Replace Deck Estimate

ChillaWatt

In a recent inspection by a pest control company, they recommended my aunt have her whole deck replaced. The sub-structure, after 25 years, is pretty much done. Some of the deck sits on a gravel base, but the outer edge near the rail posts sits about 4 feet above the ground, which is on a side of a hill.
The path around the pool and the bottom landing is about 550 sq. ft. Coming out of the house is a series of octagon landings, 4 steps and then a 3' x 13' walkway to that bottom landing. My question is how much should I charge her for labor to tear out the existing and replace with new redwood. Everything will have to be replaced except the footings, and until I look underneath it more closely some of them may need to be replaced, or new ones poured next to them.
We're gonna do all new landscape lighting as well.
I'm gonna have all the lumber delivered, which she'll write a check for. Just gonna do this on weekends or a few hours during the week if I have time.
I've attached some photos.
Thanks

Attached Thumbnails

     

send_it_all

Good luck getting that answer here. No one can tell you what you should charge, but IMO, if you can't be talked out of doing it, it should be less than an experienced deck guy would charge. You will need to add guard rails everywhere...esp. on the upper levels and the steps.

shazamyman

wow, thats a hell of a deck

if ya dont have experience with it take your time, that could turn out to be a frustrting venture, as well as rewarding

no one could come close to knowing what to charge without knowing the TOTAL square footage, plus if there is lighting in the deck, we know what type of wood redwood right?

Plus what type of design does she wants, railing etc, board dircection LOL alot of things are a factor, location...

Around these parts decks dont pay that much , unless ya get into higher end custom stuff even then ya have be quick with em.


you can use this as a guide http://www.improvenet.com/HomeOwner/ProjectTools/, but dont take it as gospel, heck have lowes come out and do an estimate too, but like the gentlemen said before me, id charge less, due to the lenghth of time your going to take to do it, and the fact if ya charge the same amount as a local contractor...she could just have them do it and have it done quick , right?

BuiltByMAC

She's your aunt, do it for cookies and the occasional meal!

I didn't realize decks were something low voltage contractors did...but hey, it's just a deck - how difficult can it be? Those dumb deck contractors would probably just overcharge her anyway, you're doing her a favor!

Mac

ETA: shazamyman, you speak of "around these parts" yet you don't have your location in your profile...care to be any more specific as to which part of the country you're in?

You did not just advise him to have Lowes come out and do an estimate, did you?

ChillaWatt

Talked out of doing it? Maybe I can have an "experienced" deck builder like yourself drive up here to Fair Oaks and you can do it. Don't worry, I've done my fair share of framing and concrete work in my life, I'll be taking my class b in the next couple of months. Maybe then I'll be as qualified as you. I've never worked for a fencing and decking company, but this deck would be rebuilt in the same manner, aside from the lighting I'm gonna add. I've heard rates being thrown around of $20-30 sq. ft., but that's with materials. She doesn't live far from me and since she is family I do get cookies and beer.

Bone Saw

$16-$18 should do it, at 20-30 you'll lose the job, good luck

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BuiltByMAC

Interesting, you come on here and within 5 posts, ask a "How much do I charge" question ... bonehead move #1.
Then, when folks suggest that you don't know what the hell you're doing (which is obvious because you don't know how much to charge for what you're doing) and maybe you should look at getting someone experienced out there, you throw attitude around... bonehead move #2.
But, since you've framed and worked concrete, you know how to build decks. OK, go to it, boy, you oughta know how much to charge then too...

If you've heard numbers like $20-30/sq. thrown around, they must be right. Have your aunt tell you how much the materials cost her, divide that by the square footage of the deck and subtract that number from 20 or 30. The result should work out j u s t fine for you as a sq. ft. labor rate.

(I myself just use a dartboard. Faster and less math involved.)

One last question - you're a DIY'er working for family on evenings and weekends... why on earth would you use a professional deck builder's rates?
Just charge $10/hr like all the other hacks and be done with it...

Mac

neolitic

If you don't know that you have
picked a tough one for a first deck
it only shows that you're gonna be
on a steep learning curve here.
Decks and outdoor stairs are a specialized
set of framing and trim requirements.
Since the one you are starting with
didn't last, and doesn't come up to
current codes, you need to start out with
some research.
this is a good place to start...
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/publications/decks/
Finally, there is no way that anyone could
come up with anything like a "square foot price"
for any thing as chopped up and complex as this.
Especially with so little information.
A custom project gets custom pricing.
Just figure out how much you love your aunt,
and how much you feel right to charge per hour,
go from there....
It will be a lot more hours than you think.
Tell us about it later.
Good luck.

