Contractor Talk - Construction and Remodeling Site
CLICK HERE AND JOIN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY...IT'S FREE!
Go Back   Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum > Trade Talk > Excavation & Site Work

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 06-29-2009, 09:06 PM   #1
Vagitarian
 
rino1494's Avatar
Trade: site and utility contractor
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Dallas, PA
Posts: 2,323
Send a message via AIM to rino1494
Where are we going ??

Bid a new 4,000 sq ft house. Dig stumps and haul out, burn brush from loggers mess. Dig, backfill, stone footers, drain tile, silt fence, install 330' of electric conduit, and 230' of 1.25" pressure sewer line, finish grade and stone driveway. $20,000

Some clown beat me for a price of $9,000.

__________________
Life is hard. It is harder when you are stupid

Uncle Sam wants YOU....to speak ENGLISH
rino1494 is offline   Reply With Quote
Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury or death. ContractorTalk.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any construction or remodeling task!

Join Contractor Talk

Join the #1 Contractor Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

ContractorTalk.com - Are you a Professional Contractor? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's the leading place for contractors to meet online. No homeowners asking DIY questions. Just fellow tradesmen who enjoy talking about their business, their trade, and anything else that comes up. No matter what your trade is you'll find that ContractorTalk.com is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free!

Join ContractorTalk.com - Click Here JOIN FOR FREE

Old 06-29-2009, 09:59 PM   #2
Pro
Trade: Excavation, land clearing, sewer/water
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 161
Wow..... Sounds like someone wants to buy work pretty bad! 9K? Thats crazy talk.
Williams Ex Co is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Williams Ex Co For This Useful Post:
nEighter (07-21-2009)
Old 06-30-2009, 09:35 AM   #3
Member
Trade: septic installer, site work
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vermont
Posts: 67
I feel your pain, I got called to bid on fixing a H.O's mess, he dropped an acres worth of trees haphazardly. Job was to buck em sort em and stack for the log truck, then stump the acre (roughly 90 stumps), and grade level for an arena. I lost the job to someone who was willing to do it for 1200.00 plus buy wood for 50/chord.
guyute65045 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2009, 03:14 PM   #4
Contractor
 
tgeb's Avatar
Trade: Excavation, Foundation, Concrete
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,983
Well lets hope we can all outlast the low ballers, (they won't last long at those prices).

I cut some of my rates to make sure I landed a recent project, I am glad I have the work, but I do regret the discount, it makes it tough to provide the level of service that I customarily do.
__________________
Tom

www.gebcon.com
tgeb is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to tgeb For This Useful Post:
nEighter (07-21-2009)
Old 06-30-2009, 05:16 PM   #5
Pro
Trade: Excavation Contractor
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 142
Quote:
Originally Posted by tgeb View Post
Well lets hope we can all outlast the low ballers, (they won't last long at those prices).

I cut some of my rates to make sure I landed a recent project, I am glad I have the work, but I do regret the discount, it makes it tough to provide the level of service that I customarily do.
Isn't that the truth I have been sharpening my pencil tighter in order to meet lower budgets for seemingly larger projects. The only way I can get it to where it needs to be is by doing less hand holding, and putting more of the leg work onto the customer. The drawback is that most of the legwork doesn't get done and if you want to get the project going you end up doing it for free My equipment rates are still right up there and I am keeping busy, but I am learning how to stick to the contract more without doing "extras" for free........there used to be room to throw in that extra half hour clearing brush "on my way out". Not anymore if I can help it, since I need to be back on the trailer and on my way to another paying job so that I can feed my family and maybe enjoy one day off a week Hang in there guys, if you view your skills as a trade and charge for it, you'll do all right I believe.
cexcavation is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2009, 08:49 PM   #6
Registered User
Trade: site contractor
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4
Man and i thought you were giving it away at 20,000
Heimy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2009, 09:53 PM   #7
Registered User
Trade: Land Clearing-Site work
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 7
We always get what we pay for! I am sure he will be calling when he is stuck in the peagravel on his driveway! LOL..
D-Excavator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2009, 08:43 PM   #8
Member
Trade: Excavation
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Mass
Posts: 63
I have given only 10 estimates this year to date. Only got 1 out of 10. These are the guys beating me:
1. Guy does excavation & foundation. Doesn't do any utility hook ups.
Bunch of illegals on his crew. Site looks like a bomb hit it after he
leaves.
2. Guy has bunch of young guys working. Doesn't pay them much. He was
doing sewer connection in busy road. In sandy material he used
2 sheets of plywood with 2x4 across in a 10' deep trench.
3. Guy doing existing homes connecting to new sewer. Permits, pump &
crush old tank, 60'-90' of pipe, 20-30 yds loam, rake.
free hydro-seeding. Total price $1500.

