AS I switch over more and more to PEX I’m finding that I’m not sure how to bid out a large PEX job and just want some advice.
This is my first all PEX plumbing job, hey I admit it, I’m not confident bidding it because I haven’t worked with it so much.
In the floor plan I was given to bid there are two full baths back to back sharing a common wet wall. One bath measures 6×8, the other bath is 5×8. The bathrooms are about 26 ft from the hot water heater.
The kitchen measures 16×10 with a DW, Fridge w/icemaker, and double bowl sink. The kitchen is about 16 ft from the hot water heater.
The hot water heater is immediately near the foundation where the water comes thru. On the floor plan it sits approx middle the kitchen and bathrooms. The Washer is immediately beside the HWH.
I’m planning 6 PEX runs to the baths (1 hot for each tub, and 1 shared hot between sinks, 1 cold for each tub, and 1 shared cold between sinks and toilets). In the Kitchen I’m planning 3 PEX runs (1 cold to sink, 1 hot to sink/dishwasher, 1 cold to icemaker wall box). I’m planning 2 PEX runs to the washer (1 hot, 1 cold of course). THere are 2 hose bibs, so that’s 2 PEX runs total.
My plan is to install a 24 port manifold beside the HWH. Given the number of runs I expect it to take a day to rough pull all the PEX lines. 1 day to go around and crimp elbows, Drop ears, install shower valves. 1 day to rough DWV bathrooms and 1/2 day to rough DWV for kitchen.
I did my calculations and came up with $6650 for the whole job. That includes all parts and fittings. The owner is supplying the kitchen sink, faucets, toilets, vanities, and showers and HWH. I just need to rough it and install it all.
In one regard $6650 sounds cheap, on the other hand, with it being PEX, it’s supposed to be a big labor saver so it sounds a little high. But only half of it is a PEX job, the rest is DWV. But I been learning that when it SOUNDS high to me, it’s not always that high after all. Basically all my labor totals $5500 for what I believe will be about a 4 day job to do all the roughing and 2 days to install showers, fixtures, etc.
Opinions anyone?
Replies
I have not worked with PEX for hot water. Is that o.k.? Have you worked before with PEX hot water? Besides the draining and venting, your main concern is the cost of PEX versus copper (for example). Is there a huge difference between copper and PEX in cost? $ 5,500, in my opinion ,according to where I live here in Pasadena CA. is not bad. The thousand dollars for material is not bad since the owner is supplying some fixtures. I think it reflects the standard of living where you live. Probably in New York $ 6,500 would be very low. In plain English, I would do it.