High All,
Just read through a long thread on door pricing here on breaktime. Seems like most installers are getting in the 400.00 range – that seemed to be an average.
Well….I was in Home Depot the other day and was looking at Exterior Doors and Storm Doors. They had listed an Exterior door installation price of $219.00 and on the Storm Door a price of $119.00. Geesh! Big difference between what guys on this forum are charging.
Does anyone have any feedback on why this price difference? I know I couldn’t make anything on what H. Depot is charging…Wonder if their charge includes all the things you would normally do: remove old door and jam and haul away; set door, shim and nail, flash, caulk, install locksets and trim off etx.. Just wonder if we’re comparing apples to apples here…
Thanks, Dave
Replies
Yeah... I've had clients who previously used HD for a door install. The $300.00 install charge ended up being nearly $600 when all was said and done.
I was recently in HD to do some stuff and thought I would ask the millwork desk the same questions
didnt let them know I was a contactor
what is included in the price.
I was told that the price is an average install price and has variables such as if any other work has to be done such as shimming, if the trim can be re-used etc.
The salesman went on to tell me that im most cases there is no need for shiomming etc, but the final price is really job specific and cant be predicted until they start.
SO first they are going to get you in with a door price and then the possibally cheeper install price. However when they get to your house and ther are all these "unforseen " extras, im sure the price goes way up
I just posted another message about a door install Lowes did for me. They charged me $150 to install a Pella slider. There did not end up being any extra charges. That did include some caulk, shims, and trim.
However if you reference my previous post, despite the cost savings I don't think I would use them again. They are just not equipped to deal with any unforeseen problems such as repairing rot.
Edited 5/15/2004 3:38 pm ET by musikiz
Repairing rot? Putty and paint, right? ;-)
I'd do my own installs just because it takes at least as long to monitor somebody else doing it, so they don't pull something like the above, as it would to do it myself.
Being a millworks employee at HD, our installs don't include painting, and I don't think they include replacing the interior casing, just reusing the old. They do include shimming, caulking, locksets, etc. In Mobile AL the price is 215.oo for single door, 295.00 for french door, and 100.00 for storm door.
Jason Pharez Construction
Mobile, Alabama
General Carpentry, Home Repairs, and Remodeling
When quality is your only consideration
Being a millworks employee at HD
just reusing the old
When quality is your only consideration
hmm.. something with those three sentences.... they just don't quite add up...
hope you're going to confession regularly ;)
How much is the contractor getting on install prices? I've been meaning to check with my local big boxes, are they keeping 10%? More?
I would really appreciate info if anyone has taken that work or knows.
remodeler
i do kitchen installs for a Home Hardware store in ontario and they mark up my labour 30 percent, i specify the labour ratecaulking is not a piece of trim
When will Home Depot do general contracting? You know, "Have Home Depot build your house for just $50/sq ft. Talk to a representative at the special order desk."
I checked with Lowes when they first came to town. They get 40-45% of the money. You are required to carry 3 million in liability (1 million is the norm around here and a lot of guys carry only 1/2 mil) and a surety bond. For that you get to install whatever you say you can do and get a check once a month.
If they mismeasure or guess and go by what the customer says, you have to drive back and straighten it out for the same money. If you get there and the customer changes their mind, you eat it.
I talked to 2 guys that work/worked for them and they said you have to hustle to make a living because it is production work and you need to do 4-8 jobs a day to make any money. I passed. DanT
and you need to do 4-8 jobs a day to make any money.
No mention of the work quality that kind of rate will bring you. I'm guessing it isn't a whole heck of a lot. But who knows?
I never met a tool I didn't like!
I cant say specifically for door installs but, I think its for the door only, not weather stripping, lockset ect.....they carge extra for everything that the average guy would include.
Darkworksite4:
El americano pasado hacia fuera ase la bandera
Well, it gave me a great sales pitch. I'll install a storm door for the same money, and I will have time to get it right. Works every time, I get the same money, mark up on the door and get all the money. I like storm doors. Good money, simple work. Do probably 12-18 a year. DanT
extra........... extra.............. READ ALL ABOUT IT!
compare the value of your construction improvement to the overall selling value of the home, Relative to the current real estate market.
Don't be afraid to charge inflated installation productivity prices!
The market is at a point for "US" the tradesmen, to make money.
TIME to FEAST, THe famine is over- yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bring those rates up, charge double..................
spread the word...................
Every other job sector has inflated tenfold in the past years.
Don't undercut / undermine the field with low-ball pricing. In the long run it will hurt your business, as well as the entire trade field.
dont be a nice guy
charge alot
make money for yourself.
tell customers if they want work done, they have to pay alot & won't save anything
I just bought two garage door openers from Lowes ....................Same bait and switch deal. The work is contracted thru a contractor service. They come out on Friday, install the openers, use old parts, leave the old openers on the floor along with misc nuts, bolts, screws, and boxes from the new openers scattered everywhere.
Then they leave me an additional bill of $45 dollars per door because they are 8' doors and needed extenders.........
Bull...........Come pick up your garbage and install the doors right and maybe just maybe I will pay you more.
Give Me A Break!
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Years ago I did work for Hechingers (killed by HD and PC management) they kept 30% and most jobs had extra work added. Very tough to make any money. You made a visit to measure and then ordered the door, two or three weeks later went back for the install. The grisham steel door took 1 hour to install, or less, regular storm door took longer and paid less! Also did work for Sears fixing poor refacing and installs after the home owner stopped paying. Luckly other work came in so...........done with Sears and hechinger