I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about 800
SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it (labor +
material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7 feet
from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

MC

MiamiCuse wrote:
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about 800
SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it (labor +
material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7 feet
from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,


I certainly would entertain more than one estimate. I would also want to
know the specifications on the T1-11.

My lumber yard sells it in 1/2" & 5/8", in either pine or fir. Fir 5/8"
is the most expensive, and can be bought in 4", 8", & 12" O.C. grooved.

I seen 3/8" pine being sold at one of the box stores. Just wonder if you
got a price, with no specifications. Or, was that $22 per sheet was for?

About 18 years ago, I used 5/8" fir on a house a had, and paid $28 per
4'x8'. I don't believe the price has come down since then.

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it
(labor + material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7 feet
from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Don't know about current going rates, but he is right, nailing upside down
is a bitch, esp if you don't do it every day. That is why almost all finish
carpenters use pneumatic nail guns these days. Two man job, unless he wants
to mess with prop sticks, which slows things down a bunch. (They never
trusted me to nail as a kid, but being tall, I got to hold up the other end
a lot.)

aem sends...

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it
(labor + material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7 feet
from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

At that price, I can take a week vacation, buy air tickets for my wife and I
and get the job done with plenty of time for sunning on the beach. I'd
figure $650 for material, $300 for a small compressor and nail gun, leaving
an easy $5000+ for labor to hang 25 sheets. That is $200 per sheet. For
that price I'd expect you can get the Sistine Chapel sided and repainted.

How about you do it with the help of the teenager next door?

MiamiCuse wrote:
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about 800
SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it (labor +
material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7 feet
from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

MC

You already know the rough cost of materials, so ask the contractor
how long the job will take. If, for example he says 3 days, call that
24 work hours times two for an installer and helper, or 48 hours
labor, so round that off to 50 hours to allow cleanup time. With
material at about $600. that leaves $5900 in labor cost, so the two
guys are making $118 per hour. This is two to three times what most
tradesmen will ask for. If the $5900 is near correct, then an
installer and helper at $45 per hour would take 130 some hours or more
than three weeks.
Seems to me things aren't quite right there. Might be a good idea to
get some other quotes and references while you're at it. Good luck.

Joe

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
. ..

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it
(labor + material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the
porch dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be
cut. For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does
NOT include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the
boards themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber
yards, staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is
more expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7
feet from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

At that price, I can take a week vacation, buy air tickets for my wife and
I and get the job done with plenty of time for sunning on the beach. I'd
figure $650 for material, $300 for a small compressor and nail gun,
leaving an easy $5000+ for labor to hang 25 sheets. That is $200 per
sheet. For that price I'd expect you can get the Sistine Chapel sided
and repainted.

How about you do it with the help of the teenager next door?
I wish there still was 'the teenager next door!' I could sure use one for
the outside chores I'll never get around to. I have more money than time,
ambition, and energy these. Hell, with my allergies, 20-30 bucks a week to
mow my 100x300 yard with my mower and my gas, would seem like a bargain.
Hole lotta pruning that needs to happen, too.

But, sadly, ny neighborhood is all gray hairs or young couples with rug
rats. No kids I have noticed in the 'yard work' age range. And I can't bring
myself to hire a commercial lawn service at 50 bucks plus a pop.

In today's liability-paranoid, 1099/W2-required world, does anyone still
hire cash casual labor, especially involving gas-powered sharp things? (And
no, I don't mean the straw-hat wearing gentlemen hanging around the shady
side of Home Depot. Fine laborers in most cases, but mi no habla espanol.)

aem sends...

On May 18, 10:11 pm, "MiamiCuse" wrote:
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about 800
SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it (labor +
material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7 feet
from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

You've been working on the house for a while now with a few stumbling
blocks along the way. Constantly shopping for contractors is wasting
your time and money. Money that could be put to far better use hiring
a qualified contractor that would be willing to work on more than one
project on your house.

It's pointless to ask the "going" rate. You need real numbers from
real contractors in your area. The number you've gotten so far is in
"unreal" territory. Call some other contractors and get some more
numbers. Talk to some material suppliers, hardware stores, neighbors,
postman, etc. and start putting together a list of recommended
contractors. When you start seeing the same names pop up, you've
found a good place to start.

Contractors' prices usually improve as the contractor becomes familiar
with whoever hired them, whether GC or homeowner. Once they've
learned that you're not an unknown quantity - not a pain in the ass,
nit-picking perfectionist, slow paying, unrealistic expectations -
their risk decreases and they enjoy the job more. Two critical
elements in getting good prices.

Do the legwork now. Find that guy that's willing to tackle an
assortment of jobs as your finances allow. It'll be effort well
spent.

