Need Some Opinions!

GoodHouse

I am meeting with two more drywall contractors tomorrow for more estimates. Heres my scenario: Commercial: Will be retail showroom
Its approx 1200 Sq Ft 5/8" Drywall to hang & finish. There are about 20 receptacle patches, old nail holes , marks, ripped paper in about a dozen areas where the cove base was ripped off. And a bit more repair work, i know hard to bid without seeing it. The walls are 14 ft high. There use to be a drop cieling and we ripped it out and want to leave the high cieling exposed. So the 1200 sq ft to hang is the remaining 5 ft from the top of the 9ft sheetrock to the cieling. There are a few obstacles such as 2 duct pipes, and a couple metal trusts. Dont get the wrong idea... not too many metal trusts because the end of the them angle up at the wall so only approx 6" x 6" has to be notched around at the cieling. Everything is solidly framed 24" OC.

Space is clean, on the first level, dumpster right outside the door. Person can start immediately. I am located in Connecticut if that matters...

The first couple of qoutes i got were around $4800 including materials. I have priced it out before i got any qoutes. Materials for the job are about 650 at cost from suppliers. So approx 4200 in labor for hang and finish? i just think it sounds high. Any opinions? Am i crazy? I am a flooring contractor and i do all types of jobs and this doesnt look that bad to me. But sounds like a lot of money.

Tim0282

Sure sounds high to Iowa prices. But never know on the repairs without seeing. Don't want to shoot my drywall buddies from another part of the country in the foot either.

Brockster

So hang and finish about 25to30 high sheets plus fixing where you yanked out the old ceiling plus a few more patches here and there?
You did not mention if they were suppose to paint nor did you mention if it was textured or smooth wall.
I would say $4,900 sounds fair.

Also, how do you want it finished to the exposed ceiling? Tear-away or fill and caulk? I may have to raise my price!

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CrazyTaper

I KNOW HOW TO BID-BUT THAT PRICE IS OUTRAGEOUS!

GoodHouse

The cieling is currugated metal. Open industrial/commercial feel. Just cut sheetrock straight to top. Someone suggested using J-Bead
The estimate is to hang and tape with 3 coats paint ready. No Painting.
There is no tear out. Everything is clean & ready for sheetrock.
A picture for an idea:

Tim0282

I've sure done more for less, unfortunately. But that does seem extreme. May be worth a drive to the east coast. Probably about 20 hours from Iowa.
How big of a hurry are you in???

Drywall1

Just get a couple more bids. If they are all the same then its probably fair. If three are the same and one guy is a thousand less...use him. Probably works at night and weekends..prob. no insurance...prob wont get it done in time frame you need.

The pics show no gravy work. A lot of scaffold work. That price is fair. Remod work always is. Hell do it yourself if there is that much money to be made.


You meet with the other drywallers today then? What is their price?

Nate

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Krieser Drywall
Krieser Insulation
www.KrieserDrywall.com

GoodHouse

I met with a total of 5 drywallers. 2 i have bids for 4800, 4900. 1 is a wacked out guy and dont really want to call him back. I am waiting on bids from the two others i met yesterday. I will make my decision after those bids.
Like i said, i am a flooring contractor, i deal with weird stuff all the time. But to give you a comparison, I can Supply 3/4" solid red oak, install it, sand it, and then finish it with 3 coats of poly for $5 a sq ft. The drywallers are here at the same price. I think thats pretty crazy. Wood, sand paper for machines, and poly are all MUCH more expensive than drywall, tape, mud.
In my opinion any legitimate drywaller should have a small rolling scafolding unit. I mean we are only talking a cieling less than 14' high here.
I am not trying to argue but rather understand this pricing. Btw Nate: your website is nice and your work seems top notch!
Remeber we are talking about 1200 Sq ft of drywall and taping. Any more thoughts? I think the pictures make the job look scary but its really not. There are very few obstructions. Just appears that way in the pic.

Brockster

No matter what you say Drywall1, this character thinks it's a gravy job. He should do it himself and see how easy it really is to work off a scaffold, hang and finish around metal ceiling joist, fix nail holes from the suspended ceiling, blend in old to new over the painted surface, fix torn paper, properly fix holes where outlets were removed and some other small repairs. Nothing scary there, piece of cake.
I'm sure he'll find some poor fool who knows not what he is getting into and bid it for cheaper. Will he be happy with the work performed, probably not but at least he saved some money.

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Tim0282

I agree with you Brockster. I think it is easier to furnish all the material and lay 2700 feet of flooring for five bucks a foot. I would switch occupations but I already have all of the drywall tools. That's a gravy job and if I picked up on the vibrations from this guy before bidding, I would probably bid 5800. just for some PIA charge.

Tim
The drywall contractor and could be flooring contractor

CrazyTaper

I would love to change occupations also. I already have "the TOOL."
CrazyTaper
The drywall contractor and should be exotic dancer.

GoodHouse

Wow such anemosity. I say again 1200 Sq Ft.
You guys are now on the high horse knocking my profession. You have no idea how i work, or what my company is, just that i said i am a flooring contractor comparing solid oak vs drywall? Dont try to compare purchasing solid oak and materials Vs drywall and mud. Lets get serious here. Then your talking about tools?? Dont even try to talk about how drywall tools are more expensive than flooring tools because you'd be wayyy out of your mind.

Back to the subject, i figure its a weeks work for 2 guys. 4200 for a weeks work plus materials is a bit high. Thats $100 an hour for hang and tape and you know very well theres no way this job will take 40 hrs for 1200 sq ft of drywall. I am all about fair wages, but I just believe I am getting high bids. Everywhere else i read, 35 cents a square to hang, 35 cents to tape. Even if they charge me a buck a square to hang and a buck a square to tape plus repairs i think thats more fair.

Tim0282

Now that is frightening!!!

GoodHouse

Maybe you all misunderstood me, the 5 a sq ft includes materials in the flooring scenario

Tim0282

Yep. Understood... 4 bucks per foot for drywall includes fixing the rest of the wall. Is drywall less glamorous then flooring. I guess... We should be paid less.
It takes more work to fix stuff than to do new. Just replace a portion of my floor in the middle of the room and make it perfect... please

Brockster

GO AWAY!

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Tim0282

Sorry Brockster
Didn't mean to annoy you
Tim

Brockster

Not you, .

Man it is cold out here! I'm trying to install shelves in my trailer for cornerbead, planks and ladders and have to keep coming in to warm up. I'm such a wuss.

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Capt-Sheetrock

Funny how other trades think we have only $100.00 in tools.

You asked for "opinions" but it seems the only opinions you want are the ones that say what you want to hear.

From the pics and the description, I think 4800 is a fair price (have to see it to know for sure)

I don't provide materials, tools, scaffolds,labor,etc just to brake even.

Without looking to verify, I'll bet I have more in drywall tools than you have in flooring tools

Tim0282

Bret looked cold while playing football earlier today. So I'm betting it is just cold there, it's not you being a wuss. My spell checker underlined wuss. I guess it doesn't know what that is...