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Chris G

I would say $17 a square foot. But you could save her some money and use nails, then I would say around $15. I also think you should go with composite decking if she has pest issues. That's a little more expensive, ($19/sq).

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neolitic

Sorry Mac, Bone...
Guess I'm just an old softy.

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Jason Whipple

If she's familly and you don't know how much to charge, do it by the hour.

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redwood

All I will say is that looks like a lot of deck boards to cope against those rocks. That in itself will probably double the labor to place the deck boards.

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Bone Saw

of course he could always get nailed at 9 every weeknight and probably find the answers we are all seeking

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ChillaWatt

Interesting, you come on here and within 5 posts, ask a "How much do I charge" question ... bonehead move #1.
Why is it a bonehead move? Because I’ve only posted 5 times since joining 2 years ago(a month after you did.) Or is it an unwritten rule? Don’t think so. That’s part of what this forum is about. A place where like-minded people can seek knowledge. I asked a question and expected to get expert opinions. And most people have done that. I don’t expect to get chastised or called names.
Then, when folks suggest that you don't know what the hell you're doing (which is obvious because you don't know how much to charge for what you're doing) and maybe you should look at getting someone experienced out there, you throw attitude around... bonehead move #2.
Good thing you're not the mod on this board!

But, since you've framed and worked concrete, you know how to build decks. OK, go to it, boy, you oughta know how much to charge then too...
You can’t say I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. You don’t know me…boy.

If you've heard numbers like $20-30/sq. thrown around, they must be right. Have your aunt tell you how much the materials cost her, divide that by the square footage of the deck and subtract that number from 20 or 30. The result should work out j u s t fine for you as a sq. ft. labor rate.

(I myself just use a dartboard. Faster and less math involved.)
Best advice you’ve given.

One last question - you're a DIY'er working for family on evenings and weekends... why on earth would you use a professional deck builder's rates?
Just charge $10/hr like all the other hacks and be done with it...
I admit that decking isn’t my speciality. I wasn’t gonna charge her the ‘top rate’ and never said I was. I’d make adjustments to the going rate, along with the family discount.
My question obviously had a disparaging effect on you.

Mac

Bone Saw

like minded

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BreyerConstruct

My .02?

Tell her you'll treat her right, and that you'll do it for T+M.
She buys the materials, and you'll do it as you have time, at a 25% discount from your normal rate.
Now you've got filler work.

however, consider bringing in someone else to confirm the proper framing for your local code & limitations, so that you don't carry the liability... and let her know that.

Lastly, make sure you get a permit, and do everything legal. A surprise in 5 years could put a hurting on the family, and it's just not worth it.

HTH,
~Matt

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John Hyatt

John<<<< geting Major Grins!!!!!! Asking how much to charge for a Job over here is as silly as a goat humping a mule. J.

BuiltByMAC

Dude, you are crackin' me up! We not only get a "How much do I charge?" but also a "Going Rate" - all in the same thread! All you need to do now is ask about Beam sizes and spans and you'll have hit the holy trinity of dumb-ass questions!

Neo, no need to apologize - everyone gets to answer how they want! For whatever reason, these freakin' threads set me off - I go from mild-mannered deck guy to full-blown asshole in 3 seconds flat!

Chilla, we're not like minded. Paul, over in landscape lighting, is your kind of like minded. At least, professionally speaking. Had you come in here and asked about how long it took to do something, what methods we use to scribe boards to rocks, how others run their fascia, best methods of demolition, ya know, something like that, this thread would've been a lot more civil.

You asked a "How much $" question and "expected to get expert opinions." Huh? For free? If I wandered into the excavation forum and asked, how much to dig a big hole, I'd get my head torn off...and would deserve it. And I've even been an active member for the past couple a years. Active means I take part in discussions, provide my insights into other's problems, ask my own questions to promote better construction methods (for myself and others) - you've been a member for as long as me but you've lurked the whole time. Nothing wrong with lurking, there's a lot of information here.

But if you've been here for two years, don't you have even a small clue as to how a question such as yours will be treated?

Mac

genecarp

this thread is crackin me up, you would think we where involved with curing cancer, WE ARE CARPENTERS GUYS, CONTRACTORS... is anything said here really worth getting bent about, so what someone asks a dumb questions, by someones standards, life is to short, i wouldnt care if someone asked which end of the hammer to use, i would either laugh, or answer, depending on the mood i was in.

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Jason Whipple

Funny thing is, if you ask a electrician for ANY help here, they tell you to hire a qualified electrician! Ask a painter, same thing and down the line.

Bad question for sure. Maybe ask about techniques or how to next time and then figure out how long that will take you. If you still can't figure it out, then then you just shouldn't do it!

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