Bid Disappointments

[Jagmandave]

My build will be almost the twin to this one: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=460683

Same size, same layout, same location behind the house so I was excited to see another build just like mine, however......

I've had 5 different builders over to bid it - the first one came in a $51K - that was in March before the **** hit the fan. I figured he didn't really want to build it as that came out to approx $70/sq ft, for a non-living space build with no HVAC, no insulation, electric or drywall, no painting and no garage doors - entry would be thru a double 3 ft door from my existing garage as the new shop would be built on the back of the house from the garage. It included Hardi siding with batts every 16" to match my current house.

The intervening builders didn't bother to give me a bid - tho one said they couldn't do anything for me till next year anyway, and if I was still interested then to get back to them.

I found an ad for an "Amish" garage builder on FB and they did come out and work up a bid which they gave me today.....it came out to $68 a sq ft

Concrete bid was $18,100, which included 3 ft footings and a 3 ft wall on the high side and included the slab. The shop would be 726 sq ft with a minimum 12 ft clear span, using scissor trusses.

The price just seems high to me......but maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about. My budget was approx $50 sq ft., but that included insulation, drywall and electric that I would do myself.

What do you guys think?

 

[Stuart in MN]

The cost of lumber has skyrocketed this year, I imagine it may be the same for other building materials.

 

[Showkey]

That^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Then add the contractors have waiting lists............

 

[brownbagg]

metal building

 

[yeldogt]

We are pushing $125sf for a finished nice garage space.

Everybody is booked

 

[lukedwag]

Wait till next spring.

 

[mcbane]

I went with a metal building and was able to get cost down to $100 per sq-ft. I envy you and your current quote.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bczygan]

Wrong time to buy or build anything.

Wait for the next crash.

Bill

 

[PelicanPines]

Get a different hobby... garages are so last year...

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Thankfully my foundation and framing were done last fall... that said I’m nearing $70 per SF on my build. Full foundation (42” frost), 8” slab, 2x6 framing, gambrel roof trusses, 2x OHDs, asphalt shingles, vinyl siding, insulation, drywall, paint, water, electrical, gas line, unit heater and lights.

I hired for foundation, slab, framing, shingles, OHDs and drywall. Did the remainder...

 

[karoc]

Like you Jag just out of touch with prices.But I will be acting builder/GC for my pole barn and the price is still high. What the killer for me is slab,I figure the labor is about the same as what it was few yrs ago but cost of material (concrete) is out of site.

 

[matt_i]

Irrespective of building material pricing, when you attach to an existing structure its going to be considerably higher priced than a freestanding building....starting with exact, mistake-free drawings, elevations have to be controlled precisely starting at the forms built for concrete, its not as easy as just establishing a level-plane and going up.

Then you have siding, roofing, flashing/weatherproofing issues, color matching and potential to damage existing exterior which could be irreplaceable (no longer available).

No contractor wants a money-losing job (nor do you want your job to be bid so low that the contractor is losing money) and there are lot of pitfalls above which have to be considered.

I have but one solution to high prices and delays from contractors running multiple jobs: and that is me. I feel like even if I had to tear it down and start completely over I'd still come out ahead by buying (Building Materials x2) and supplying my own free labor vs. writing a check for Building Materials + Hired Labor for the same end-product. Always remember the (good, fast, cheap) You Pick 2 conundrum in any construction project.

 

[Showkey]

Wait till next spring.

That’s not likely to work when contractors are booked 6-12 months.

Wrong time to buy or build anything.

Wait for the next crash.

Bill

So that “little market adjustment” for covid in March last year......Was not enough slow building and interest rates are likely going to remain low for 18-30 months ..........might be a real long wait for that garage or new home.

Think the only real way to control the building costs and build time line in today market place is do more DIY .......which get back to those threads on “money, time and health“ rarely to you get the right amount of each in life.

 

[kolky]

Mine came in at about $86/sqft. That's a 26'x26' detached, 3ft frost footer pour, 7/12 roof pitch with storage trusses and attic floor and 100 amp service (with minimal electrical install other than a few outlets and lights). No insulation or finishing inside the garage.

I did have a few things that added quite a bit to the cost though. Two sides are full brick to match the house which I think added about 10-15K and an 18'x8' carriage style garage door which was probably another 3-4k.

Material prices have gone crazy though. I think they are up 200-300% since I signed the contract. Now I just have to wait on all the permits which are crazy lead times right now.

 

[jonshonda]

If you are expecting any deals right now, you are going to be very disappointed. My guess is in 2-3 years when **** really hits the fan after all this is over, that you will find good deals then.

Right now contractors in our area are booked solid, and now cancelling builds due to the increased prices.

 

[ace10]

There's zero chance that anything stick built is going to be finished for $50/ft today.

I don't think you could even DIY on a cheapie build for that number.

 

[Jakemedic]

I am at roughly 55 dollars per sq ft finished with post frame construction, full foundation, insulated, conditioned with electric and natural gas. Building and concrete were done by contractors. The rest done by me over last few months. Ceiling and Attic insulation time now. 24x32 with. 10’ walls.

 

[Sawlog]

Those prices are crazy!! I have started my 26x44 12ft wall detached garage recently. I'm in 3900 bucks so far. That has gotten me, my footings and stem wall 3ft down to frost line, 2in foam board around perimeter to frost line, 26 ton 1in rock graded in the middle for my slab to set on. My full bath and floor drain rough in. My septic system for the bath, gas line from my house meter 235ft to my garage, water line from my house to garage and 2in conduit from my main electric panel to my garage. The only part of this build I will hire out is the garage floor. And that will be 1.25 a sq ft for labor. I have everything ready, the concrete guy shows up with his crew and is in and out in a half a day. I pay the ready mix plant for the Crete and pay the man 1343 bucks for his labor. That's the cheapest way to do it.
We live in a small town with no permits , engineer drawing, no approvals of any kind which helps. I could not image all the hoops some of you have to jump thru just to build a garage. I feel for ya.
I will be under 30 bucks a sq ft with a insulated, finished on the inside, heat and cooled garage when done. But I'm only paying out 1343 bucks in labor too.

 

[twistedstang]

I'm at $73 sq ft for a stick build shell with attic trusses. This was right before covid

 

[welder4956]

My detached garage came in about $25 per square foot. That did not include painting, insulation, and wall/ceiling coverings. I think attaching it to the house is driving your cost up, since it gets the same level of inspection as a house.

 

[P0234]

We are pushing $125sf for a finished nice garage space.

Everybody is booked

I paid well under that for a house two years ago. On pillings...with a huge concrete pad. Finished. Including appliances!

 

[slowtwitch73]

It crazy all over from sounds of it. I'm in MT and builders are way booked and its expensive. Wait until after election.

 

[CombatNinja]

Just got some bids for a 600 sq ft. in-law suite addition. After I heard the number, I told the contractor "You mean I get to keep my $85,000 and my mother-in-law won't be living with me? Don't threaten me with a good time."

This was nothing exotic, just a granny apartment/master suite with a small kitchenette, sitting area, bedroom and curbless shower because old people. The only "extra" was it was going to have scissor trusses over most of it for a more spacious feeling. I even cheaped out and was going to have it slab built with a couple of steps down from the main house. If I had wanted a crawl space, that would've added another $7500 to the bill. $141/sq ft. was the final tally. I am aware that this was one of those "If he is dumb enough to agree to it, we'll take on the job bids. All the trades around here are ******* with new construction and don't want to bother with renovations, too much hassle.

 

[CraigStu]

This is a terrible time. SIL is building a garage right now. Himself, w/ occasional from me and from his Dad. Got his initial lumber and truss order 6 weeks ago. needed more of something he had paid $7 for. They were $9. Two weeks ago he needed a few more. They were just under $11. His parents just sold their house and are trying to get something built a state away. Current plan is they will be living on my SIL's property in their motor home for a while. Maybe a long while. Several contractors said they are booked for the next 1.5 years. I imagine that could easily extend to 2 yrs. For your garage; I'd look into a detached build and figure on a self built semi legal covered walkway some time later. I'd also look at different types of construction. Maybe a pole building w/ gravel floor. I did that once. I added a small floor area built from treated 2Xs. My joists were 2x4s laid flat on the gravel every 2 ft and the floor was 2x6s screwed to them at 90 degrees. Got me a flat floor for the drill press and radial arm saw and toolbox. We sold and moved before I did a full concrete floor which I had planned.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

It crazy all over from sounds of it. I'm in MT and builders are way booked and its expensive. Wait until after election.

I’ve heard this sentiment recently a couple times... what am I missing? What’s the election have to do with contractor prices or material cost? One guy said, maybe people want to spend their money now, before being taxed more (inferring if Democrats win) and having less money... okay

I don’t believe the COVID situation is going to change in the short term regardless of who’s president come January.

I agree that given time, things will go back to “normal”.

 

[DTL504]

Grateful I was able to complete my building before lumber skyrocket. Lowes have 7/16 OSB $25.00 per sheet.

