, skilled or not makes that much. $10-15 hour is common for
labor,

Billing dollars do not equate with earnings. While an unskilled laborer may
earn $10 an hour, his company is billing $30 or more to cover costs,
overhead, insurance, taxes, workman's comp. etc. I bill my help (unskilled)
at $50 an hour.



skilled
laborers (not counting electricians and plumbers) get $20-30.
Electricians and plumbers get $50-60 and much of their work is hardly
skilled.

Get or bill? It varies in different parts of the country, but my
electrician bills $65, my plumber $55, boiler technician $90, welders, $60.
computer network guy $100. All of these bill travel time also, sometimes at
a lower rate. These guys also have a couple of weeks backlog of work because
they are good at what they do and are fair in pricing.