R

"aemeijers" wrote in message
I wish there still was 'the teenager next door!' I could sure use one for
the outside chores I'll never get around to. I have more money than time,
ambition, and energy these. Hell, with my allergies, 20-30 bucks a week to
mow my 100x300 yard with my mower and my gas, would seem like a bargain.
Hole lotta pruning that needs to happen, too.

But, sadly, ny neighborhood is all gray hairs or young couples with rug
rats. No kids I have noticed in the 'yard work' age range. And I can't
bring myself to hire a commercial lawn service at 50 bucks plus a pop.

Funny how time changes things. When I moved into this house 26 years ago, I
used to cut my lawn and some of the next door neighbor's as he was up in
years and could use the help. He has since passed on and a young couple
moved in two years ago. He wants to start a landscaping business. He does
my lawn now for $15 a pop. When he was buying the big mower, I paid most of
the season in advance so he'd have some bucks to buy the equipment.

Did my own oil changes on the car also. Last one I did was on my 1991 Regal.
Much easier to pay $25 that to crawl under a car in December.

On Sat, 19 May 2007 03:25:40 GMT, "aemeijers"
wrote:


In today's liability-paranoid, 1099/W2-required world, does anyone still
hire cash casual labor, especially involving gas-powered sharp things? (And
no, I don't mean the straw-hat wearing gentlemen hanging around the shady
side of Home Depot. Fine laborers in most cases, but mi no habla espanol.)

A 10 or 12 year old kid came around in the winter wanting to shovel my
walk. I didn't feel like doing it, but I said no anyhow, because I'm
in the habit of doing things myself. And I don't like people touching
my stuff. But would have better to give him a job. I hope a few other
people hired him. I should have at least gotten his name and phone
number.

Then I rationalized that he would damage my pristine grass (yeah,
sure) next to the sidewalk.

A few days ago there was another 12 year old mowing someone's yard. My
yard needs mowing, someone's even been complainging, but I can't start
the mower. Again, I should have offered the second kid to mow my
lawn. Here he really could bump into my AC or in theory, mow down my
bushes, but I doubt he would. He did fine on the lawn he was mowing.

When I used to work more and there was a highschool kid here, I did
hire him for a few years to mow the lawn as he saw fit, and he was
fine. He even read the n'hood newletter and saw that the board was
going to meet at my house and made a point to mow my lawn that
afternoon, without my saying a word.

I told him if he really liked me, he wouldn't go away to college, or
take a job out of town after he graduated, but he did both of those
things.

FWIW, all these kids are black.

aem sends...

"RicodJour" wrote in message
oups.com...
On May 18, 10:11 pm, "MiamiCuse" wrote:
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800
SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it (labor
+
material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the
boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7
feet
from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

You've been working on the house for a while now with a few stumbling
blocks along the way. Constantly shopping for contractors is wasting
your time and money. Money that could be put to far better use hiring
a qualified contractor that would be willing to work on more than one
project on your house.

It's pointless to ask the "going" rate. You need real numbers from
real contractors in your area. The number you've gotten so far is in
"unreal" territory. Call some other contractors and get some more
numbers. Talk to some material suppliers, hardware stores, neighbors,
postman, etc. and start putting together a list of recommended
contractors. When you start seeing the same names pop up, you've
found a good place to start.

Contractors' prices usually improve as the contractor becomes familiar
with whoever hired them, whether GC or homeowner. Once they've
learned that you're not an unknown quantity - not a pain in the ass,
nit-picking perfectionist, slow paying, unrealistic expectations -
their risk decreases and they enjoy the job more. Two critical
elements in getting good prices.

Do the legwork now. Find that guy that's willing to tackle an
assortment of jobs as your finances allow. It'll be effort well
spent.

R


Thats easier said than done. I have been trying for months without luck.
Seems general contractors are an extinct species. Talked to all my friends,
neighbors and co-workers and same thing "yep we been looking too, no one is
available". I think Wilma really did south Florida in...every other house
got damaged, in flux of out of state contractors to make quick bucks, a lot
of unlicensed contractors came and collected 50% down from retired elderlys
and never show, skyrocketing insurance, property taxes and housing cost may
have sent the good contractors somewhere else.

The few I found via yellow pages or business cards tagged to big box store
bulletin boards did not impress me - I mean - they seem to know far less
than I do - and I don't know a whole lot LOL.

It seems all I can find are "designers". They will hire architects for me,
architects will hire engineers, and they also will hire contractors for me
who will then coordinate with the subs. However I cannot afford a
"designer". Talked to one the other day and his fee is $400 a day flat over
the life of the project on top of the architect's fee, engineer's fee,
contractor's fee and construction cost.

