[outdoordad]

Hey everyone, nice to be here. My broother and I just started up shop and are fairly new to the bidding process. Were in Washington state if this is part of an answer or suggestion.

My question is this
Bidding concrete for residential we pretty much have figured out its the commercial that we need help with.

in our area for residential the cost are appx
foundation $80 to $110 per yard
Flat Work 1.75 per sqft and up depending on the finish


so for commercial
Foundation?
Flat?
Aggregate finish?
Stamping?

Is is usually 3 times the cost of residential?

hope someone out there can shed some light on this for me

thanks

 

[wasdifferent]

Please don't take this wrong, but:

The wording of your question tends to make me believe that you should allow yourself to cure for 28 days before you start bidding commercial jobs.

What do you have for cost estimating software?

What are you using for a code book?

Are you ACI certified?

Are you familiar with bending and welding procedures, standard hooks, etc, etc, etc, in accordance with ACI and CRSI?

 

[outdoordad]

Please don't take this wrong, but:

The nature of your question tends to make me believe that you should allow yourself to cure for 28 days before you start bidding commercial jobs.

What do you have for cost estimating software?

What are you using for a code book?

Are you ACI certified?

Are you familiar with bending and welding procedures, standard hooks, etc. in accordance with the CRSI?

No problem mike, I understand your questions and all of those will be taken care of. My main concern was on the flat work, sidewalks breeze ways etc. Were developing a crew that can handle the foundations etc with the necessary skill level and knowledge required. Were small time right now but have the opportunity to get larger jobs when we become ready. Sidewalks and smaller type poors are what were looking at until its time to grow any suggestions for cost estimating software? and the code book I can get here locally i'm sure

ACI?
CRSI?
Teach me

thanks
Sean

 

[wasdifferent]

I didn't mean to insult you in any way. If you hire qualified guys, and do your homework, you can learn this stuff pretty quickly. You will be a little vulnerable for a short time, but it's a steep learning curve, and I've seen guys move up the ladder very quickly.

 

[wasdifferent]

ACI? CRSI? Teach me

Glad to help.
Stand by....

 

[wasdifferent]

BNI Books Phone# 1-888-BNI-BOOK Good source for construction books.

www.bnibooks.com


ACI = American Concrete Institute www.concrete.org

Join immediately, you'll be glad that you did, it doesn't cost much, and it will MAKE YOU MONEY. Get their book ACI 318-05 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary.

CRSI = Concrete Steel Reinforcing Institute www.crsi.org

They have a great little book called Placing Reinforcing Bars

If you REALLY want to go BIG TIME, get the ACI Manual of Concrete Practice. This little gem will set you back about $800.00. With the CD-ROM it's $1150.00. ACI probably has a member discount on most of their books, it can quickly make the membership "free".

This stuff is no guarantee of success, but without it you are limited to mostly residential jobs, and you are vulnerable, you can get yourself into BIG BIG trouble without this knowledge. In the concrete business, your first mistake may be your last...

Anything else that I can do to help, just ask. You can get my e-mail address from my site.

Best of luck in your new business,

 

[outdoordad]

BNI Books Phone# 1-888-BNI-BOOK Good source for construction books.

www.bnibooks.com


ACI = American Concrete Institute www.concrete.org

Join immediately, you'll be glad that you did, it doesn't cost much, and it will MAKE YOU MONEY. Get their book ACI 318-05 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary.

CRSI = Concrete Steel Reinforcing Institute www.crsi.org

They have a great little book called Placing Reinforcing Bars

If you REALLY want to go BIG TIME, get the ACI Manual of Concrete Practice. This little gem will set you back about $800.00. With the CD-ROM it's $1150.00. ACI probably has a member discount on most of their books, it can quickly make the membership "free".

This stuff is no guarantee of success, but without it you are limited to mostly residential jobs, and you are vulnerable, you can get yourself into BIG BIG trouble without this knowledge. In the concrete business, your first mistake may be your last...

Anything else that I can do to help, just ask. You can get my e-mail address from my site.

Best of luck in your new business,

Thanks for all your help Mike I do really appreciate it
i'll be in touch
Sean

 

[wasdifferent]

Yes, please stay in touch Sean. Drop me a line often, and let me know how you're doing. We're rootin' for you.

-Mike

P.S. For the GCs who are pros, pour a good slump, learn the regs, and exceed the code by a wide margin. This will get you the commercial work that you're looking for.

For the rest: straight, level, plumb, square is enough. They are hacks and don't know WTF they're doing anyway, they just want you to pour by yesterday, and be gone from the site in less than 12 hours. They know about as much about concrete as my a$$ knows about a grandfather clock.

 

[PipeGuy]

The wording of your question tends to make me believe that you should allow yourself to cure for 28 days before you start bidding commercial jobs.

Mike, we've got to meet some day and turn up a few. You slay me.

residential we pretty much have figured out its the commercial that we need help with. so for commercial...
Foundation?
Flat?
Aggregate finish?
Stamping?

Is is usually 3 times the cost of residential?

THERE IS NO MAGIC PRICE LIST! Sit down and do the numbers for every job yourself, decide what kind of profit you'd like to earn, and start bidding. Knowing where the competition is will come as you begin to gain confidence in your own estimating skills.

Subcontract quote dated April 7, 2005:
40 LF of curb and gutter @ $62 / LF = $1,000 / CY
153 SF 4" thick sidewalk @ $7.50 / SF = $614 / CY
Will I use this sub? Hell no, not at those prices. But that doesn't mean the prices are 'wrong'.

I suppose I'm a moron because I wouldn't have the nerve to ask others what they charge. I wouldn't believe what they told me anyway.

 

[wasdifferent]

Mike, we've got to meet some day and turn up a few. You slay me.

LOL. Most of it's borrowed, I got it from a$$ chewings from bosses like you. Sadly, I have to edit the best stuff...

One of my favorites on the job:
Gump, you're a genius. You're gonna be a general someday.

 

[PipeGuy]

Sadly, I have to edit the best stuff...

LOL. Thank you so much. I thought I was the only one who suffered from that condition.

 

[Teetorbilt]

I REALLY have to watch what I say or I catch it from both sides.

 

[outdoordad]

you guys rock, i'm laughing my ass off. Thanks for all the support .
we will succeed !!!!
still anyone have an idea as to how to bid commercial to residential?

hey mike like you I believe in over kill, always have... hate to do things twice

will keep in touch for sure
Sean

 

[wasdifferent]

...hate to do things twice...

LOL.

When it comes to concrete, you will probably only do things twice once.

ROFLMAO.

 

[Niner]

My customers charge anywhere from $3.50 to $6.00 a square foot for standard broom-finished driveways, patios, and sidewalks. For remove and replace, extensive site work excavation, stamped, exposed aggregate, or any other specialty procedure, obviously the price goes up. I'd suggest you pencil out what it costs you in labor, materials, overheads, and (of course) profit to pour a square foot of concrete. Also, ask around what the local competition is charging per square foot. That'll give you an idea of where you need to be. I'd hesitate to recommend you getting into commercial work at this point. Sounds like you're pretty new at this and the commercial arena can really burn a new guy making a critical mistake. Start small, and work your way into it slowly. As mentioned above, you only get one chance at finishing concrete. Stuff doesn't wait for anyone. Take your time, do your homework, and do the job right the first time. Do quality work, and word will get around. Good luck. It's a helluva field to get into.

 

[wasdifferent]

...It's a helluva field to get into...

Yes it is. :Thumbs: