Quotes all over the place for a metal building. What am I missing?

[GoatPuncher]

Dont worry, this isnt another "whats it cost" thread. I'm trying to understand why when I quote individual parts of the job, it comes out to a very different total to the quote a GC gives me.

I'm in Florida and trying to build a 25x30 metal garage. My quotes are as follows:

Cut down 2 trees - $2500
Level land, compact soil, fill if necessary - $5500
Concrete slab, 4.5in 3000psi - $6000
Metal building w/ assembly - $15,000

Total - $29,000.

I tell general contractors what I want and show them the site. A metal build placed on a slab with no electrical or water, they're quoting me $40k - $55k.

Do they normally expect that level of profit, or am I missing something about this process that I'm not getting a quote for? When I ask them, I get the "we are professionals and know how to handle this job" type of response. I really just want to throw money at someone and have this taken care of, but a $25k markup is substantial.

 

[nitroracer20]

How are you estimating/quoting “metal building assembly”? Previous experience? Cost per square foot? How many estimates have you gotten?


Eveeything else seems like a pretty standard line item with minimal flucuation in price.

 

[Montucky]

Around here I was given cost of $4 sq ft for steel erector to erect building.
Concrete is $6 square ft

In Missoula Montana area

 

[machinist_brett]

Are you quoting similar steel buildings? Around here you can get an Eagle Carport building for half the price of an I-beam building. Garage doors and man doors are trailer park quality, but it's storage.

I'm having a 40x50 I-beam being built now. $22k for the building only, insulated, no bay doors, it did come with 2 man doors. Install is extra.

The concrete is much more intensive than I thought. It has piers for the beams, a footer, and 6" of concrete. Plus the prep underneath.

 

[quickfarms]

I just got quotes for a 35x60x18 building

The steel building is 29,000

The insulation three roll up doors with openers, man door and roof vents bring it up to $50,000

The installation is over $25,000

The concrete is also $25,000

 

[cruzer75]

Pretty much, 50% mater and 50% labor is my estimate most of the time for a build. That 50% paying someone to GC/ superintendent on the job. You deal with him, he deals with subs. I have done it both ways (for work) and its much nicer telling one guy and he coordinates everything vs dealing with each and filing for the permits etc.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The GC is going to schedule everything and take care of the details.

Piecemealing is going to take longer and the Subs figure it's going to be a PITA dealing with someone that knows nothing about the job, scheduling and how to fit everything together.

 

[Whitworth]

Hopefully the General will pull all the permits, deal with all the inspections, have a set deadline to meet, deal with any problems or call-backs and be the one source to ask questions or complain to. On top of that he's got a crew of workers and sub contractors that are reliable and do good work.

GC is a full time job, not as easy as it seems.

 

[Kaizen]

I’m sure metal is skyrocketing. They have to be changing prices daily.

I built my own garage. Took 4 years.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[240sxguy]

I believe the problem is an economy of scale situation. For example, I wanted to get my garage drywalled this last summer. The job was "too small" for most companies and the ones that did bid were very expensive (as much as my dad's basement addition that has about 3x the drywall). I came to the conclusion that the cost was high because they need to maintain a certain profit level, and with a lot of fixed costs the small jobs are just disproportionately more expensive.

I wonder if this is your situation.

For what it's worth I had gotten a quote last year for a steel building, and prices have likely gone way up. The company was a local outfit and was comfortable with me taking care of the other "details" and they were going to put up the building. I don't think the price is relevant anymore but their willingness to let me handle the rest without a GC is.

 

[That Guy Scott]

I just got quotes for a 35x60x18 building

The steel building is 29,000

The insulation three roll up doors with openers, man door and roof vents bring it up to $50,000

The installation is over $25,000

The concrete is also $25,000

Damn, who was that from? I have a recommendation if you want another quote

 

[dcg9381]

This appears to be highly regional. OP - you need to see the contractors break down of pricing on steel, assembly, site prep, and slab. (site prep and slab might the same bid).

I'm in Texas, 3 years ago:
assembly of a 40x60 with 2 porches - was $21k
Steel was $25k
40x60 foundation $25k

Steel and concrete have increased substantially. I'm paying about $7.50 a sqft for flatwork now...

 

[slowtwitch73]

I think quotes for anything... if you can actually get one... are just all over the board now due to some areas/people being very flush while other areas/people are at the breaking point, covid, supply chain/employee issues, etc etc.

I can't get an arborist to come out to my place to save my life. Well one guy did, then never followed up. Many never returned the first call. Two answered, said they would call back to come take a look, and never did.

It's not like I'm shopping quotes.. freekin come out, name a price and I'll pay for fawks sake.

 

[quickfarms]

Damn, who was that from? I have a recommendation if you want another quote

I would like multiple quotes because it sounds very steep to me

Can you give me the recommendation

 

[That Guy Scott]

I would like multiple quotes because it sounds very steep to me

Can you give me the recommendation

PM sent

 

[Pntyrmvr]

Recall that price is based on demand not the sum of the costs to do a particular task or make a particular thing.

The price you are getting reflects the bidders ability to stay busy with someone willing to pay their price. Or without a GC, to avoid the cost of any hassles. The unknown is hard to price so they price high. A take it or leave it approach.


“Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money.”

 

[WildBill]

That seems kinda steep if everything is the same, we see a 25-30% of project General Contractor cost around here. So a DIY $29k project would be around $37-ish with a GC involved.

 

[LOW1]

It just depends on the market. If the GC is busy with other projects he is going to want to get a premium for small projects. And some of the GC’s costs are fixed, like his office expenses, etc. He needs a certain amount of cash, not just a percentage, to make small projects viable.

 

[manwithtools]

And just like that a 5 year old thread gets' revived...

 

[PCustoms]

And just like that a 5 year old thread gets' revived...

Yep, WTF @WildBill

 

[WildBill]

Yep, WTF @WildBill

What the heck, this popped up about third post down when I hit the what's new button and I didn't look at the dates. Sorry gentlemen, my bad.

 

[PCustoms]

What the heck, this popped up about third post down when I hit the what's new button and I didn't look at the dates. Sorry gentlemen, my bad.

Probably a spammer got deleted

You inspired me:

"Inactive Thread" Warning?

Been a lot of old threads that suddenly appear in the new posts due to weird bumps. Not sure if a spammer bumped them or if someone just isn't paying attention, but answering a question that was asked 10 years ago seems unnecessary.... Is there any way to give a "warning" when you reply to a...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[NUTTSGT]

Yes, a now banned spammed brought it back.