Kitchen Plans

rokosz

I've got my first project that includes a kitchen gut, resize and remodel. Haven't bid the entire job yet because I'm stuck on the Kitchen. The bid plans just have a footprint with fridge doors, island, 2 sinks, cooktop visible.
No obvious idea of exactly how many base or wall cabinets there'll be.

The HO has no clue at this point of exactly how many drawers, bases, walls etc. they're going to have.

Are Kitchens (like this one) one wherre I should just look at the general layout and assign $/sf (or cf?!). I'm already going to ask the HO to commit to a preliminary list of appliances (eg 2nd oven, warming drawer). Think that's a good idea? How do the big guys handle estimating a Kitchen without firm design plans?

Thank you for any input you guys can offer

JonM

Tell the HO the cabinets could take 6 to 8 weeks to get delivered...so they need to s**t or get off the pot...

Bob Kovacs

Are they expecting you to design the cabinet arrangement as part of your bid? If not, I'd just include an allowance for cabinets, and specify the number of boxes you expect, as well as the accessories (crown, light rail, etc) so you can calculate labor off of that. If they end up with a more elaborate layout later, you've then got an out to adjust your pricing.

SF pricing only works for roofing, siding, etc- and then only if you've got extensive cost data from past projects- using SF pricing for kitchen remodels will certainly earn you an orange apron and a job saying "liquid nails is in aisle 7".

angus242

Cabinet prices are compared by linear footage.

I add 10% to my bid for design services.Covers either my time or a sales person's commission (8.25%)

rokosz

yes, I remember seeing a linear foot price example at the big orange box. But I don't recall how that works with bases and walls boxes.-- And that's where the # boxes comes in good. Excellent. thanks folks.

An allowance sounds good too. Amazing how useful those things are.

ChrWright

An allowance is only as good as what it's based on.

You need a little more guidance from your client as to their overall budget (if you don't already have it) and the kind of cabinets they have in mind: specie, manufacturer, custom vs. stock, etc.

The budget drives everything.

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Christopher Wright, CR: President @ WrightWorks, LLC/President @ Central Indiana NARI, Named to the 2010 REMODELING Big50
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D MAN

In My Opinion, A Kitchen Remodel Is The Ideal Time To Use The $/sf Method. You Are Right About Needing To Know Appliances, And What quality Of Cabinets, Countertops, Flooring And Fixtures.