Foundation & Flatwork cost

[Will67]

A perspective concrete contractor just dropped off his bid...I about had a heart-attack. Tell me what you think

The proposed work is the foundation and flatwork for a 40' by 24' garage and the foundation for an adjoining bathroom 11' by 8'. Bathroom will adjoin current house to garage. The foundation of the garage is 12" below grade and 8" above grade with 8" width. Bathroom is same but ~12-18" above grade.

The estimate i got was $25,000
The contractor listed:
Construct foundation as per plans
All materials needed to complete foundation to specs provided
lay out footings of foundation to be excavated
excavate footings for foundation (contractor not responsible for spoils created)
Set forms and install necessary reinforcement to accommodate foundation lay out
Contractor to supply pumps telebelt to finish project
pour footings and stem walls accordingly, install hardware (layout to be performed by others)
construct proper base/underlayment for garage
place & finish garage slab

EXCLUSIONS:
drainage
site grading
flatwork
hammering rock
rockbase exceeding 4"
waterproffing
backfill


Is this reasonable? I was estimating $14-18K. I am in Sacramento California if that helps.

 

[wilbilt]

Is this reasonable? I was estimating $14-18K. I am in Sacramento California if that helps.

Yikes. I am an hour north of you and was comtemplating a 30'x40'. I was thinking $4K or so for the slab.

Gravel can make a nice floor, right? If it's packed?

 

[bluesman2a]

I paid about $4800 for my 18X25 mono-slab with tunrdowns. It is 6" thick, 3000 PSI, vapor barrier, with rebar, it has a 6" X 6" curb all the way around it, and 2 3X3 caissons 2' deep for the lifts. That price also included a 3' wide sidewalk about 50' long. That was forms, site work, and the whole deal. All in all about 600SF.

Your quote seems quite excessive. For your size, assuming your stem-walls aren't excessive, I would look in the 8-10K range.

 

[Will67]

When I opened the bid...I about soiled my pants. I have four other bids out that I am witting on. I just hope this is the contractors way of saying i don't want to do this job. There is nothing in my opinion out of the ordinary with maybe the exception of the matching the exisiting homes foundation height for the bathroom addition. My site is realively flat too.

 

[xrayman]

Sounds outrages to me. Here in Missouri that would set you back about $6500. Have you considered doing it yourself?

 

[Will67]

Xrayman: If the rest of my bids come in above 14K, then Yes I will do it myself. I just wanted to jump start my garage construction dream. I submitted my plans to the County back in May this year and just got them on 12/10/2007 (don't ask its a long story). I really, really wanted to get going before it began raining...too late.

 

[Dustoff 35]

Sounds high but then again, California, right? Foundation work for my 30 x 44 detached was;

$6200 excavation, footings & foundation work
$2000 Flatwork
$ 800 rebar
$5000 concrete (60 yards total)

The foundation is pretty substantial too, a lot of excavating, big back wall.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13513

 

[6768rogues]

Your introduction says it includes flatwork but the estimate excludes flatwork. It is a high price for both, and rediculous for not including flatwork.

 

[Will67]

Thanks for all the replys.

I feel like calling this contractor and telling him to F-off and put down the crack pipe, but I will just throw out his bid. I calculated all the concrete in the slab, footings and stem walls to be at 25.26 cubic yards. So this bid is $961 per yard.

 

[mike944]

I think this is the contractor's way of saying "i don't really want to do this job, but if you're willing to pay me this exorbatant amount of money, how could i refuse it."

Either that, or he's hoping that he's the only guy you called, and have absoultely no idea how much that the work should cost.

Around here, if you're just a regular guy, and not a general contractor, you'll get quotes all over the place, ranging from "normal prices" up to 3 and 4x the normal price. They don't like dealing with one-off's. They'd rather work with someone who will give them other work down the road.