Acoustical Ceiling

NSolano

What are you guys rates in the DC metro area when it comes to acoustical ceilings?? I am assuming you charge by the square foot. Could you give me pricing for 2x2 and 2x4 grids?
Also do you put drywall on and then the grid and acoustical ceiling, someone told me thats how they do it, but I prefer feedback from people in the business. thanks.

Mud Master

HELL NO. I've NEVER put drywall above the acoustical ceiling, EVER. Now Armstrong does make a grid system than you can attach over a ceiling if you don't want to tear it out. But no, the angle molding gets attached to the walls, you attach your hanger wire to the joists and your mains, and than measure out for your cross tees.

As far as pricing, I never price per SF for commercial, it's all T&M. Theres just to much work that goes into doing the ceiling, I wouldn't make any money if I did it by SF, unless I was just going to slop it togeather. Maybe someone else on the site does it by SF if all thier doing is the main's and cross tees. but I never have, and my main business is commercial Metal Framing,Drywall/Finishing,and Acoustics.

But I hope I was of SOME help, good luck!

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NSolano

I see that you do mainly commercial work dealing with metal studs and such. If you don't mind me asking, what projects have you worked in around the area? Also, do the contractors hire you directly or are you hired by another bigger subcontractor?
I am in the residential business around here, but I am considering trying to jump into commercial. I am just wondering what are the ups and downs of the commercial sector.

Mud Master

I have always prefered commercial to residential. Now I do still hang and finish custom homes and additions, but I mainly stick to commercial. The pay is better and everything on prints(not that some residential isn't), and that is what is done. your not trying to build off the back of a napkin and the job doesn't get changed around 500x. There are change orders, but thier minimal. Plus I prefer dealing with builders and contractors over homeowners anyday.

I usually don't get sub-ed out by a sub, it's rare. I have a good group of builders I work with on a normal basis, both commercial and new residential builders, some in the Washington area. They keep me pretty damn busy, so I don't have alot of time to entertain the idea of working for anyone else. Not that I wouldn't, if the right job came along. I also do a good amount of Government work.

I did all the Master Cuts in the Baltimore/Washington area for Mark Eberhardt Contracting. I do all the tenant build outs for Manekin Construction. I do alot of homes in Annapolis and inner DC for MJK Build. We worked along side Manganaro Midatlantic to do the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington DC, spent an entire year on that one. Also did the American Red Cross in Rockville,MD. I did the Giant Food in Landover,MD. I did most of the fit-ups for the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center for Turner Construction in Bel-Air. Um, did all the fit-ups @ forest03 and forest06 for CSG Commercial Builders in Columbia,MD.

It goes on, i've been at this for awhile, but those are some notable projects in your area. I've done many more but I have never been one to boast about what i've done.

If I were you i'd try to get into the commercial arena. As far as downsides there not any different than working residential, except the schedules are a little tighter. But I would definetly at least entertain the idea. if you want to be a general contractor, try to attract the Construction Managment companies. If you have a specialty, than try to market that to a General Contractor.

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