I am about to get involved with bidding a big project in downtown Boston in a high rise condo. Being my first one in Boston, I am wondering if someone could share with me some helpful hints on how to estimate a project like this. The challenges that I see are numerous including parking, elevators, scheduling deliveries and subs, trash removal and many more. I would appreciate any helpful advice on how to manage a project like this which will include a full gut job and some rearranging of walls.
Thanks in advance.
David West
Meadowview Construction
www.mvconstruction.com
[email protected]
Replies
I did some work in the city of Boston back in the mid 80s. A couple of the jobs were extensive remodels on high rises.
I was a pretty young. As remember, there were a lot of - I guess you could call them allowances - in the quotes.
I do know the fellow I was working for (still a friend of mine) had the complete trust of the clients, or at least it seemed that to me.
Thinking back on one job, a complete gut of a fifth floor brownstone condo, the demo and disposal was subbed, plumbing and electrical was subbed (of course), bunch of stone and tile subbed.
I recall on this job, getting the street shut down (w police and everything) to mobilize a crane to lift up to the condo the mirrors for the walls (we brought them in the balcony doors). How the heck do you quote this??? Out of my league, that's for sure.
Wish I could be of more help,,,, this will give you a bump anyway.
Best of luck, Harry
I'd try to find out more about the building.
Likely you will need a lot of cash to tip the bell men to get you up and down the service elevator quickly.
Walk the service path and try to determine what you will need.
Carts, equipment movers, etc.
Figure out budget for time to get mtls and stuff in and out and add fudge factor.
Talk to the lead bell hop or whatever he calls himself to determine if you can get any space in the service area parking for the duration or if there is any angle to work.
I did one long time ago in philly.
PIA but work is work.
What Jeff Said!!!
Find out as much as you can about the building.
I put crown Moulding in my sisters NYC apartment.
Pay to park in Garage and get access to service elevator But not one second BEFORE 8AM
Get checked off list by security
Wait in line with everyone else for your turn at the service elevator.
Only bring up material that fits in service elevator(8 foot or less).
Must stop from 11:45 till 1:15 each day for lunch.
All waste must be hauled out PRIOR to 3 PM
All workers must leave by 4:30 PM. That means packing up, waiting in line to use the sevice elevator to go down, loading the truck and EXITING the parking garage No later than 4:30.
On top of all that? The building super had a bunch of illegals working for him doing remodels and such in the building. If he bid the job and didn't get it.............he made things as hard as possible for the guy who did.
What would normally be a 7 Hour day with a helper took me four days and cost me maybe $200 in "Extra" expenses.
I'm sure not all city buildings are like that but I bet enough are.