Couple Questions

lukachuki

For those who don't like to read I'll ask my question here at the beginning which references the first pic below.

Questions:

1. I need some recommendations on a company to make custom chimney caps. You can see the architects depiction in the below blueprint. I've googled but don't know one company from the other.
2. Anyone willing to help me decifer the international residential building code for foundations? The back wall on this house is going to be 11’ block walls and the architect has not provided a working foundation plan for me to work off of. I know I know why they don’t pour the foundation I have no idea. Just everything around here is concrete block. I have the 2006 book but am having a tough time figuring out what specs I need to meet. I went to the county inspections office and they weren’t to interested in revealing their ignorance in such matters.



Ok here's the story. As you can see from the shot of the blueprint submitted that this house is quite nice. I have been doing smaller jobs for this contractor for awhile now, small foundations, brick detail work, concrete, etc. He now gets this whopper and i'm his "mason". Well this house is a stretch for me without a doubt as I have only 1 mason right now. I have been using his little jobs for fillers between the moneymakers just to keep my guys busy. I have never attempted a job of this size and complexity, but I guess i’m game as he is willing to pay a very very nice price to get his work done. In casual conversation and after just basic surveying of the plans I told him that materials and labor might come out to close to $100,000 didn’t even bat an eye. If I am going to do it though I will do it right and now I need to figure up an accurate price.

I kinda feel like that guy awhile back who wanted to take on a big building in some place like new york and it quickly became apparent he was in way over his head. Well I am willing to be stretched but in no way am I willing to ruin my rep or do a piss poor job. Hey it’s just concrete block, rebar and concrete afterall.

Tim

Tscarborough

Superior Clay would be the chimney pot manufacturer you are looking for. I would not even begin to offer a bid until you have actual construction documents. You are a mason, not a structural engineer, and to put it bluntly, that ain't your job.

denick

Tim,

I would only second the words of Tscarborough.

__________________
Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

jvcstone

Looks like there is quite a bit of architectural stone on the job--columns, window and door surrounds.

I'd gather as much information as possible prior to either bidding or commiting to the job.

If you do go after it, you'll find your self growing. For me, that took me out of my comfort zone.

JVC

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John VanCamp
www.jvcstoneworks.com

lukachuki

Thanks for all the replies. I do respect your opinions and I prob. should tell the contractor for simple liability reasons that without an engineered plan set for the foundation I am not interested in this job.

The stone detailing work is cultured stone and I am just working off of a sq. foot price etc. It's kind of like the dilema that 6string was going through a couple of months ago. This is a contractor I would like to bend over backwards for as he has many many desirable hardscaping projects coming up with other unique and interesting houses he has contracts for.


On the other hand if I just could decipher the codebook then build it to international code standards I would think my butt would be covered in a dispute down the road. It would be easy to document and prove that code had been bet. I just need correct information in a format I can understand. Of course I would also work under a carefully worded contract as well.

How many of you have jumped into projects a little over your head and come out all right. (I am sure there are many horro stories as well) I am by nature a risk taker who kind of likes to learn to swim by jumping in and thrashing about a bit. So you can see this project has piqued my interest as it seems somewhat of a challenge. It also could prove to be fairly profitable. (Glass half full) or I suppose a real disaster. (glass half full)

Ever the optimist.



Hmm...I'm off to play poker

Tim

6stringmason

Hey luka, if the stone work is cultured then it seems you shouldnt have to worry about the engineering aspect of it. I would double check of course, but only an idiot of an architect would plan on using cultured as a load bearing or form of construction other than veneer itself. The brick themselves from my experience will either have to be cut to thickness by you, or ordered precut from the brickyard dealer. Some brick dont come pre slabbed though.

I will pm you with a price I charge per sq ft for cultured and always make good money on. That way noone is offended

Looks like a fun project.... Good luck and I hope you get it!

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Kamps Masonry & Concrete Countertop Design Green Bay, WI
920-680-3195
Visit our website @
http://www.concretecountertopsdesign.com/

stacker

i heard what you charge, 6 and im already offended! just kidding.i really wish i could get more money for sq ft here,but ppl simply wont pay it.i had a guy ask me about the price saturday nite at the moose lodge and when i told him it would run about 8-9 dollars a foot for mat/labor he just about filled his pants.i used to manufacture phoney stone and could sell it for 1.50 a ft if they ordered enough.but now with portland running close to 11 bucks a bag,things go up.i sold my molds for stone to my brother in law about 10 years ago and he makes it now.he is getting around 3 bucks a ft for stone now.

__________________
life is short,do your masonry naked!!
http://ok.local.yahoo.biz/knabemasonry/index.html

lukachuki

Seconding Tscarborough is usually a safe practice.

layem long

I start a job friday with real ...lick and stick stone ( 180 ft), that will pay me about 25 per foot labor......thats includes a cap on the three wall as well! I lay mostly brick and block, so when they want my stone they pay for it

Actually I dont care too muck for the sttone thing...to me there isnt that much skill involved, compared to the block and brick skills.

I could stay busy with the stone here , I am one of the cleanest around ....probably not the best but good....I just dont like it....to many women getting into it here, and that is a big turn off for me.



Before any of the stone guys get mad, that isnt an insult, I am only giving my opinion on how I feel