Existing house with no power estimate - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

Mrkbalon4 · 03-30-2009, 05:02 PM

I'm working on an estimate to wire an existing 1500 sq. ft ranch set back about 200' from the road built without electric (Amish owned). The house is fully insulated with 2x6 stick framed construction. The service pricing is no problem but I'm mostly a service/ old work guy who hasn't done a lot of new builds, let alone ones that are completely finished with drywall, fully insulated and full of home schooled children in the way. They are looking to sell and need the house wired. It's standard floor layout 3 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, 1 bath, living , dining and a laundry room. There is attic access and the space up there is decent to work in. I'm thinking at least 40 hours for the interior wiring alone but I may be low. Any time estimates based on my brief description? Oh yeah, it does have a full basement with no junk in the way. Thanks for any help.

electricista · 03-30-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrkbalon4

I'm working on an estimate to wire an existing 1500 sq. ft ranch set back about 200' from the road built without electric (Amish owned). The house is fully insulated with 2x6 stick framed construction. The service pricing is no problem but I'm mostly a service/ old work guy who hasn't done a lot of new builds, let alone ones that are completely finished with drywall, fully insulated and full of home schooled children in the way. They are looking to sell and need the house wired. It's standard floor layout 3 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, 1 bath, living , dining and a laundry room. There is attic access and the space up there is decent to work in. I'm thinking at least 40 hours for the interior wiring alone but I may be low. Any time estimates based on my brief description? Oh yeah, it does have a full basement with no junk in the way. Thanks for any help.

Are you talking 40 man hours? Good luck. I wouldn't touch it for less then 80- 100 man hours- everything included.

480sparky · 03-30-2009, 05:19 PM

40 hours may be low even for a new home before insulation and drywall. Given that it's finished, I'd say you're looking at 100-120 hours.

electricista · 03-30-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

40 hours may be low even for a new home before insulation and drywall. Given that it's finished, I'd say you're looking at 100-120 hours.

That's only because you are slower than I am.

MDShunk · 03-30-2009, 08:11 PM

Working alone, closer to 150 hours. With a decent helper, more like 120-130.

Here in PA, most of the Amish are smart enough to have their place prewired. The trim out is easy. Bunch of blank plates, blank canopies, and a meter glass.

The inspector still makes them have smokes, but they can have 10 year lithium batteries.

user5941 · 03-30-2009, 08:17 PM

Two man crew, 120-130 manhours on enterior

heel600 · 03-30-2009, 10:45 PM

I think it's less that 40 hours if it's BASIC lighting. Do almost everything from the basement.

Day 1: You could run wire to every recept and feed every switch in one good day.

Day 2: Attic work, feed all lights from the switches. Install smokes

Day 3: Plug and switch and hang lights

Day 4: Install service

Day 5: Anything you missed, phone and TV, etc

Remember, this is not some fancy house.

OK, I just realized that this house will be full of kids. So a little longer.

I did a 2 family (2 story) house that was lathe and plaster in 48 man hours (used the existing service) Would have been W?AY quicker if it was sheetrock!

user5941 · 03-30-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heel600

I think it's less that 40 hours if it's BASIC lighting. Do almost everything from the basement.

Day 1: You could run wire to every recept and feed every switch in one good day.

Day 2: Attic work, feed all lights from the switches. Install smokes

Day 3: Plug and switch and hang lights

Day 4: Install service

Day 5: Anything you missed, phone and TV, etc

Remember, this is not some fancy house.

OK, I just realized that this house will be full of kids. So a little longer.

I did a 2 family (2 story) house that was lathe and plaster in 48 man hours (used the existing service) Would have been W?AY quicker if it was sheetrock!

5 days
5 x 24 =120 hours

480sparky · 03-30-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricista

That's only because you are slower than I am.

I'm slower than everybody. I'm not saying I'm old, but I wasn't around when dirt was invented.... I just wired the factory God made it in.

rlc3854 · 03-30-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heel600

I think it's less that 40 hours if it's BASIC lighting. Do almost everything from the basement.

Day 1: You could run wire to every recept and feed every switch in one good day. Show up on site, make call to supply house to deliever materal, start drilling, receive material, start pulling wire,set boxes, 8 hours go home.

Day 2: Attic work, feed all lights from the switches. Install smokes. Show up on site, get contract signed deposit, start drilling, set boxes pull wire, 8 hours go home.

Day 3: Plug and switch and hang lights. Show up on site, ask HO where the light fixtures are, get draw for fixtures call supply house for delivery, leave to go get permit ask for inspection on Friday no later than 2:00PM. Go back to site start trim out, call supply house to find out where the fixtures are (last time I use them) 8 hours go home.

Day 4: Install service. Show up on site, install service, call POCO for connection, they refuse don't have copy of permit and are booked till next Tuesday. Go get draw from HO = 95% of job, go home early.

