Reasonable cost for concrete slab?

[BadgerDave]

This board has become my go-to for reality checks on just about any subject. So I'm back for advice.

I'm convinced that Cook County, IL is a hotbed of construction opportunism if not outright asshattery. Seems like every time I need something done, I get a contractor who wants to retire on the proceeds of my job.

I've had a guy tell me that I need the flashing replaced on two skylights at a cost of $1,700.00 or I would have thousands of dollars of water damage. I checked it myself and found that the only issue was a bent corner on the flashing. Fixed it at no cost and have never had a leak.

The next problem was a worn out rubber membrane on a small (maybe 80 square feet) flat part of my roof. The first contractor to look at it initally recommended covering the existing membrane with a newer, better product. Then he called his office to produce an estimate. After talking to his boss, he came back with a quote of $13,000.00 to replace the rubber membrane with copper, claiming it was the only solution that would work.

I can replace the entire roof for less than $13K!

The current project is a garden shed to store my snowblower, mower, patio furniture and other crap. I found a nice TuffShed demo at Home Depot at a good price.

My villiage requires sheds to be mounted on a concrete slab, so I contacted companies with strong reviews on Angie's list for quotes on the slab. The site is level with no existing material to demo.

First quote came in at 8' x 12' x 5", thickened edge, compacted gravel subfloor, wire mesh reinforcement, 4,000 psi concrete. $2,180.00.

Checking some websites of unknown reliability makes me think this is both high in price and low in terms of the quality of materials. I'm seeing twice the size with rebar and 5000 psi for $1,200.00 - $1,500.00 Granted, this isn't coming from someone who's willing to do the job.

Any thoughts on what a realistic cost should be? Is the 4000 psi material and mesh appropriate for this application?

Thanks in advance - again!

Dave

[crunchee]

Wish I could help out with advice, Dave! I heard a local NPR report on the radio this morning (I'm in Western Kentucky, not far from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee), that some recent study or survey has about half of the population of Illinois wanting to move out of the state, because of the politics and corruption and general asshattery that goes on. Good luck!

[velorush]

Just me? I would frame up and prep an 8 X 12 pad myself.

That's a yard and a half of concrete.

Call a local concrete company and ask what they would charge to pour into your form and finish. I did this on my sidewalk and save a ton of money, still looks good after 15 years.

Wouldn't take more than a day.

[mc2]

Concrete slabs are a LOT cheaper in Staten Island or New Jersey. Just stop into one of the corner bars

and ask for "Tony the Fixer" or "No Nose Vinnie." They both have family in the business.

[Guest gearwhore]

This board has become my go-to for reality checks on just about any subject. So I'm back for advice.

I'm convinced that Cook County, IL is a hotbed of construction opportunism if not outright asshattery. Seems like every time I need something done, I get a contractor who wants to retire on the proceeds of my job.

I've had a guy tell me that I need the flashing replaced on two skylights at a cost of $1,700.00 or I would have thousands of dollars of water damage. I checked it myself and found that the only issue was a bent corner on the flashing. Fixed it at no cost and have never had a leak.

The next problem was a worn out rubber membrane on a small (maybe 80 square feet) flat part of my roof. The first contractor to look at it initally recommended covering the existing membrane with a newer, better product. Then he called his office to produce an estimate. After talking to his boss, he came back with a quote of $13,000.00 to replace the rubber membrane with copper, claiming it was the only solution that would work.

I can replace the entire roof for less than $13K!

The current project is a garden shed to store my snowblower, mower, patio furniture and other crap. I found a nice TuffShed demo at Home Depot at a good price.

My villiage requires sheds to be mounted on a concrete slab, so I contacted companies with strong reviews on Angie's list for quotes on the slab. The site is level with no existing material to demo.

First quote came in at 8' x 12' x 5", thickened edge, compacted gravel subfloor, wire mesh reinforcement, 4,000 psi concrete. $2,180.00.

Checking some websites of unknown reliability makes me think this is both high in price and low in terms of the quality of materials. I'm seeing twice the size with rebar and 5000 psi for $1,200.00 - $1,500.00 Granted, this isn't coming from someone who's willing to do the job.

Any thoughts on what a realistic cost should be? Is the 4000 psi material and mesh appropriate for this application?

Thanks in advance - again!

Dave

4000psi is over kill that small of a shed, I made my whoring money off retiring from contracting...4 inches more than enough for thickness..your local ready mix is going to charge a short load charge due to small amount...so at the most this entire slab with labor starting on a fairly level surface should be in the $1000-$1200 range it is 5-6 hours of actual work for crying out loud with $5-600 in materials...if I was closer I would do it for beers and bbq on a leisurely Sat afternoon...if the area needs to be leveled..add another $400 and thats generous.

[Guest gearwhore]

oh and those prices are troweled finish not brushed..subtract $200 for brush finish

AND I should add..my number for materials include 2' foam under it..meshed with re-bar perimeter and all tied including the anchor bolts

that is how I do all slabs,,,guarantees its perfect 20 years from now.