 

[preconnect]

25x26 attached garage came in at 56 per sq ft. That is with me doing wiring, insulation, drywall.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I’ve heard this sentiment recently a couple times... what am I missing? What’s the election have to do with contractor prices or material cost?

Few things. Financial experts the world over are predicting a slowdown. Any monkey business and/or uncertainty with election will make it worse. Second, things are nuts now, and sometime in the future they wont be...'after the election' is in the future.. maybe not an accurate maker but.....

A lot of folks are selling real estate and stocks ahead of the election.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I'm at under $15/sqft. for my 16'x22' shed that I'm building all myself. I scored most of the lumber right as things started to take off, before they got crazy. For example, I got the rafters and ceiling joists from Home Depot, they had already jumped 25% at Lowe's and Builder's First Source, Home Depot followed suit the very next day. I've had help from my wife standing standing the walls and I hired a flatwork guy to pull, screed and trowel the slab. I bought the concrete and rented the buggy to haul it to the forms I built a half yard at a time. For the time being, this will have no insulation, electrical, plumbing or HVAC. That could change in the future but it isn't necessary right now.

It has been quite a bit of physical work for only a 16' x 22' and given what it won't have, it certainly wouldn't fit everyone's needs. It does have 12' walls which made things a little more difficult as are the 8/12 roof vs. something a little less steep but I can't imagine trying to throw up a 40' x 60' x 14' on my own with no equipment.

 

[manwithtools]

I'm looking at nearly $90 a sq. ft. for a smallish deck - 13 x 16. Materials have gone crazy in the last several months. This deck will have Azek decking and a pretty substantial pergola structure over the top (think 6x6's and 4x10's).

Also has aluminum railing and posts with stainless cable, so it's not a low budget job, but I never expected to spend nearly $18k on such a deck. I am paying to have it built as my back doesn't like me to do that work anymore.

 

[karoc]

What I don't understand is this,I can get a pole barn with slab built for 18K which is one of their kits as advertise on net. If I DIY the slab alone will cost me about 16K,its a strange market out there.This pic is from this morning

 

[LXCam]

What I don't understand is this,I can get a pole barn with slab built for 18K which is one of their kits as advertise on net. If I DIY the slab alone will cost me about 16K,its a strange market out there.This pic is from this morning

The only way this is possible given today’s pricing climate is they got a bunch on stock piled materials. When I was a contractor I would purchase certain materials by the load which significantly increased my margin.

 

[manwithtools]

What I don't understand is this,I can get a pole barn with slab built for 18K which is one of their kits as advertise on net. If I DIY the slab alone will cost me about 16K,its a strange market out there.This pic is from this morning

I'd like to hear the real price - after they come to your site and finish their upsell.

 

[67carl]

I'm looking at nearly $90 a sq. ft. for a smallish deck - 13 x 16. Materials have gone crazy in the last several months. This deck will have Azek decking and a pretty substantial pergola structure over the top (think 6x6's and 4x10's).

Also has aluminum railing and posts with stainless cable, so it's not a low budget job, but I never expected to spend nearly $18k on such a deck. I am paying to have it built as my back doesn't like me to do that work anymore.

I'm in a similar situation- add on to my existing floating deck a 12x12 area (deck is only about 12 inches off the ground) that will have a simple 3 sided BBQ structure with a single-slope metal roof. Pressure treated for the joists you can't see, common redwood for deck boards and Doug fir for the BBQ structure posts. My contractor finally had an opening but called and said the lumber prices went up more than 30%, making it far more costly than I'm comfortable with for something that isn't critical, so it's on hold for now. Unfortunately, I have fencing that can't wait as it won't survive winter and 2 neighbors who can't share the cost. 64 feet of redwood with a 12" PT kicker for $2500. $39 per LF. Yikes.

 

[Dustball]

What I don't understand is this,I can get a pole barn with slab built for 18K which is one of their kits as advertise on net. If I DIY the slab alone will cost me about 16K,its a strange market out there.This pic is from this morning

Seems that their standard reply about concrete in their contracts is "It states that Apache Buildings is not responsible for the outcome of the concrete."

https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/waskom/pr...apache-buildings-llc-1075-28114710/complaints

Are you willing to risk crappy concrete for your building?

 

[NORDFORD]

$50/sqft just isn’t reasonable unless you everything yourself. 1/2osb in my market is nuts. August 5th I got a new roof. We replaced 19 sheets at $13.95/sheet. Currently it’s $24.99 at the same store.