Tear out and replace

Barry · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 12:51 AM

I have witnessed recently that contractors in my area are charging the same amount to put up a seg. wall whether they have to tear out an old one, or it's a new construction site! Do you guys/gals charge a couple of ex $ to tear out and haul, or am I the only one? It seems when contractors "get hungry" that is the first charge "to be waived". Some of the walls we had bid were a couple of dollars a sq. cheaper than us because they hadn't charged for this. W.T.?

sleepy · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 12:56 AM

They "score the blocks?"
Dont look at their prices you will die becoase your overhead is higher. Never match your prices to others. Its your biz your moola and big guys can "eat it"

Barry · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 01:00 AM

No, no. I mean, they tear out an existing wall.............limestone........ties..........an d charge the same sq. ft. price they would charge if there were no wall there to begin with. Has nothing to do with the size of the companies.

Fine Edge · #4 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 01:05 AM

Doesn't make any sense to me. I'd charge for demo and hauling, but you have to think that grading for the new wall will be minimal now.

Nebraska · #5 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 01:44 AM

welcome to NE.... they all price it at $15-...maybe $19 a SF regardless of what needs to be done.!

agla · #6 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 07:32 AM

Are you comparing bids or are you comparing final prices? Bidding specifically what is on the contract and then charging extra for things that are not in a contract has become a very common thing. The contractor writes up the contract to build the wall and makes a subtle reference that all things not specifically in thr quote will be charged for by time and materials. The client tends to miss this and award the bid to the one with the lowest bottom line. After the extras, your bid might have been the lowest.

GLAN · #7 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by agla
Are you comparing bids or are you comparing final prices? Bidding specifically what is on the contract and then charging extra for things that are not in a contract has become a very common thing. The contractor writes up the contract to build the wall and makes a subtle reference that all things not specifically in thr quote will be charged for by time and materials. The client tends to miss this and award the bid to the one with the lowest bottom line. After the extras, your bid might have been the lowest.

Been seeing and hearing this lately with maintenance estimates/contracts.

Barry · #8 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 10:16 AM

Agla, I understand what it is you are saying. We are comparing bids. Their bid includes tear out, as does ours. And they are ignoring the charges associated with it. We will bid the job, and the homeowners/contractors have told us the "competition" is doing existing wall removal and reinstall for the same sq. ft. price as if it were bare dirt.