Garage build

[Fomoco9606]

Been trying to get started on building 26x30 garage. Had contractors out, called foundation companies, floor guys electricians can't get answers. Entire construction industry is a joke. Ready to build and no one can get back to me with anything. They say they'll get back to me and never do.

 

[barks]

It may be you rather than the industry. Construction is one of the largest segments of the American economy.

 

[pauls340]

The Construction Industry is not really a "joke", we/I am busier now than I have been in my entire career. Period. My daughter just got three quotes for a 15 x 25 deck; $9K, $13K & $15K. My theory is their so busy, quote stupid high and if they're stupider to pay it, they will fit you in.

 

[Garagetime]

Need to be patient. Anyone that's any good is going to be very busy. I had a chimney built about 6 years ago. It took about 3 weeks to get all quotes back. From the hand full I called that could do it. The rest had no time booked out. I could have done it myself, but I too had no time to deal with it.

 

[Fomoco9606]

I know I need patience. Just something I've been wanting for a long time now it's time and getting nowhere fast.

 

[matt_i]

Keep in mind if contractors can build structures @ $125+/sq ft they are going to prioritize that over structures that owners are trying to keep under $30/sq. ft.

If you have no plans then it makes it even harder for subs to bid accurately if they also have to do part of the design on the fly and might get trapped under a job with lots of "unknowns" they could ultimately be responsible for. Get accurate drawings made and I think your life will get easier.

If you have questions, get a mobile phone and start taking pictures, find a place to host them (eg Flickr) and this great forum has a ton of advice on all aspects of the building process.

 

[DblDog]

Hurricane Harvey and impending Irma and Jose storms are going to have a major effect on the building industry in coming months...the recovery effort is going draw contractors nationally and will increase the demand for materials. I think construction costs are going to be rising significantly...
Finding local help is always difficult and it will get worst for quite a while...
Hate to sound gloomy and I empathize with those who have to experience these events.

Best to get your plans ready and have a permit in hand, as well as finances.

My thoughts are with those on the gulf states

 

[Falcon67]

As above - better get on with materials now, because staple items like OSB and 2x4s are likely to skyrocket in price. OSB is $13.45 now at HD, when I built it was $8.

 

[Kaizen]

I have to agree with OP. I called 8 concrete companies when I was starting to get some quotes. I knew exactly what I needed and gave all the same info. only 3 actually called me back. That's just bad business. Their prices were 4-9k above what it should have been. All 3 claimed they couldn't start till 2018. Luckily I got a local guy at a reasonable price.
No construction company wants to deal with a garage imo unless it goes with a 500k house your building. No one is starving for work. If you get a guy that you don't know out there quick i'd be worried.

 

[1jeepfan]

I had a similar experience, I feel your pain. builders in my area were/are crazy busy and no one wanted more work, especially just a shop. I found a 'contractor 5 hours away. The builders in that area were not as busy and were willing to travel a little. In the end, I hired out my own excavation and concrete work. The out of town guy hired subs for the framing, siding, exterior paint, and the roof. I'll do the rest.

It would have been nice to get a 'turn key' shop, but that just wasn't going to happen anytime soon. So, maybe look at hiring from an nearby area that's not in a building frenzy, or start pulling together subs and be your own general.

Good luck!

 

[396foxRN]

same situation here. I either get no callback, or they come and never get back with me, or give me a stupid quote. I was just showing pics of what I wanted at first, then my wife thought I may have better luck if her brother did some CAD drawings for me to give to them, and even that didnt help. All I wanted was a simple 24x28 with an attic storage room. no drywall, no insulation, and leave the wiring for me to do. Either no callback, or quotes from $37K to $65K. Building it myself will take forever, but that may be my last option.

 

[larry4406]

Wow - same story here!

I build high end production homes for a living (10 currently under construction) and my subcontractors are wide open, hard to keep them on schedule.

I have had my personal garage permit since end of April 2017 and have been jerked around by 3 of the concrete companies that work on my job; the main contractor gave me a go away price of at least 2x while the other two strung me along for weeks/months regarding when they could get to me.

Finally I made a cash deal with one of the sub crews. Been kinda of a pain in the *** but the concrete pour will finish later this morning - I had to rent the mini-excavator, supply the form boards, purchase the concrete direct, supply and use my own transit to ensure level, etc...

Next will be either framing it myself or working a deal with my framing crew.

 

[wcp0611]

A digression, but the form boards comment reminded me of how **** hurt my concrete guy, who like you took foooorrrreeeevvvvveeeerrrr to actually do the job, got when I told him that I'd buy the form boards but he's eating their cost with the last payment I made him.