I have been looking for a good contractor. They are just no where to be
found. So for now I am hiring the tradesman for specific tasks until I find
one. So far I found one good electrician, went through three subpar
finished carpenters, interviewing a few framing and drywall finishers, have
not found a good plumber yet, have yet to find and talk to a mason, I might
have found a good lawn care guy, he did cut my grass without knocking out
all the sprinkler heads LOL.

If all goes well I move in one year from now.

MC

"Joe" wrote in message
ups.com...

MiamiCuse wrote:
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800
SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it (labor
+
material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the
boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7
feet
from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

MC

You already know the rough cost of materials, so ask the contractor
how long the job will take. If, for example he says 3 days, call that
24 work hours times two for an installer and helper, or 48 hours
labor, so round that off to 50 hours to allow cleanup time. With
material at about $600. that leaves $5900 in labor cost, so the two
guys are making $118 per hour. This is two to three times what most
tradesmen will ask for. If the $5900 is near correct, then an
installer and helper at $45 per hour would take 130 some hours or more
than three weeks.
Seems to me things aren't quite right there. Might be a good idea to
get some other quotes and references while you're at it. Good luck.

Joe


That's a good way to figure it. Thanks!

MC

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
. ..

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it
(labor + material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the
porch dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be
cut. For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does
NOT include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the
boards themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber
yards, staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is
more expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7
feet from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

At that price, I can take a week vacation, buy air tickets for my wife and
I and get the job done with plenty of time for sunning on the beach. I'd
figure $650 for material, $300 for a small compressor and nail gun,
leaving an easy $5000+ for labor to hang 25 sheets. That is $200 per
sheet. For that price I'd expect you can get the Sistine Chapel sided
and repainted.

How about you do it with the help of the teenager next door?


I am not skilled enough to do the cutting part. Some areas have to be
"notched" (downsprout) or "holed" (hi hat lights). All I have is a compound
miter saw I don't have a table saw or good jigsaw.

MC

MiamiCuse wrote:
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have
about 800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to
install it (labor + material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8
sheets to the porch dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats
so those need to be cut. For the most part it is pretty straight and
uncomplicated. It does NOT include the cost of painting the boards. The
materials will be the boards themselves which sells for about
$22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards, staple guns and nails. Now
this works out to be $8/SF. This is more expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7
feet from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is
very difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

You're in Miami, right? You've got box stores in the neighborhood?

Here's a starting plan:

Buy the material and have it delivered. Paint the raw material yourself.

Drive down to the box store parking lot, find a worker waiting for a day
job. Somebody with his own tools. Let him pick his own co-worker. Offer
$20/hr for him, $15/hr for the helper.

Plan on actively supervising the project.

When the big job is done, go back and touch-up the painting.

Hey I'm in on this bidding, I'm a painting contractor, I'll fly down and
paint and install for that price.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
. ..

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it
(labor + material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the
porch dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be
cut. For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does
NOT include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the
boards themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber
yards, staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is
more expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7
feet from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

At that price, I can take a week vacation, buy air tickets for my wife and
I and get the job done with plenty of time for sunning on the beach. I'd
figure $650 for material, $300 for a small compressor and nail gun,
leaving an easy $5000+ for labor to hang 25 sheets. That is $200 per
sheet. For that price I'd expect you can get the Sistine Chapel sided
and repainted.

How about you do it with the help of the teenager next door?

Bub,

I don't think you'll find a $20/hr. guy with a table saw and compound
miter saw in the back of his truck. This does not sound like a "hand tool"
job. This might be the route for the painting.

Dave M.

On May 19, 10:18 am, "David Martel" wrote:
Bub,

I don't think you'll find a $20/hr. guy with a table saw and compound
miter saw in the back of his truck. This does not sound like a "hand tool"
job. This might be the route for the painting.

Dave M.

Well, you can't find a contractor to save your soul. Tells me that
they got you bent over a log. They'll charge exhorbitant rates and if
you don't like it, they'll go elsewhere. That's the beauty of the
free market, isn't it? Why should contractor's operate by different
rules than say the oil companies?

aemeijers wrote:

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote

MUCH SNIPPAGE

How about you do it with the help of the teenager next door?

I wish there still was 'the teenager next door!' I could sure use one for
the outside chores I'll never get around to. I have more money than time,
ambition, and energy these. Hell, with my allergies, 20-30 bucks a week to
mow my 100x300 yard with my mower and my gas, would seem like a bargain.
Hole lotta pruning that needs to happen, too.

