I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no more
then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking to pay a
contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?

$1500 +/-

cm

"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no more
then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking to pay
a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?

"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no more
then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking to pay
a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?


I'd say you'll pay him between 10 and 20 hours of labor. Rates vary from
about $15 to $100 depending on where you live. Depends on whether or not
plumbing and electrical has to be done by the respective trades people. Not
much to go of from you (lack of) description.

a bathroom remodel is not a 1 man job for starters.
so expect to pay between 3k to 60k.

"John" wrote in message
...
|I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no
more
| then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking to
pay a
| contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?
|
|

"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no more
then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking to pay
a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?


I generally won't quote if the customer is providing the material, so I
would probably bid $8000.00 if there isn't a bathtub or toilet involved.

Bill

On Mar 4, 8:13�am, "Berkshire Bill" wrote:
"John" wrote in message

...

I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no more
then 20 hours of work for one person. *How much should I be looking to pay
a contractor? *What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?

I generally won't quote if the customer is providing the material, *so I
would probably bid $8000.00 if there isn't a bathtub or toilet involved.

Bill

how does the OP to its 8 to 10 hours.

whats being done? all new fixtures or paper and paint?

replacing any plumbing can expand job as lines ion bad condition are
found.

so whats being done?

"Berkshire Bill" wrote in message
...

"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no
more then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking
to pay a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?


I generally won't quote if the customer is providing the material, so I
would probably bid $8000.00 if there isn't a bathtub or toilet involved.

Bill


When I was in the remodel business and the customer would know all the
answers labor time, material cost, how to do the job I would triple the bid
because I knew what I was up against.

On Mar 4, 9:36�am, "Sacramento Dave" wrote:
"Berkshire Bill" wrote in message

...



"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no
more then 20 hours of work for one person. *How much should I be looking
to pay a contractor? *What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?

I generally won't quote if the customer is providing the material, *so I
would probably bid $8000.00 if there isn't a bathtub or toilet involved.

Bill

* * *When I was in the remodel business and the customer would know all the
answers labor time, material cost, *how to do the job I would triple the bid
because I knew what I was up against.

yeah i repair machines too much customer mucking about I raise
estimate, too many hassles.

again what needs done?

changing a toilet appears easy till you find a cracked flange, the
floor not level, the sewer line detoriating, the shut off valve to the
toilet bad, the line the valve connects too snaps off

Dont laugh it happened here, and the fellow reploacing the ceramic
tile floor managed to put a hole in a water line but it wasnt really
his fault. bad original install 50 years ago.

might as well can kill any budget.......

"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no more
then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking to pay
a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?

In your 10 to 20 hour time frame that says nothing. What exactly dose
the job entail ? How many subs? Labor rate is wide open a handy man cheap I
would say $20 Hr. A licensed contractor insured $100 plus. I also don't see
any bathroom remodel taking only 10 to 20 hours how are you coming with your
hours?

wrote in message
oups.com...
On Mar 4, 8:13�am, "Berkshire Bill" wrote:
"John" wrote in message

...

I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no
more
then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking to pay
a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?

I generally won't quote if the customer is providing the material, so I
would probably bid $8000.00 if there isn't a bathtub or toilet involved.

Bill

how does the OP to its 8 to 10 hours.

whats being done? all new fixtures or paper and paint?

replacing any plumbing can expand job as lines ion bad condition are
found.

so whats being done?


That's the reason for the high quote. We don't know if he wants velvet
wallpaper applied, 12"x12" deep shag carpet tile, plastic as opposed to
ceramic tile or a vinyl tub surround. Maybe a popcorn ceiling?


Bill

On Sat, 3 Mar 2007 23:19:06 -0800, "John" wrote:

I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no more
then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking to pay a
contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?


If you pay him more than $200 for everything including materials, you
are being taken for a ride.

On Sun, 04 Mar 2007 09:50:26 -0600, wrote:

I'll do the job for $500,000 plus travel costs, labor and materials.

I'll do it for 500G with no extra charge for trave or materials.
You're charging extra for labor? What does the 500K pay for?

come on people be serious. I have a handy friend that says that he replaced
a fiberglass or whatever tub with something similar, but with 4 pieces in
like 10 hours. He says that it is kind of a pain and didn't really want to
do it again.

