As chance would have it I’ve had time to watch a few episodes of This Old House lately along with the new Ask TOH. Since I’m a one-man business (as are a few members here) the Tom Silva portion of Ask TOH appeals to me because the type of projects he features are the bread and butter of my operation. It’s nice to watch somebody else work for a change.
Has anybody else watched and wondered how much Tom would charge for what he had just done?
Here is the game: Watch Tommy’s project on Ask TOH and post on this thread what YOU would charge for what he did (regardless if you would do it differently). Maybe this can turn into a weekly event, at best it can be informative, at least for grins.
To start things off, this week’s project Tommy replaced a rotted basement window and installed a dryer vent through a brick foundation. (have to watch for specifics)
P.S DIY’s can contribute too! What would you expect to pay if this were your house and you called a contractor to do this project?
Replies
I'll take the first run at a quote/bid/fee/price what ever you want to call it.
Never had to buy a window like that before so this is a total guess not knowing actual material cost.
Total labor and materials $410
You really think you can get a window like that for ten dollars ?
; )Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
I don't get the show, I don't think, but the idea of comparing pros estmates with homeowners expectations is great. Should be educational for us on both sides.
Based on your brief description, I'm guessing $800 - 1200.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
P-
I'll sub it out to you and tack on my %.
F.
Edited 12/14/2002 12:33:11 PM ET by Frankie
well - could you provide 3 references?
You made me laugh so hard I choked on my Cookie Dough ice cream! Got a kick out of that one.
F
BEAUTIFUL!
Replace bsmt window, install duct thru brick, ballparking with materials about a grand, unless the window is a K&K, then that's the materials cost only. Didn't watch that one either so didn't see what he used.
" You are young, my son, and as the years go by time will change and even reverse many of your present opinions. Refrain therefore awhile from setting yourself up as a judge of the highest matters." - Plato
I haven't seen the window. I'm picturing a cheap vinyl unit.
Maybe I can re-sub it to Scott and double or triple my money. Being a middle man has it's advantages. You get to deal with the customer and he gets to do the work. Somebody's got to take care of all the smiling!.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Guess I'm the only one that's seen the show?
piffin, the window unit wasn't that nice, it was a single pane, wood frame I highly doubt it opened. He secured it to the rim joist and filled the rest in with expandable foam. I was guessing $30 for the unit but since I've never bought anything like it, could be triple that... plus.
Andy, I WISH!
Scott R.
DIY response. Have not seen show.
$2 for window bought previous year at garage sale
50 cents for other material obtained same way.
3 cents for electricity
$5 for prorated investment in tools used only occasionally for this type job.
2 hours to find the window in my junk piles <G> and round up the tools
< 2 hours to do the work
PS: have never hired anything done on my house, no idea of going rates here. Do know from helping co-workers fix their cars or such that pro estimates for labor in that field are generally 3 to 4 times longer than it actually takes.
Edited 12/15/2002 10:04:31 AM ET by JUNKHOUND
I take back my estimate!
I don't do such crappy work as that. Amazed they would expose it to the world.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
You dont work for TOH by chance do you?
Be a house
Namaste
Andy
One works on oneself, always. That's the greatest gift you can give to community because the more you extricate your mind from that which defines separateness, that defines community. The first thing is to become community. "Ram Dass"
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
4 to 6 hrs. for what he did. That includes the time to get the window and new dryer vent.
The window he got did not fit the opening, it was to tall. He had to open up the opening on the bottom the way it looked by the amount of foam he filled in under the window he had to take out about 1/2 hight of a brick to much.
I suspect the old window had a flat sill, the new one had a 5° or 7° sill so it did not fit in the opening.
To finish it up it needs trim around the out side to protect the foam on the bottom which he did not do in the show. He also said he was going to come back and cut the foam so it is flat to the window in a few days. I suspect that is when he would put the trim on.
About $20,000 should just about do it, but I would still install a clause in the contract to cover any extras that the homeowner may want that I hadn't thought of in the first estimate.
I only do about a dozen of these calls a year so it's hard to be any more precise than that.
Gabe
Looks like a little interest in this activity. Lets say we give it another go for the next episode, which airs in my area on Thursday evening, then again on Saturday afternoon. So check your local listings for the TOH hour to watch the Tommy project and post your best estimates. I'll try to start another thread on Thur evening.
Fred, true he did say that he would trim the foam flush to the window, but I thought he told the HO that she would be able to paint it (the foam) after that????? I hope your right!!!!
Scott R.
Sounds like fun....here goes nothing..
Not having seen the show, I`m going to go the route I would use. Unless specified otherwise, I`d use a vinyl replacement, hopper style....cost about a hundred, I`d add fifty. I usually charge about two hundred per replacement when doing a house....this being a solo, Id tack on fifty to that. Four hundred dollars labor and materials for the window. The dryer vent is an unknown....jobs like this I only take when I need some filler....figuring it would help round out a full day after replacing window, I`d do it and charge fifty per hour plus materials. Unless it was extremely involved, I`m figuring two hours labor and thirty bucks worth of 4" stove pipe. Round it up to a hundred fifty total.
I`m gonna say $550 for the whole deal, still leaving me time to accomplish more elsewhere. I try and do these little jobs at a fair price to the customer and still make a buck....usually being fair leads to more and larger jobs down the road.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
I'd rather do the Newhart show game. Every time they said "Bob" you'd take a shot of beer. We could change it to "Tom"
How about we take a shot everytime I introduce my brother Daryl and my other brother daryl.
Gabe
I always thought it was an easy game but do you know how often they said Bob? Yikes.
If they said it often enough, who'd remember?
(unless you're playing with that watered down american beer)
Gabe
I think it's funny that they finally got on to the 'media properties' game. This is where one show or celebrity franchises out to spin offs or related products.
So why do I bring this up? Well after you are done with all of your estimates, maybe we can start planning Tom's This Old House Callback show!
Women and men of wit are dangerous tools,
And ever fatal to admiring fools.
- John Wilmot second Earl of Rochester
"Maybe we can start planning Tom's This Old House Callback show!"
Funny stuff!
As for a drinking game associated with TOH how about everybody has to take a drink every time Steve touches something. "Is this Mahogany?" (As he runs his fingers over the surface).
Scott R.
Oh, I get it Scott, this is the same question as before... How much should I charge.... LOL.
O.K. I'll bite, 150.00 for the window and 250.00 for the vent. Two guys, three hours.. no money for beer. 1 guy, four hours, no money for overhead but a few bucks for beer. Bob, six hours, no worries about beer or overhead, the company paid the customer for letting them do it.