Am I being raped??? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

DesPro · 11-02-2006, 05:20 PM

I recently hired a flooring company to pour a custom shower base on a bath remodel job. They have been after me to give them a try so i agreed. The job was an alcove shower base 48" x 54" with a 5" x6" curb. Also had a poured diag shower seat 24"x 24" metal form. This pour was on slab and all rough framing and blocking was done by me. I provided the 2" x 2" shower floor tile.

Their scope of work was to pour the base, install liner,pour seat, and install shower floor tile. They had to do a double pour bc the adj shower drain from the previous base was set @ 2" above the orig slab to the shower drain flange. I would say they had about 130.00 in materials and 5-6 hours labor.

Today I recieved their bill for $ 1,602.00. Needles to say , I was shocked. Any feedback will be greatly apprediated.

By the way, This is south central Pa and competition is pretty fierce.

Thanks in advance for any input.

dayspring · 11-02-2006, 05:35 PM

It appears that you are in the Kitchen and Bath business. Have you not had any of this type work done before? I would think that you would be familiar with local pricing for the job at hand.

In my opinion, If you failed to get a price on paper, estimate & contract, before the work started, you can't yelp too much. Always check the depth of the water before diving in!

Melissa · 11-02-2006, 05:41 PM

It doesn't really sound high to me. Where are you located? And I agree with Dayspring, you need to get prices in advance before they start the work.

mdshunk · 11-02-2006, 05:44 PM

DesPro... I'm in Chambersburg also. Who'd you hire?

I don't know about fierce competition, though. For kitchens and baths, (other than Lowe's and the general remodeling crowd) it's you and Shirley Duffy, the way it seems. Maybe you should just buy her a dinner.

Considering a buddy's shower in Fayetteville just came to 20K, I'd say 1600 bucks ain't bad by comparison.

Mike Finley · 11-02-2006, 05:56 PM

When you say 'pour' do you really mean pour as in concrete poured into forms or are you talking about a mud job?

$1600 could be high if your sub-contractor agreement said less than that. It would be low if your agreement said higher than that. What figures did you agree on before the job? None? Then it sounds pretty damn good from what it could have been.

DesPro · 11-02-2006, 06:56 PM

I understand what you mean w/ pricing before hand. I have done similar jobs previously with other companies. My reg sub couldn't meet the time frame.

This company's original bid was $800.00 with them supplying the shower floor tile. The only difference was the sub pour of 2" of conc to bring the floor up to the shower membrane flange. This was not a mud set , but redimix 60# bags of concrete. $800.00 just seems like alot for adding 2" of concrete. Also I supplied the porcelain mosaic tile.

You're right though. A handshake and a contract aren't the same.

Thanks to all for your input.

Woz the Painter · 11-02-2006, 07:40 PM

My question is how much did you figure for this portion of the job in the total cost to the customer? Did you figure it at more or less than the $1600.00? Why did'nt you call this sub and ask him to give you a price on the 2 inch sub pour?

dirt diggler · 11-02-2006, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woz the Painter

My question is how much did you figure for this portion of the job in the total cost to the customer?

ditto

Mike Finley · 11-02-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesPro

This was not a mud set , but redimix 60# bags of concrete. $800.00 just seems like alot for adding 2" of concrete. Also I supplied the porcelain mosaic tile.

Didn't know anybody actually did that. Anyways, good luck from here on out, you know what to do from now on, just get something in writing. Every job I do even repeat subs I ask them an estimate of the cost in writing and they still have to sign a new sub-contractor agreement. My insurance company requires one with each job so I'm forced to get it in writing even if I didn't want to.

DesPro · 11-02-2006, 09:56 PM

My bid to the customer was for less than the 1600.00 which I will be able to re coup because I do have an "unforseen" clause in all my contracts with the customer. This was just a situation that didn't allow me the additional time to negotiate and ultimately possible re scheduling the other trades involved. In reality any delays and the domino effect would have cost me much more. I had anticipated a possible 250.00 max so the 800.00 just came as a surprise. Lesson Learned.

POOLMANinCT · 11-02-2006, 10:27 PM

well they quoted a days work 800
had to come back pour again guess thats the next 800

cement and sand isnt the money maker as we know its the labor. turning cement & sand into a shower...

pay have a talk w/ and keep on back burner for when your jammed up
ray

dayspring · 11-03-2006, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesPro

Lesson Learned.

I suppose we all learn our lesson(s) about the importance of paper! I know I have. Bright-side: It could have been worse. And Welcome to the forum, by the way!

go dart · 11-06-2006, 03:03 PM

1600.00? includes corner seat. lets say the seat was 250.00. 1350.00 for 30 sq ft of shower pan (45.00 per sq ft) shoot i'd pay that all day long w/ no complaints as long as it was well done.

kidcurry · 11-07-2006, 09:42 AM

I can not believe you hade no contract so now you pay!!!

c.c.co. · 11-12-2006, 09:23 PM

Sounds to me like your sub in trying to overcharge you for the change order. If there are any changes on my job it is written with the customer and usually verball with the subs. What the sub and I talk about as far as price goes then that is what I pay. Subs are told they must get approval from me before undertaking any work that may raise job cost.