Thank god I have a condo project going. Downsized to 4 guys. Just trying to get thru this downturn.
Upchuck is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Upchuck For This Useful Post:
nEighter (07-21-2009)
Old 07-06-2009, 04:56 PM   #9
Pro
 
dayexco's Avatar
Trade: entrepreneur of excavating expertise
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,632
bid a storm sewer project last wk......2 yrs ago, been damn lucky to have 3 bidders....2 yrs ago, job would have went for $330-350k......11 bidders, went for $256k...to a contractor 100 miles away, with $222k worth of material on the job. this ain't over gents.
__________________
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear
[b]Do you teach the best what you need to learn the most?[b]
a few pics of our operation and equipment at http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/dayexco/
dayexco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2009, 05:59 PM   #10
Contractor
 
tgeb's Avatar
Trade: Excavation, Foundation, Concrete
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,983
Maybe you'll be the guy to go in and fix it in 18 months!
__________________
Tom

www.gebcon.com
tgeb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2009, 06:03 PM   #11
Pro
 
dayexco's Avatar
Trade: entrepreneur of excavating expertise
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,632
tom, what's sad....the low bid is a VERY reputable contractor....this guy doesn't have redo's......he's trying to keep men busy.
__________________
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear
[b]Do you teach the best what you need to learn the most?[b]
a few pics of our operation and equipment at http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/dayexco/
dayexco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2009, 06:09 PM   #12
Midnight
 
Blas's Avatar
Trade: Excavating, Grading, Demolition, Underground Utilities
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 138
20-50 people bidding dirt in the cities. We are working out of town this year unfortunately. I just gave up on that crap. People beating us by 30%-60% and I know we aren't cruzing around in Bentley's and lear jets around here so what do ya do. Most guys with paid for equipment are just charging for labor this year. To bad I am not in that boat.
__________________
"It is what it is"
Blas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 05:55 PM   #13
Pro
 
dayexco's Avatar
Trade: entrepreneur of excavating expertise
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,632
well, was the bridesmaid again today.....went in a job where backhoe1 is from....$412k worth of material, 1/3 of the sanitary pipe was 17-21' deep,....we went in at $793k, bid 8-10-12" watermain install at $6.75 a foot cause we need work. sewer main install @ $18 a foot....got taken out by $45k. this just isn't fun anymore
__________________
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear
[b]Do you teach the best what you need to learn the most?[b]
a few pics of our operation and equipment at http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/dayexco/
dayexco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 06:09 PM   #14
Pro
 
joasis's Avatar
Trade: General Contractor
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hennessey, Oklahoma
Posts: 4,534
My next door neighbor is a contractor or rather, a partner in a company that specializes in state and government work, like rip rap jobs, and waterways, etc. They haven't landed a job in months due to out of state contractors coming in and low balling the bids. Same thing Tom....he said a few years ago, a few bidders, now, 50 or more companies bidding and jobs going at cost of materials....

I told him to make my wife a partner....Native American....then they can bid the jobs reserved for "NA" companies, and at least still compete.
__________________
Ladwig Construction
Hennessey, Oklahoma
405 853 1563

Ladwig Insulation & Construction Services
Serving Oklahoma Statewide
405 314 5802
joasis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 06:10 PM   #15
Pro
 
ruskent's Avatar
Trade: Outdoor D/B
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,836
Day are you guys atleast staying busy?
ruskent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 06:16 PM   #16
Vagitarian
 
rino1494's Avatar
Trade: site and utility contractor
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Dallas, PA
Posts: 2,323
Send a message via AIM to rino1494
Quote:
Originally Posted by dayexco View Post
well, was the bridesmaid again today.....went in a job where backhoe1 is from....$412k worth of material, 1/3 of the sanitary pipe was 17-21' deep,....we went in at $793k, bid 8-10-12" watermain install at $6.75 a foot cause we need work. sewer main install @ $18 a foot....got taken out by $45k. this just isn't fun anymore


Wow, I wouldn't even think about doing sewer mains for $18/ft. I am bidding a job for only 500' and I am going in at $40/ft.
__________________
Life is hard. It is harder when you are stupid

Uncle Sam wants YOU....to speak ENGLISH
rino1494 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 06:17 PM   #17
Pro
 
dayexco's Avatar
Trade: entrepreneur of excavating expertise
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,632
i'm moving to pennsylvania
__________________
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear
[b]Do you teach the best what you need to learn the most?[b]
a few pics of our operation and equipment at http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/dayexco/
dayexco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 06:35 PM   #18
Member
Trade: excavation and tree service
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 97
i hear ya guys my main client is looking shakey and has strated to cry abit about day rates i have a 130, a 580 and a mini on site at all times what would a rate per day be if it were you? im trying to see his side but damn this is getting old real quick
ctkiteboarding is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 06:42 PM   #19
Pro
Trade: Excavation
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Saginaw Michigan
Posts: 123
Quote:
Originally Posted by rino1494 View Post
Wow, I wouldn't even think about doing sewer mains for $18/ft. I am bidding a job for only 500' and I am going in at $40/ft.
Yeah, But you have them pesky rock things to dig thru.


We are starting to see some work coming down the line, and the office is out to get anything and everything. We have two schools going on right now, one is not a big issue when it is complete, its the track, tennis courts, and soccer field. My project will be an issue if things to get hashed out between the architect and school board. Since im doing the parking area that is all sand, surrounded by clay, wet material is an issue. Compound that with old concrete septic drain tile encased in concrete that had several breaks, dumping water into the subgrade, its been a tough project for something that should be simple.
JDavis21835 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 07:05 PM   #20
Member
Trade: septic installer, site work
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vermont
Posts: 67
Just got word back from a commercial bid that I placed a couple weeks ago. I was in the middle of the pack at 57K, low bidder was 37.5K giving away 700 yards of state spec road base just to keep his tracks moving. I cant compete with that.
guyute65045 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off





Top of Page | View New Posts


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:39 AM.


Contractor Talk™ © 2003 - 2009 The Building Network LLC