So should I expect a rate of something like $100 a hour...so something like
$1000-$2000. Does the $100 include overhead?

Would I be quoted a flat rate, or something like a normal cost with
everything broken down? Would I be likely to see line item fees that list
semi-likely events(cracked pipes) with the amounts and how much I would have
discounted if those problems aren't encountered.


wrote in message
oups.com...
On Mar 4, 9:36?am, "Sacramento Dave" wrote:
"Berkshire Bill" wrote in message

...



"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no
more then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking
to pay a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?

I generally won't quote if the customer is providing the material, so I
would probably bid $8000.00 if there isn't a bathtub or toilet involved.

Bill

When I was in the remodel business and the customer would know all the
answers labor time, material cost, how to do the job I would triple the
bid
because I knew what I was up against.

yeah i repair machines too much customer mucking about I raise
estimate, too many hassles.

again what needs done?

changing a toilet appears easy till you find a cracked flange, the
floor not level, the sewer line detoriating, the shut off valve to the
toilet bad, the line the valve connects too snaps off

Dont laugh it happened here, and the fellow reploacing the ceramic
tile floor managed to put a hole in a water line but it wasnt really
his fault. bad original install 50 years ago.

might as well can kill any budget.......

On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 06:36:48 -0800, "Sacramento Dave"
wrote:


"Berkshire Bill" wrote in message
.. .

"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no
more then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking
to pay a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?


I generally won't quote if the customer is providing the material, so I
would probably bid $8000.00 if there isn't a bathtub or toilet involved.

Bill


When I was in the remodel business and the customer would know all the
answers labor time, material cost, how to do the job I would triple the bid
because I knew what I was up against.

With that attitude, I'd never use a contractor such as yourself.

I generally know about how many labor hours something takes due to 20
years of property management experience.

A fair estimate is such an agreed upon number of hours plus a
reasonable factor for the unexpected. If I get an estimate and the job
comes back 20-30% over budget, I'm fine.
If it comes back 200% over, we got problems...

Too often I've had contractors try to blow smoke up my u-know-what by
telling me all the bad things that COULD happen.
Yeah the sky can fall too...

If bad stuff happens then we talk, otherwise I don't expect an
estimate that allows a contractor to buy his retirement home with
every job.

I never accept high flat rate jobs especially if I start dividing the
number of probable hours into the quoted rate and the hourly rates
total more than what my local brain surgeon would make.

Doug

"Free Estimates"

Those guys really mean free, so pick 3 names from your greensheet or
craigslist.org and invite them over for an estimate.

They come is all colors and sizes and some will quote flat prices
and others will quote hours/materials.



On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 21:44:19 -0800, "John" wrote:

come on people be serious. I have a handy friend that says that he replaced
a fiberglass or whatever tub with something similar, but with 4 pieces in
like 10 hours. He says that it is kind of a pain and didn't really want to
do it again.

So should I expect a rate of something like $100 a hour...so something like
$1000-$2000. Does the $100 include overhead?

Would I be quoted a flat rate, or something like a normal cost with
everything broken down? Would I be likely to see line item fees that list
semi-likely events(cracked pipes) with the amounts and how much I would have
discounted if those problems aren't encountered.


wrote in message
roups.com...
On Mar 4, 9:36?am, "Sacramento Dave" wrote:
"Berkshire Bill" wrote in message

...



"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no
more then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking
to pay a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?

I generally won't quote if the customer is providing the material, so I
would probably bid $8000.00 if there isn't a bathtub or toilet involved.

Bill

When I was in the remodel business and the customer would know all the
answers labor time, material cost, how to do the job I would triple the
bid
because I knew what I was up against.

yeah i repair machines too much customer mucking about I raise
estimate, too many hassles.

again what needs done?

changing a toilet appears easy till you find a cracked flange, the
floor not level, the sewer line detoriating, the shut off valve to the
toilet bad, the line the valve connects too snaps off

Dont laugh it happened here, and the fellow reploacing the ceramic
tile floor managed to put a hole in a water line but it wasnt really
his fault. bad original install 50 years ago.

might as well can kill any budget.......

"John" wrote in message ...
come on people be serious. I have a handy friend that says that he
replaced a fiberglass or whatever tub with something similar, but with 4
pieces in like 10 hours. He says that it is kind of a pain and didn't
really want to do it again.

