Radiant heat boiler/system installation quote - does this seem reasonable?

[sevensandeights]

I posted this in my other thread but I figured it was more appropriate to start a new one.

I got my quote yesterday -$7300.

Here is the breakdown:
Buderus GB142-30 (this is the only item that he quotes a price for at $4500 but pexsupply.com has it for $3800 with free shipping)
2 copper manifolds with 1/2" valves
Air purger with expansion tank
Misc. copper piping and fittings
Pro 5000 thermostat
Grundfus circulator
45' of 1" pipe to connect the main gas line in the basement to the stub pipe that goes to the garage
Labor

Does this sound reasonable? Boiler price is a little high but otherwise I don't know where to start evaluating this bid.

 

[Steves32]

We don't do boilers here so can't comment on the bid price but I will comment on boiler price.
Remember one thing. If you buy the boiler yourself from pexsupply.com & you have issues- your beef won't be with the installing contractor, it will be with pexsupply.com. He didn't furnish it, so he won't warranty it. The savings of an online purchase could bite you down the road. Or not. Your call.
Perhaps get a 2nd bid for comparison. Make sure they are bidding apples to apples.

 

[sevensandeights]

I totally agree with you - reliability and future service are very important to me.

I don't mind him making a little off the materials but $700 on just the boiler seems like a bit much. He doesn't sell nearly as many a pexsupply though so his cost is likely a little more.

I am waiting to hear back about another quote but he is using a different boiler.

 

[honcho]

I think it's high, but then virtually all residential HVAC quotes seem high to me. This is just for the boiler and it's installation to the pex already in the floor? If so, it seems very high, if it includes putting in the radiant loop, it seems more reasonable. One thing is Buderus makes good stuff. Well worth the $$$.

 

[sevensandeights]

PEX is already in the floor. Price includes two 8 circuit manifolds and connection/installation of the parts listed above. I already ran 1.25" poly gas line between my house and the barn. The poly gas line is stubbed through my foundation wall at the house and just needs to be connected to the gas line that is in my basement (wide open and easy to work in space). The poly gas line is also stubbed through the barn foundation and I ran 3/4" pipe and electric to where the boiler will be.

The pipe in the barn I ran should have been 1" but it's too late for that now.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

PEX supply does not pay workman's comp, nor overhead for license, tools, truck, training, liability insurance etc. etc. etc.

Selling condensing boiler (which will not be covered under warranty in almost every case) is unethical at best. Only trained professionals should install and service condensing boilers and they cost money no matter where you are.

 

[danski0224]

I posted this in my other thread but I figured it was more appropriate to start a new one.

I got my quote yesterday -$7300.

Here is the breakdown:
Buderus GB142-30 (this is the only item that he quotes a price for at $4500 but pexsupply.com has it for $3800 with free shipping)
2 copper manifolds with 1/2" valves
Air purger with expansion tank
Misc. copper piping and fittings
Pro 5000 thermostat
Grundfus circulator
45' of 1" pipe to connect the main gas line in the basement to the stub pipe that goes to the garage
Labor

Does this sound reasonable? Boiler price is a little high but otherwise I don't know where to start evaluating this bid.

Your question provides zero useful information with which to provide a guess.

Equipment pricing should never be "broken out" to avoid meaningless comparisons like the one you are making.

I know someone that did a boiler repipe (primary/secondary) and added a zone panel for underfloor radiant, and materials alone were $3k wholesale.

That number does not include a boiler.

Honestly, I would guess that your number is low for a job done properly.

Good luck.

 

[brewchief]

If it is a simple one zone system I'd say the price is pretty close.

There is a lot of time in putting a system together like that, more then many expect, do it right and it will work well for years, do it wrong and you will spend twice the time and money getting it right or you will give up and tell everybody that infloor heat really isn't a very good idea.

FWIW I will not use an "air purger", a spiralvent works far, far better.

 

[sevensandeights]

I am not sure how else to evaluate a bid other than time and materials. In this job it looks like the "materials" are costing me about $6k. That means "time" or "labor" is about $1100. $1100 is a equivalent to three 8 hour days worth of labor at $50 an hour.

Like I said in the very first post, I know nothing about the materials or what is involved in installing the system. It is easy to say just do some research and figure it out but it's difficult to sort through the company literature BS from the anonymous single experience internet review BS. I would rather find a reputable local installer and benefit from his years of experience with the products and systems. The problem is that only 2 people were recommended to me in my area.

It is a one zone system.

 

[tdkkart]

PEX supply does not pay workman's comp, nor overhead for license, tools, truck, training, liability insurance etc. etc. etc.

Selling condensing boiler (which will not be covered under warranty in almost every case) is unethical at best. Only trained professionals should install and service condensing boilers and they cost money no matter where you are.

Pex Supply claims to employ 55 people, you think they have no overhead costs?? I'll bet they do, and for that matter I bet they know a fair amount more about most of their products than some high and mighty internet forum warrior.

Some day you'll realize that you're not the only one capable of designing and installing a radiant heat system that works just fine.

 

[danski0224]

I am not sure how else to evaluate a bid other than time and materials. In this job it looks like the "materials" are costing me about $6k. That means "time" or "labor" is about $1100. $1100 is a equivalent to three 8 hour days worth of labor at $50 an hour.

You can have time and materials done poorly, correctly or anywhere inbetween.

Unfortunately, evaluating the job based on the total is the wrong way to do it.

How it is put together is what matters.

The *only* way your method will work is if a equipment schedule and piping diagram is provided to the contractors for bid.