But, sadly, ny neighborhood is all gray hairs or young couples with rug
rats. No kids I have noticed in the 'yard work' age range. And I can't bring
myself to hire a commercial lawn service at 50 bucks plus a pop.

In today's liability-paranoid, 1099/W2-required world, does anyone still
hire cash casual labor, especially involving gas-powered sharp things? (And
no, I don't mean the straw-hat wearing gentlemen hanging around the shady
side of Home Depot. Fine laborers in most cases, but mi no habla espanol.)

aem sends...


Does your local high school have a auto mechanics shop class?
Metal working class? Shop class?
Talk to the local shop teachers and I bet you find a kid with some sense
who ould use a few extra bucks.

Heck, around here, as summer comes and schools close,
lot of teachers go on to "second careers". I know several
who do painting and are good. Might find a grass cutter
at a lower price than a commercial service.

This sounds a lot like a situation my kid was in. He bought a stackable
washer/dryer unit to go into his 3rd floor condo in South Beach, Fl. I heard
the estimates he got for over 1000 and promptly called him. I sent my
husband down from NJ and he was done in three days. {trips to HD for
extras}Whole thing cost less than 300. Including airfare.

--



BetsyB



"Greg" wrote in message
news:jcD3i.196849$6m4.99274@pd7urf1no...
Hey I'm in on this bidding, I'm a painting contractor, I'll fly down and
paint and install for that price.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
. ..

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it
(labor + material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the
porch dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to
be cut. For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It
does NOT include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be
the boards themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local
lumber yards, staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF.
This is more expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7
feet from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

At that price, I can take a week vacation, buy air tickets for my wife
and I and get the job done with plenty of time for sunning on the beach.
I'd figure $650 for material, $300 for a small compressor and nail gun,
leaving an easy $5000+ for labor to hang 25 sheets. That is $200 per
sheet. For that price I'd expect you can get the Sistine Chapel sided
and repainted.

How about you do it with the help of the teenager next door?

On 19 May 2007 08:41:34 -0700, marson wrote:

On May 19, 10:18 am, "David Martel" wrote:
Bub,

I don't think you'll find a $20/hr. guy with a table saw and compound
miter saw in the back of his truck. This does not sound like a "hand tool"
job. This might be the route for the painting.

Dave M.

Well, you can't find a contractor to save your soul. Tells me that
they got you bent over a log. They'll charge exhorbitant rates and if
you don't like it, they'll go elsewhere. That's the beauty of the
free market, isn't it? Why should contractor's operate by different
rules than say the oil companies?

It's conceivable that this project should wait until more of the
hurricane damage has been fixed. A year?

It doesn't sound essential, and one can say, "I can't find anyone."
Everyone should know by now about the work situation in Florida. At
least everyone in Florda.

Even if he could find someone by paying enough, wouldn't it be better
for everyone as a whole if that guy were doing someone's roof or some
part of his house that is more essential, like the walls.

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it
(labor + material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I agree the price sounds very high. You need more local estimates.

The guy did not lie about the overhead part.

Your material cost may be higher than you think. If this is being installed
over bare rafters you may not get the full 32 square feet per board because
the rafters may not be a perfect 16 or 24 OC. The last time I replaced a
soffitt on an older home I averaged using about 6.5 foot of each 8 foot run.
In some cases you can improve the use of the T-11 by using some scabs.

A contractor is not going to waste his time shopping at the BORG. His cost
may be slightly higher than what you waste a half a day buying it for at the
BORG.

Is there something that need to be removed? Are the rafters open and
visible?

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
news

"Joe" wrote in message
ups.com...

MiamiCuse wrote:
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800
SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it (labor
+
material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch
dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be
cut.
For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does NOT
include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the
boards
themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber yards,
staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is more
expensive than laying tiles!

I asked the guy and he said hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7
feet
from the floor reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very
difficult and that is why its so expensive.

Anyone knows what the on going rate should be?

Thanks in advance,

MC

You already know the rough cost of materials, so ask the contractor
how long the job will take. If, for example he says 3 days, call that
24 work hours times two for an installer and helper, or 48 hours
labor, so round that off to 50 hours to allow cleanup time. With
material at about $600. that leaves $5900 in labor cost, so the two
guys are making $118 per hour. This is two to three times what most
tradesmen will ask for. If the $5900 is near correct, then an
installer and helper at $45 per hour would take 130 some hours or more
than three weeks.
Seems to me things aren't quite right there. Might be a good idea to
get some other quotes and references while you're at it. Good luck.

Joe


That's a good way to figure it. Thanks!

MC
Also keep in mind that a high quote is the contractor's way of saying "I
don't want to do the job, get someone else!" Get more quotes.

