dvlscapes

Ok, may be doing our first french door install. Well It may actually be a slider because of limited inswing space. I would install an outswing to the new patio we will be constructing but I heard bad things about them.
More specifically there is a double window, 6' wide we will be removing and replacing with the door. There is also a single 3' door we will be replacing with a new window. 1 electrical outlet to move and probably no plumbing in the way. (I have experience doing plumbing and electrical if need be) The interior is drywall and the exterior is vinyl siding.

Questions:

If the house has standard 8' ceilings there is virtually no chance of having to do header work and pull a permit, right?

I feel I have a pretty firm grasp on the material costs for a job like this but the labor I am really in the dark on. Anybody have a ballpark time est to help me?

My best guess would be 3 days w 2 guys to remove the existing double window, install the new door, trim work and cleanup. I figure the door to window conversion would be another 2 days with two men. I will probably add on another half day for misc stuff since this is our first one. How does this sound? Too many hours, too few?

Patrick

sounds like a one day job for everything altogether unless you have to paint.

We always pull permits for our work

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

Meetre

Depends. Is the window header height the right height for you door? same for the door to window swap. have you pulled the trim and checked the height to make sure? are you doing the trim and fixing siding? how about drywall? you have to move the outlet you said, and the patch under the new window. are you painting or staining materials? doing the finishing before with touch-ups or everything finished after install. are you SURE there is nothing funky in the walls you may run into? how good are you at patching in vinyl siding? maybe a picture would help. could be a day, could be a week.

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BuriedHammer

Probably correct.

I would check with your local building department on that one.

I think you're okay with this estimate since you don't know 100% what you will run into.

The way I would approach this: Figure it like you did, 5 days+ just to cover your ... er... contingencies. But, on your quote, DO NOT INDICATE "days x $$$/day = $$$." Just give a flat price. Then, if Patrick is right and you slam it in one day, you and your boy are in fat city....

DavidC

On the permit your best bet is to ask the AHJ in your area. Here you'd be ok if you don't alter the framing to make the opening bigger. Window to smaller window or door to smaller door, no permit. But window to door means you will remove (alter) the sill framing at least. Permit required.

I would figure 2 man days each opening and throw in an extra for safety. (The estimator might disagree) So my quote would be for 5 man days and I would have two men working. One for each opening and each would help the other with the lifting.

And I agree with BuriedHammer, one bottom line price that includes everything. Don't forget that you recoup your overhead by marking up.

Good Luck
Dave

Thanks for not asking how much.

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OK, rant if you must. For the love of Pete, use paragraphs and spell check.

dvlscapes

Ok thanks for all the imput. I will base my est on 5 days with 2 men and maybe tak on a couple hundred for misc stuff which I know I will be runnning into. By the way he wants to go with a slider now...I figure If anything they are easier to install.