[dragan]

Wish I could help out with advice, Dave! I heard a local NPR report on the radio this morning (I'm in Western Kentucky, not far from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee), that some recent study or survey has about half of the population of Illinois wanting to move out of the state, because of the politics and corruption and general asshattery that goes on. Good luck!

heres part of the reason Ill is broke http://visualizingeconomics.com/blog/2010/02/17/federal-taxes-paidreceived-for-each-state/ notice in the blue chart at the bottom all states to the left support all states to the right

[Guest gearwhore]

And for $2180..I'd come down and hand mix that job..and I'll buy you beers and bbq

[BadgerDave]

That's a deal!

I'll provide the tequila

[MCChris]

That's a deal!

I'll provide the tequila

The good stuff, too. Not that Patron crap.

[anotherfreak]

I got priced out $1500 for a 8x10 slab for my $800 shed. prolly gonna rent a mixer and tackle it myself here

[BadgerDave]

That's a deal!

I'll provide the tequila

The good stuff, too. Not that Patron crap.

Way to harsh every hipster gringo's Cinco de Mayo buzz, Debbie Downer

[MCChris]

Way to harsh every hipster gringo's Cinco de Mayo buzz, Debbie Downer

Just paying forward what Mrs. BD did to me!

[BadgerDave]

Three estimates, all over $2K plus an independent confirmation from from a contractor who isn't a candidate indicate that the first quote is the going rate here.

Small job plus the ridiculous hassle of dealing with the city permitting process means I get to pay nearly twice what the job would cost elsewhere.

I need to move.

[hamerhead]

Got a hammer and four 2x4s?

Scrape the sod off, stake and level the 2x4s, fill with concrete, finish to taste, wait a day, remove the 2x4s, done.

I've seen your guitars. You can do this.

[cmatthes]

If it's anything like things here, your job is probably being priced up by your zip code.

Here in Montgomery County, MD, because of the zip code I'm in, the cost contractors charge for ANYTHING (tree removal, roofing, etc.) is almost double what they quote for similar jobs 10 miles away in another Montgomery County zip code.

Example: I needed to have a few trees removed in my yard. Two 60 ft. oaks and a 20 ft pine. A family member two zip codes over (in Rockville/Gaithersburg) had the identical job done (except that all three of his were oaks) for $1,700. That wasn't even his lowest quote. The range of quotes I got were $3,200-$4,000. I had a new roof done last year - same thing.

Opportunistic?

Absolutely.

[gorch]

Do it yourself and safe money on the gym.

[mathman]

I setup an 8 X10 and 10 X 27 slab and it went well until a torrential rain came as I was smoothing things out. I ended up having to get a cement grinder to smooth out some parts but it has held up for 14 years so far.

[hamerhead]

Add to the list: 1 large sheet of visqueen.

[JohnnyB]

Am I missing something, or couldn't a plastic shed sit on a DIY slab of Sakrete?

Level the site, box it in w/2x4 or 2x6, lay down some gravel or drain rock on the bottom, mix up the Sakrete and pour it into the box you made, fill it to the top, level it, hose it down (gently) from time as it dries so it dries uniformly and gradually so you don't get cracks.

Disclaimer: I've never done it, but that seems to be what you'd do. I've used Sakrete to make custom footers for a deck where the ready-mades didn't fit.

[Hbom]

I too think I would go the DIY route.

My only questions might be;

Did the quoted prices include costs of local and state permits?

What is the dollar limit on a homeowner doing a project themselves without having to get a permit?

What will the penalties be if you do the job yourself without permits and get caught?

Just curiosity. I've been caught before.

[mathman]

Wtf are permits? ;-)

[BadgerDave]

Good advice, but going the do it yourself route has some significant risks.

The shed isn't plastic. Its fir plank over full wood frame construction. I'm guessing it weighs in at around a ton. The city requires a permit and two inspections - one of the foundation and one after the shed has been anchored. If the foundation isn't up to code, they will require it to be removed. So, if I screw it up, I get to pay for demo of my work plus materials on top of the pro job to replace it.

Code requires 4" of compacted gravel and 5" of reinforced concrete. The clerk explained that their primary concern is stability in high winds. They don't want my shed becoming a hazard to my neighbors in a wind storm.

The good news is I got a slightly better bid this morning, about $400 under the others.

[Guest gearwhore]

Wtf are permits? ;-)

they are memos to raise your taxes....I NEVER get them and every year they come out to see what I have done and see how much they can raise my bill. To many years contracting they know I am going to keep building, 6 new structures...0 permits..but here the fines are small..if I got tagged for every building and if I got fined the maximum..it would on be only $1900 for all

[MCChris]

The city requires a permit and two inspections - one of the foundation and one after the shed has been anchored. If the foundation isn't up to code, they will require it to be removed. So, if I screw it up, I get to pay for demo of my work plus materials on top of the pro job to replace it.

Code requires 4" of compacted gravel and 5" of reinforced concrete.

Another downside of not living in a slum.

[hamerhead]

Time to move.