I have been asked by a good customer to work up a rough number for finishing out a loft condominimum. Can I price it like a regular house with no roof, foundation, window, etc costs? I have not seen it yet. I assume there is a plumbing stack to tie into, and maybe a central a/c unit. What pitfalls might I see? Material staging area & parking come to mind.
I’m sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
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What pitfalls might I see? Material staging area & parking come to mind.
Add in bad vertical access (U stairs, or circular stairs). Also, COA rules about noise, "tradespeople" access, notification rules, etc. Just presume you won't be allowed a port-a-let, whihc means the only working john will require major changes the whole project (like the song says--don't ask me how I know).
Oh, and make no assumptions about what structure is under the skin of the walls. Well, you can, if you set in your mind that it's reject 2x3 & 2x2, and cast-off pallet parts, instead of any sort of proper framing. (If it's nominal framing, and anywhere near on center--that's just a big fat bonus).
Oh, and it's worth getting some cheap-as-you-can magnetic signs for your vehicle, and matching #### and/or hats. Get some extra business cards, and have them handy--you will be asked many (many, many) times what you are doing, sometimes by the same people repeatedly. (This is some worse if they are under the assumption that contractor=not crooked enough to sell used cars, but close.)
Ah, and you will need not only the COA point-of-contact, but also any local manager/POC. The first thing you need from both of them is how to handle construction debris. It is a major pain to bring your own dumpster, and then only from 0900 to 1630, to the site every day.