Estimateson Electric, Plumbing and HVAC
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Can anyone here give me an estimate of how much it will cost to plumb, electrify and hvac a 4000 sq ft house in the north east? i plan on purchasing the materials myself. The hvac will be three zone,the basement, first floor and second floor. I need a ball park figure of what i will be expected to spend.
Replies
M ... Don't know if it's much help but over the years I've watched the percentages of of the total cost of the new home and it goes something like this; 1/5 lot purchase. 1/5foundation,1/5 framing, 1/5 elec., plumb.,havc., 1/5 trim out.
I'd estimate enough more thanyour first guess that it'll curl your hair.
_______________________
"I may have said the same thing before... But my explanation, I am sure, will always be different." Oscar Wilde
The method you're using to estimate your mechanical systems costs is the worst possible, since there's little relation between square footage and MEP costs (especially plumbing). But, since you asked, I'd figure about $7.00/SF for electrical with mid-grade fixtures, about $8.00/SF for the plumbing with mid-grade fixtures, and about $24,000 for 8 tons of cooling and 175,000 BTU of forced air heating with ductwork.
The HVAC numbers will vary depending on your total heating/cooling needs (based on where you are in the Northeast. The other numbers can vary greatly based on the overall design, but at least these numbers will keep you from thinking you're going to get the MEP's for $10,000.
If you'd like to narrow things down more, send me a set of plans and I can estimate the cost for you.
Bob Kovacs
http://www.constructivesolutions.org
Oops- missed the part about you buying materials yourself. I'm assuming you mean fixtures, and not all the pipe, wire, etc. If that's the case, you can knock just knock off the cost of your fixtures from the numbers I gave you.
Bob
I was wondering how he thinks he can find a HVAC and plumbing contractor willing to do the work with him buying the materials! That's why he needs free estimating services here. Biggest thing I noticed is a xcompleete lack of information beyond size of house. You mentioned the variability of the HVAC system - like is it forced hot air or a radiant hydronic heat?
BTW, Do you offer this free estimating service to everyone?
No, right? I know you have an estimating business and I'm curious just how you go about charging for it?
guys - this is a legitimate question, I'm not trying to pull spamming from Bob.
Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin-
I wasn't going to even touch the concept of finding someone to perform labor if he supplies material. Unfortunately, there's some sap out there who will do it, and it'll end up being a disaster.
As far as the "free estimates"- what you saw was the extent of what I do for free (if I even do that much...lol). I wanted to put a budget number out there that was realistic, before someone threw out an absurdly low number, like I've seen happen so many times on the forums.
And you're absolutely correct about not having any info besides the square footage, and that's the danger I preach so much about- square foot estimates are ROUGH, ROUGH, ROUGH numbers. There are too many variables to consider, especially with MEP's.
Regarding your question about pricing estimating services- I've yet to come up with a "cost per square foot" system to charge for estimating that is fair to me and the client. Instead, I consider the state of the drawings (napkin sketch, schematics, 100% drawings), and the level of detail requested, and I figure out how many hours it'll take to compile the estimate. I then quote a fixed amount based on that estimate. Usually I'm right on, or a little under compared to my estimated hours (it'd be pretty bad if someone who estimates for a living couldn't estimate his own time...lol). Most of my repeat clients don't even ask for advanced pricing anymre- they know it'll be fair and they know what to include in their proposals up front.
What was this about "pulling spamming"????
Bob
What I meant about that is a reference to the fact that the rules here and where you have your forum are against someone advertising on their own behalf. it is only an iformational forum.
So if you were to come herre and try to bring your self business through this forum, it would be caled spamming. Now suppose that you and I were good buddies and I were to ask you leading questions to let you provide that same advertising material as answers instead of directly. I would be "pulling" the spam into the forum.
Since everyone climbs all over any spammers pretty hard, I wanted to divert it ahead of time.
Glad to see your presence over here. Estimating is admittedly one of my weaker links..
Excellence is its own reward!
good question
Hey, welcome back!
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Excellence is its own reward!
M ....about buying the materials .......heard on the job the other day people quoting Swartzkopf (sp) "they want me to cook the meal but won't let me shop for the groceries"
You doing all the labor yourself, or just buying the stuff? If all DIY, and you use some surplus stuff like for ducting, conduit, etc. Here is what it would cost me if I had to buy mostly new stuff and all labor DIY. 2nd column is if you are a good scrounger.
new parts >50% recycle
plumb $ 2400 (plain fixtures, no fancy $200 faucets) <$500
electrify $2800 (spec grade, but no fancy chandelieres etc) <$500, still spec g
hvac $5350 $2600*
* good surplus hvac is nearly 'unobtainium', whereas one can still find moen, etc faucets with barely a scratch for pennies/$ and spec grade outlets and QO breakers for under $1, but it takes preplanning/scounging, etc. - YOU CANT'T JUST GO BUY THAT STUFF WHEN YOU NEED IT at those prices, you gotta squirrel it away.