So should I expect a rate of something like $100 a hour...so something
like $1000-$2000. Does the $100 include overhead?

Would I be quoted a flat rate, or something like a normal cost with
everything broken down? Would I be likely to see line item fees that list
semi-likely events(cracked pipes) with the amounts and how much I would
have discounted if those problems aren't encountered.

We could be more serious if you would be also. You asked about a bathroom
remodel. Changing out a tub is not really a remodel, but merely a
replacement of one fixture. Far different than moving fixtures, re-doing
walls, adding marble tiles, and all the other work that can add up to a week
or more for at least two people.

The $100 an hour is probably a bit on the high side where I am and yes, it
would include overhead.

Most quotes would be fairly simple. Material plus labor for a normal job.
A disclaimer for some unusual events. They can't price that stuff until it
happens or a wall is opened up to see potential problems.

John wrote:
come on people be serious. I have a handy friend that says that he replaced
a fiberglass or whatever tub with something similar, but with 4 pieces in
like 10 hours. He says that it is kind of a pain and didn't really want to
do it again.

So should I expect a rate of something like $100 a hour...so something like
$1000-$2000. Does the $100 include overhead?

Would I be quoted a flat rate, or something like a normal cost with
everything broken down? Would I be likely to see line item fees that list
semi-likely events(cracked pipes) with the amounts and how much I would have
discounted if those problems aren't encountered.

Be serious? Everyone is being serious. Some people are pointing out
that you're not asking questions that can be given a serious answer -
even if you think you are.

Your guess as to how long the project will take, based on a handy
friend's experience, isn't exactly something to hang your hat on. In
your original post you gave no information about where you are, what
is involved, type of construction, nothing at all.

You're approaching this the wrong way. Say you get _the_ definitive
answer on this newsgroup. Mighty Zeus hurls some thunderbolts and
carves the _exact_ number in stone. What does that do for you?
Nothing. If the contractor pool in your area happens to think that
_the_ definitive answer you got here is full of crap, guess what? It
is full of crap.

The only number that will approach "real" is one gotten locally. Just
pick up the phone and call someone, preferably more than one, to
eyeball the job and give you a real number.

You're also asking about how the estimate will be given to you.
Depends entirely on the contractor. You might get a verbal quote or
an itemized printout. I'd guess a verbal quote or one of those carbon
paper proposal forms on such a small job. Of course the contract
should be in writing and have everything spelled out.

R

Man,

these people are a bunch of jokers. Don't listen to them. I wouldn't trust
a contractor any more then a used car salesman...the only exceptions are
friends or people that have already proven themselves trustworthy.
Contractors will charge a number on the high side. If the job is easy and
cheap, they get to keep some extra dough. If the job is more
difficult/costly, they stick it to you. They show up for a few hours every
few days. They hire ILLEGAL aliens and pay them dirt wages, but still
charge you full price. I have known contractors that said something would
take a week to demo...I did it in a few hours. Real trustworthy people out
there. Find a friend and buy him a keg of beer Other then that, ask
lots of people if they know anyone that is trustworthy.

You know, I make it a point to upgrade the valves whenever they are exposed.
It only costs a few bucks and you just increased the reliability of the
system. The old valves are usually full of crud and about 1/4 of the time
they don't even work very well. If you already have the walls exposed, just
spend the extra $200 to get the new anti-scald valve for the shower. If you
want to be real cheap, you could probably find something for $100.

Contractors and handymen should be federally regulated and they should have
standardized forms that list anything that is remotely possible. Gees, they
could put a spreadsheet or a database on a laptop and input the
requirements, it could print out like 20 pages with all the possibilities
and likely cost. As they do the work they could update the data every night
and you could log into a webpage and see exactly where things stand. Once
the job is done, you would have a printout of everything that was done and
all the parts and labor would be itemized. If the job was cheaper, you
would get your discount, if the job cost more you would pay the extra
amount. Some auto mechanics and home inspectors have something similar. It
is pretty nice to see something like that.


wrote in message
...
On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 08:13:44 -0500, "Berkshire Bill"
wrote:


"John" wrote in message
...
I have a small bathroom remodel, probably about 10 hours, certainly no
more
then 20 hours of work for one person. How much should I be looking to
pay
a contractor? What is the labor rate, not counting hardware?


I generally won't quote if the customer is providing the material, so I
would probably bid $8000.00 if there isn't a bathtub or toilet involved.

Bill


I'll do the job for $500,000 plus travel costs, labor and materials.

Kevin wrote:
Man,

these people are a bunch of jokers. Don't listen to them. I wouldn't trust
a contractor any more then a used car salesman...the only exceptions are
friends or people that have already proven themselves trustworthy.
Contractors will charge a number on the high side. If the job is easy and
cheap, they get to keep some extra dough. If the job is more
difficult/costly, they stick it to you. They show up for a few hours every
few days. They hire ILLEGAL aliens and pay them dirt wages, but still
charge you full price. I have known contractors that said something would
take a week to demo...I did it in a few hours. Real trustworthy people out
there. Find a friend and buy him a keg of beer Other then that, ask
lots of people if they know anyone that is trustworthy.

You know, I make it a point to upgrade the valves whenever they are exposed.
It only costs a few bucks and you just increased the reliability of the
system. The old valves are usually full of crud and about 1/4 of the time
they don't even work very well. If you already have the walls exposed, just
spend the extra $200 to get the new anti-scald valve for the shower. If you
want to be real cheap, you could probably find something for $100.

Contractors and handymen should be federally regulated and they should have
standardized forms that list anything that is remotely possible. Gees, they
could put a spreadsheet or a database on a laptop and input the
requirements, it could print out like 20 pages with all the possibilities
and likely cost. As they do the work they could update the data every night
and you could log into a webpage and see exactly where things stand. Once
the job is done, you would have a printout of everything that was done and
all the parts and labor would be itemized. If the job was cheaper, you
would get your discount, if the job cost more you would pay the extra
amount. Some auto mechanics and home inspectors have something similar. It
is pretty nice to see something like that.

To summarize your post.
- You believe contractors should be socialists so they won't profit
beyond what you think is reasonable nor take risks and earn the
rewards.
- You'd like all construction to be performed by accountant/
contractors at the same price as it is now being done and have them
fill out another couple or three hours of paperwork every night.
- You believe risking your friends on your construction projects makes
good financial sense for you.
- You'd like to have another layer of bureaucracy added to contractor
licensing.
- You believe it's possible to even create a comprehensive form
covering all of the possibilities in remodeling.
- You believe it's beneficial to micromanage.

An observation.
- You have no clue what you are talking about.

The stuff you propose has to get paid by someone. Who exactly?
You're so cheap you'd rather risk your friends and pay them with beer
then locate a licensed and insured contractor that could deal with
your micromanaging, so I'm sure that you don't feel that _you_ should
pay for all of these "improvements". Since you presumably work and
pay taxes, you are the one supporting the government and paying the
contractor (theoretically), so those extra contractor hours, and
government supervision will be coming out of your pocket. But since
you don't hire contractors, you might as well sew your wallet shut.
Make sure to remind your neighbors to thank you for fixing your
shortcomings with their money.

The OP is asking about a remodel that will take a couple or three days
- and you want nightly updates on the internet. Sheesh. Newsflash:
when you get home, look what was done - if you have questions call the
contractor.

Your whole scenario smacks of a person that avoids personal
interaction, is insecure about their ability to protect their own
interests, has their head in the clouds (I'm guessing you read a lot
of science fiction and you work in the computer field), and you have a
tenuous, at best, grasp of how anything actually gets priced.

Other than that - excellent post!

R

come on, how long does it take to check off a few boxes on a form? do you
think contractors are too stupid to spend five minutes to check off a few
boxes every day. That should take five minutes MAX! It would be impossible
for a form to have every possibility, but it could have the more likely
ones...say the ones that happen more then 10% of the time. The really rare
ones could be caught by a text field that could be typed in.

Profit is in the labor rate, thats where the overhead costs should be
factored in as well.

I did not say anywhere that contractors should be micromanaged or that they
shouldn't be paid. There is already a contractors license for regulation.

So what risks do contractors take? If it costs more they just charge the
customer, if it costs less, MORE profit.

I have seen auto mechanics with the software that does this. They spend
5-10 minutes with the customer in the beginning entering data, then as the
work progresses, they check off stuff on a printout. I have also seen a
home inspector do the home inspection with his laptop. After each room, he
would input his findings into the computer for a few minutes. When the
whole inspection was done, he printed the whole report.

I take it you are just terrified that a standardized monitoring system would
catch you unfairly overcharging customers. I have seen it. $500 for a
permit that costs $50. Saying the work will take 3 weeks, then only showing
up twice a week, and then for only 3 or 4 hours a day. How inefficient is
that? Then you complain about a few minutes to fill out a form. Not to
mention the contractors that hire illegal aliens and still charge the
customers full price...don't worry, with the standardized form you could
still do the same thing. Whatever happened to journeymen that were training
under the master craftsman to make high quality work? I have seen the
quality in houses now-days. The labor is picked up off the street without
any real training. Thats why houses use textured walls now, the cheap
construction shows too many defects for the nice flat walls of old.

I do my own work! I have seen the utter crap that other people have done.
I get the work done far cheaper and with superior quality. I don't hire
contractors because I am not satisfied with the quality or their usual
attitude. You can call up 4 contractors for estimates. They will all say
that they will be there, then only one will actually show up...not a single
one of them will call you to let you know that they won't show up or that
they will be late.


"RicodJour" wrote in message
ps.com...
Kevin wrote:
Man,

these people are a bunch of jokers. Don't listen to them. I wouldn't
trust
a contractor any more then a used car salesman...the only exceptions are
friends or people that have already proven themselves trustworthy.
Contractors will charge a number on the high side. If the job is easy
and
cheap, they get to keep some extra dough. If the job is more
difficult/costly, they stick it to you. They show up for a few hours
every
few days. They hire ILLEGAL aliens and pay them dirt wages, but still
charge you full price. I have known contractors that said something
would
take a week to demo...I did it in a few hours. Real trustworthy people
out
there. Find a friend and buy him a keg of beer Other then that, ask
lots of people if they know anyone that is trustworthy.

You know, I make it a point to upgrade the valves whenever they are
exposed.
It only costs a few bucks and you just increased the reliability of the
system. The old valves are usually full of crud and about 1/4 of the
time
they don't even work very well. If you already have the walls exposed,
just
spend the extra $200 to get the new anti-scald valve for the shower. If
you
want to be real cheap, you could probably find something for $100.

Contractors and handymen should be federally regulated and they should
have
standardized forms that list anything that is remotely possible. Gees,
they
could put a spreadsheet or a database on a laptop and input the
requirements, it could print out like 20 pages with all the possibilities
and likely cost. As they do the work they could update the data every
night
and you could log into a webpage and see exactly where things stand.
Once
the job is done, you would have a printout of everything that was done
and
all the parts and labor would be itemized. If the job was cheaper, you
would get your discount, if the job cost more you would pay the extra
amount. Some auto mechanics and home inspectors have something similar.
It
is pretty nice to see something like that.

To summarize your post.
- You believe contractors should be socialists so they won't profit
beyond what you think is reasonable nor take risks and earn the
rewards.
- You'd like all construction to be performed by accountant/
contractors at the same price as it is now being done and have them
fill out another couple or three hours of paperwork every night.
- You believe risking your friends on your construction projects makes
good financial sense for you.
- You'd like to have another layer of bureaucracy added to contractor
licensing.
- You believe it's possible to even create a comprehensive form
covering all of the possibilities in remodeling.
- You believe it's beneficial to micromanage.

An observation.
- You have no clue what you are talking about.

The stuff you propose has to get paid by someone. Who exactly?
You're so cheap you'd rather risk your friends and pay them with beer
then locate a licensed and insured contractor that could deal with
your micromanaging, so I'm sure that you don't feel that _you_ should
pay for all of these "improvements". Since you presumably work and
pay taxes, you are the one supporting the government and paying the
contractor (theoretically), so those extra contractor hours, and
government supervision will be coming out of your pocket. But since
you don't hire contractors, you might as well sew your wallet shut.
Make sure to remind your neighbors to thank you for fixing your
shortcomings with their money.

The OP is asking about a remodel that will take a couple or three days
- and you want nightly updates on the internet. Sheesh. Newsflash:
when you get home, look what was done - if you have questions call the
contractor.

Your whole scenario smacks of a person that avoids personal
interaction, is insecure about their ability to protect their own
interests, has their head in the clouds (I'm guessing you read a lot
of science fiction and you work in the computer field), and you have a
tenuous, at best, grasp of how anything actually gets priced.

Other than that - excellent post!

R