Hey MC...

I suggest you to check out www.talissadecor.com or
http://stores.ebay.com/talissadecor-ceilingtiles or www.ceilingtilesbyus.com
or http://stores.ebay.com/creativeceilings they have a Decorative
Ceiling Tiles made from PVC Plastic and they are tin look as well as
available in many other finishes, they are glue on ceiling tiles which
is perfect for your porch application, you just need any kind of hard
and plain surface and you can easily glue on the tiles using contact
cement. I am a manufacturer of the tiles from India, and the above
addresses are of my dealers who can help you out in the selection and
finding a contractor etc. 2 of them are near Miami which will be a
plus point to you... you can also contact me on any of your questions
on

Cheeers !
Hardik

On Sat, 19 May 2007 17:52:37 -0400, mm
wrote:


It's conceivable that this project should wait until more of the
hurricane damage has been fixed. A year?

I meant to say, "or two".

And maybe by then, the OP's tool supply and skill set will have
improved so that he can do it himself.

At the very least, the cost of labor should go down or the quality of
available labor should go up when there is less work to be done in
Florida.

It doesn't sound essential, and one can say, "I can't find anyone."
Everyone should know by now about the work situation in Florida. At
least everyone in Florda.

Even if he could find someone by paying enough, wouldn't it be better
for everyone as a whole if that guy were doing someone's roof or some
part of his house that is more essential, like the walls.

David Martel wrote:
Bub,

I don't think you'll find a $20/hr. guy with a table saw and
compound miter saw in the back of his truck. This does not sound like
a "hand tool" job. This might be the route for the painting.

Good point. In my neighborhood, we have messicans with tools. One guy I've
seen hanging out has a 5kw generator on the back of his truck along with an
air compressor. I assume the boxes on the sides of his truck contain a
collection of power tools.

I'm puzzled, though. How could you use a compound miter saw on sheets of
plywood?

And isn't a table saw used only by old farts whose hands shake too much to
use an ordinary circular saw?

Hi MC,

I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have
about 800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to
install it (labor + material).

I do all my own work, so I have no idea what the going rate is for a job
like that. But, that price seems really high to me. If I were faced with
that kind of quote, I'd do the work myself.

The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the porch dimension

Easily done with a chalkline and a circular saw. Use a straight-edge to
make the cuts if you want "table saw results".

I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be cut.

Not sure what a hi-hat is, but it could probably be cut using the
circular saw or a handheld jigsaw.

staple guns and nails.

Air nailers make the work faster, but it could be nailed by hand just as
eaily. Of course, you can always rent a compressor and nailer for a one
time job like that. Or use a drill and screws.

hanging stuff upside down (the porch is 7 feet from the floor
reachable by hand without being on a ladder) is very difficult

I installed plywood sheets on the underside of our porch roof. It's
"awkward", but not really difficult. I installed a support board on one
edge, slipped the plywood up under it, and held it in place till I had a
few nails in it.

Since you have a larger porch to do, I'd recommend renting a drywall
lift. You set the sheet on the lift, crank the wheel to raise it tight
against the ceiling, and start nailing. Makes it easy to do jobs like
that by yourself, even for high sloped ceilings.

On the other hand, if the size of the sheets is the most daunting part of
the job, you could always use T&G boards on the ceiling. A bit more cost,
but easier to install, and a much nicer look.

Anyway, if you can't find a contractor to do the job at a reasonable
rate, and you aren't interested or able to do the job yourself, you might
check your local newspapers for a "handyman". They advertise in our local
Nickel Ads, and other small town papers, and you might be able to find
someone on your local Craigs List too.

Good luck,

Anthony

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
I need to install T1-11 boards as ceiling in a porch area. I have about
800 SF of porch space and I was quoted a price of $6500 to install it
(labor + material). The labor involves cutting the 4x8 sheets to the
porch dimension, in some areas I have overhead hi-hats so those need to be
cut. For the most part it is pretty straight and uncomplicated. It does
NOT include the cost of painting the boards. The materials will be the
boards themselves which sells for about $22.00 per sheet in local lumber
yards, staple guns and nails. Now this works out to be $8/SF. This is
more expensive than laying tiles!


A follow up to this post. An earlier poster mentioned that you could buy
boards.

I happed to be at a real lumber yard last week and they still stock and sell
the real 5/8 x 4 x 12 ceiling boards not the double size you find in some
places.

Having already paid for my materials I did not ask a price of the yard man.
The purpose of this post is just say the real McCoy is still made.
Considering I bought clear pine molding for way less than the cost of FJ at
the BORG, it might be cheaper than you think.