Day 5: Anything you missed, phone and TV, etc. Show up on site collect the last 5%, tell HO POCO will connect on Tuesday if inspector has passed the rough, finish and service. Don't hesitate to call if any problems.

Remember, this is not some fancy house.

OK, I just realized that this house will be full of kids. So a little longer.

I did a 2 family (2 story) house that was lathe and plaster in 48 man hours (used the existing service) Would have been W?AY quicker if it was sheetrock!

Give me a break even a meth head couldn't rope that fast.

robnj772 · 03-31-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlc3854

Give me a break even a meth head couldn't rope that fast.

Even if you could why would you want to?

Instead of bragging about how fast you can do it why don't you brag about how much profit your gonna make off the job.

The clowns that brag about how fast and cheap they can wire houses should be lined up along a wall and shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrkbalon4 · 04-01-2009, 05:50 PM

Thanks for all the help, I guess we'll be doubling our bid on this one. MD, unfortunately this Amish family wasn't smart enough to have the house prewired with blank plates. They sure do build nice barns though.

heel600 · 04-01-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robnj772

Even if you could why would you want to?

Instead of bragging about how fast you can do it why don't you brag about how much profit your gonna make off the job.

The clowns that brag about how fast and cheap they can wire houses should be lined up along a wall and shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are probaly only 30-35 recepts in the whole house. That's 15 minutes each!

In one thread I get critisized for spending a few extra minutes on making my panels neat. Now I'm a clown for saying I can wire that house in a week?

Just because I have a system, and my time is productive, doesn't make me a hack. I certainly don't run. My work is thought out.

Cut out sheetrock for recepts and switches. Go to basement and drill up. Feed every recpt and switch.

This house doesn't have a jacuzzi, dishwasher, 2 zone central AC, light lift, or anything fancy.

Maybe I can do it in 1/2 the time you can. Don't blame me.

Maybe you can bend pipe or wire a motor twice as fast as me. I'm not calling you a clown, and say you're undercharging.

480sparky · 04-01-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heel600

.........Cut out sheetrock for recepts and switches. Go to basement and drill up. Feed every recpt and switch.........

What about feeding all that NM hanging down in the basement? How much pipe work is that? And crawling around in the attic feeding lights and ceiling fans? Lights outside. Receps outside. 3-ways and 4-ways. What happens when you run into fire blocking? Making sure all the boxes are secured. Take the time to find all the studs... you don't want to cut a hole in the wall at the wrong spot! Rats: didn't see that other stud and don't have room for that 3-gang box now.....

No offence, but your statement above sounds like so many bosses who have totally forgotten what it's like to work in the field. (The older they get, the faster they used to be.) "Geez, how hard can it be to cut a hole in the wall, drill up from the basement, and feed the wire? I used to do that in my day in 2 minutes!"

Tiger · 04-02-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heel600

Go to basement and drill up.

There's a plan for disaster.

robnj772 · 04-02-2009, 03:17 AM

So because you think you can do it twice as fast as everyone else is saying that means you should make half as much on the job?

Numbers you came up with sounds more like a cookie cutter bidding a renovation like it is new construction.Don't take offense to it,now that the cookie cutter market is non existant I see this all the time.

99 % of you guys doing this will go under soon the way it is going but thats ok even Donald Trump does it.

You didn't even get the point I was trying to make!!!

heel600 · 04-02-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiger

There's a plan for disaster.

Maybe when you do it. I never had a problem.

GEORGE D · 04-02-2009, 08:18 AM

Sounds like the kind of job you want to shoot high on. You'll be amazed at all the hurtles you come across. Im sure I speak for most of us. If you think 1hr, it'll turn out to be 3. CYA

heel600 · 04-02-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robnj772

So because you think you can do it twice as fast as everyone else is saying that means you should make half as much on the job?

Numbers you came up with sounds more like a cookie cutter bidding a renovation like it is new construction.Don't take offense to it,now that the cookie cutter market is non existant I see this all the time.

99 % of you guys doing this will go under soon the way it is going but thats ok even Donald Trump does it.

You didn't even get the point I was trying to make!!!

1) I don't recall saying I would do it for 1/2 as much as you. I'd probably do per device. And maybe it's not me being 1/2 as much as you. Maybe you'd be twice what I am?

2) SIMPLE HOUSE being wired to be SOLD.

3) I won't be going under. My work might be slow now, but I'm certainly making good money when I have work.

4) No I didn't. I can't price my jobs based on how long other people would take to do it.

Tiger · 04-02-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heel600

Maybe when you do it. I never had a problem.

I don't drill up from the basement because if I make a 3-4" error in measuring I risk drilling through a finished floor above. Sometimes it can be hard to find something good to measure from on two different levels. I'm always thinking in terms of risk/reward. I prefer drilling toward an unfinished area.