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NICKPAUS

· GC
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209 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Bid another big driveway today and was wondering what prices others charge. I dont charge by Square foot but do the math to see what it breaks down to. Last driveway 2700 SQ ' broke down to $12 a foot with 10-12" of Base for large Motorhome. This one has cheaper pavers ($1.70 to $3 a ') 10-12" base for Moho on half the rest 6-8" base and 400' 4" base walkway only. Measures out 2700 sq ' bid it at $32000 and said I could lower a little with less depth on base material but could not guarantee sinkage of pavers over time due to heavy motorhome. Salesman at supply house said to charge minimum $15 a square foot which comes out to over $40,000. Says this is "Going Rate" on here I always heard of it as going broke rate. I know my costs as I just completed similar job. I checked on internet and thats the price there charging ($15' ) From Customers response I probably wont land the job as he has other bids but not worth lowering my price even though work is slow around here.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Here in CT I would START at $15 sq.ft.
$15 is going rate around here but when I calculated it that way it came out to $40,500. The job is for another GC that I work with and his Nickname is Bootleg George He is 1 cheap Mofo so there was no way I could sell him on $40,500 when he knows the pavers are $1.70' and base is $6 a ton. I just did same size job with pavers that were $1.30 more per foot and after all my overhead the job cost me around $7.50 per foot to install with 8-10" base. I priced it out in pieces not square feet and my costs go down with the square footage. It has easy access to get my Skidsteer in with breaker and to remove. Under a 1000 ' would probably break down to over $15 a foot or if it must be removed by hand. Still waiting to see what other prices he got.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Breakout and remove for less than 15?!
And install pavers. After I figured all my costs and overhead and profit it broke down to around $11.85 a sq ft Only way I can do it this price is the amount of square feet and I own all the equipment needed. I still did not get job waiting to see how low the other contractor went. Right now it is cut throat with no jobs and tons of workers needing work. Thats why I was wondering how low other guys are bidding jobs.
 
I lost a job last week for $10 a foot $2 brick 8" bace the job was 1330 sq feet with 2 long sidewalks and lots of cuting .We did 60,000 dollers worth of work on the house and all the tools where there. brick and bace was was around $3400 labor 1800+ comp digging& trucking $1000 new saw blade 100bucks dumping old driveway was free . over head 250 per day x 3 days =750 how about fuel 400bucks 7500 dollers My wife wants me to get payed so i get 250 a day = 750 bucks. 13300 -8250= 5000 + or - not bad. The job could go for 4 day if it gos bad .I think someone is doing it for 10,500
My subs will work for 4.50 sq but i lay the bace and lay out the job .
 
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