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Estimate

11 years ago
Quick question from Southern California. Just got an estimate. Room about 12 x 12. Changing baseboards, changing two hollow core doors, changing casing, painting walls and ceiling. $ 2000. Does this seem pricey? Thank you

Comments (2)

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    That's a great price! In Vancouver BC (Canadian West Coast) labour costs are very high (averages out to be $50-$80/hour for labour that requires a skill of any sort). A real "trade" (plumbing, electrical, etc) turns out to be $80 - $120/hour...if you can find someone.

    Changing baseboards is pricy business. Painting is not cheap. Hanging doors is easy but can get fiddly if you have to shave them down or "play" with the hang. Casings is a prig.

    Is this labour only? How much are they charging you for materials. If materials are included this is a SWEET deal.


  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Having been formerly located in So Cal, I might suggest that you offer a bit more info, because simply saying Sothern California is like saying "I live on the West Coast"... and like it or not, the area in which you are located plays a major role in generating "cost" to perform work. We were located in the San Gabriel Valley, for example, and the majority of our work was performed in Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, anywhere from San Diego to Malibu.

    The unfortunate reality is that travel time & expenses need to be considered as a hard cost... and are therefore reflected in the price. So unless your "contractor" is just down the street, this may be a consideration.

    Another point is that there is an unstated amount of "prep work" to perform all of the operations you list, which may also be a consideration... as well as the fact that "baseboards" for example, can range anywhere from 2 bucks a foot to 10, depending on the product.

    Doors are likely a couple of hundred bucks each (decent doors, of course) and removal & reinstallation can be a time consuming exercise, if done properly.

    I guess the point I'm trying to make is that the topic of "pricing" is very subjective... and whether or not it is reasonable can't be determined without a lot more information.

    But let me say this... nowadays it doesn't take much to add up to a couple of grand when a project is being planned... so IMHO, $ 2,000 may not be all that out of line.

    Keep in mind, that your expectations play an important part in what the eventual results are... so realize that a cheap price doesn't always equate to a good deal.

    Just my 2 cents...