I got quoted $350 minimum, average $500 to replace 9 bathroom tiles incl. cement board. My plumber finally fixed our stems in the tub (we've been replacing the freaking washers for years) but he doesn't do tile so the guy he recommends comes over and takes a look and gives me this outrageous quote. I was perfectly willing to do the work myself in the first place but isn't this quote obscene?
How big is your roof area, and what materials were involved? It isn't unusual for a quality tile reroof on a 2500 square foot home here in Florida to cost $20K....or more with features such as secondary waterproofing (think ice 'n water shield) and modified bitumen underlayment. For shingles with conventional installation materials it should be half that.
How do you replace the backer "cement" board while replacing only 9 tiles. To do that properly would require a tear-out.
If the tearing out left at least one stud showing then it can be done by carefully cutting a new piece of backer board and the edges of the opening in the existing backer to mate. Then spread Rockite or similar thin expanding cement on the edges of the opening and the patch, shove the patch in and screw it to the stud(s).
I've done that more than once and the repairs have worked for years now, but if I were a pro I wouldn't want to take on thAT job for much less that what the guy quoted either. It takes time and care to do it right, definitely not a 'wham bam thank you mam job'. plus it'd take two trips to complete.....to make sure the patch cement was well set before replacing the tiles. Not to mention that if the old tiles are going to be being reused the mortar/backer board has to be scraped off them carefully to avoid busting one.
There's almost no way to get a "small job" done for "a few bucks" in urbania anymore. The overheads of insurance, transportation, business fees and taxes, plus a few bounced checks and a couple of jobs that don't go as planned and have to be redone for nothing....those all drive the hourly rates higher and higher. Best to stop dwelling on what things "used to cost" and get on with life.
Lucky is the homeowner who can do nearly all of the little jobs him/herself.
Jeff
oic so that IS a fair price? I have the materials including the tiles. He isn't removing the whole wall, just adjacent tiles he said.
Here in Florida it is customary for roofing contractors to take whatever ASTM-complaint materials are available at the supply house. I even spec'd a 3-layer modifed bitumen job one time using GAF Ruberoid products, and when I stopped by the job site the crew had put down some cheap Tamko base sheet and had started on the interply. They said "that's what was there when they went by the supply house". I made 'em take it up and start over.
This may be a sign that the tile guy has more business than he can handle.
I told him I didn't have the money on me and would call him back and he offered to do the work on the spot. I've had some of the greatest good fortune with contractors but when it comes to our home, we've sent away more contractors than we've used. My parents were neurotic about hiring people to fix up the house for decades and my mom has spent more/all her money fixing up things at work and resisting fixing anything at home.
We're still stewing over the $20k roofing estimate we got. None of the roofing contractors gave the requested detailed estimate: no measurements of the roof were stated, no materials were stated, just a short paragraph with the bill and I really believe that it's because they refuse to hear her when she tells them that she knows what things cost and how things should be done. I'm wondering if I can do the flat roof myself. I can decarpet big pieces no problem. Maybe I can get the roofing materials up on the roof.
Digging the old shit out, doing the job with quality materials and standing behind it. No. What's obscene is your view the man should work for McDonald's wages.
The man's running a business and after materials, taxes and overhead are taken out it looks more than fair.
You are always welcome to half-ass it in yourself.
You should take pictures. I always need a laugh.
Please take pictures. With your extensive knowledge you should start a roofing company.
I think this sentence says it all.
Let's think about what this job entails...
-Trip #1 to the home. - Complete Tear-out. -Attach backerboard. -Install tiles. (Total labor ~4 hours, including travel and clean-up)
- Material - probably $100-125, depending on markup (remember, the contractor did have to make a trip somewhere to get the material).
- Trip #2 - Grout (Total Labor ~2 hours, including travel and clean-up)
- Material ~$25
- Trip #3 -Seal Grout. (wait one hour) -Seal Grout again.(wait one hour) -Caulk (Total Labor ~ 3 hours including travel and clean up)
- Material $10
Total Materials ~ $150 +/-
Total Labor ~ 9 hours.
Assuming the job costs $500, with $150 of labor, that leaves $350 for the contractor's 9 hours. Something like $40 per hour. If the guy works 50 hours a week, 50 weeks a year, he's gonna gross $50k a year, and has to pay healthcare, insurance, and overhead (vehicle, insurance, tools, etc) out of that.
Not cheap, but when you really think about it, not too bad either.
KB
I've been watching a number of diy shows on the less popular channels that are more nitty gritty and several eps like broken house, houselift, diy channel are showing HOs who have all said that they couldn't swallow the roofer's estimate and that they were spurred to diy by the size of the estimate. I have a flat roof so I have a much easier time than the guys on tv. I have all the books I know about the membranes and the nails from a past commercial roofer who gave the standard listing of materials. The residential estimators wouldn't even listen to my mother when she asked what layers would be going in, they ignored her questions and she is not an obnoxious client. She's dealt with many contractors before but when she is home, these local small companies see her differently.
it's a flat membrane covered roof about 1000 square feet.
ok thanks for the feedback.
I don't think you do. You don't know her. She doesn't hector or name drop brands. She told them she had overseen a roof installation before and asked them what layers are going on the roof and what is the square footage. They said they don't know what they'll use and don't worry. She said but which brands do you like. They just ignored her. That is bullshit. I have estimates for commercial jobs for the same size and the listing of layers and the materials used.
Assuming there isn't anything complex about this roof (ie. drain scuppers, need for taper, etc.) a membrane reroof (EPDM or modified bitumen) would cost about $220 / square here in Florida including tear off. So something is very, very wrong with the pricing you got.
On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 20:33:55 GMT, ggg scribbled this interesting note:
Then you got lucky!:~)
-- John Willis (Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)
On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 20:04:18 GMT, "Travis Jordan" scribbled this interesting note:
Agreed.
-- John Willis (Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)
"ggg" wrote
Sounds like your mother had plenty of professionals turn their back on her. I will say, it's a good thing you have her professional advice to help you through what the DIY books/videos don't show. You can always get sound advice from HD for what your mother doesn't know.
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