charging for a trench

[electricalperson]

does anyone here charge to dig a trench? im not talking about labor but an actual cost for a trench installation on top of charging normal labor hours

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Think of it this way if you didn't own one you would have to rent one. So, sure I always charge for renting the trencher and the labor, etc.

 

[480sparky]

Absolutely your charge more. You need specialized equipement, so it costs more.

Here's what my spreadsheet says:

Width x Depth
10" x 12" $5.31
12" x 12" $5.96
18" x 12" $6.77
24" x 12" $7.39
10" x 18" $6.27
12" x 18" $6.88
18" x 18" $7.69
24" x 18" $8.33
10" x 24" $6.69
12" x 24" $7.36
18" x 24" $8.17
24" x 24" $8.83
10" x 30" $7.22
12" x 30" $7.86
18" x 30" $8.83
24" x 30" $9.45
10" x 36" $7.56
12" x 36" $8.51
18" x 36" $9.45
24" x 36" $10.09
12" x 40" $8.51
18" x 40" $9.45
24" x 40" $10.41
30" x 40" $11.35
12" x 48" $9.45
18" x 48" $10.41
24" x 48" $11.35
30" x 48" $13.51
18" x 54" $11.05
24" x 54" $11.99
30" x 54" $13.85
36" x 54" $15.10
18" x 60" $14.42
24" x 60" $16.26
30" x 60" $18.00
36" x 60" $21.64

 

[petersonra]

does anyone here charge to dig a trench? im not talking about labor but an actual cost for a trench installation on top of charging normal labor hours

I had a plumber out a few years ago to give me an estimate on running a new gas line out to the garage. They put in the price of a temp to come out and dig the ditch.

 

[electricalperson]

i mean i dont own a trencher. i dig my trenches the old fashioned way with a shovel. i do have a trenching shovel that makes life easier but im thinking i should charge per foot of trench length and depth on top of the time it takes to actually dig it. around here there are some area where digging a trench will require a pick or crowbar since you cant dig without hitting rocks

 

[pjg]

Absolutely your charge more. You need specialized equipement, so it costs more.

Here's what my spreadsheet says:

Width x Depth
10" x 12" $5.31
12" x 12" $5.96
18" x 12" $6.77
24" x 12" $7.39
10" x 18" $6.27
12" x 18" $6.88
18" x 18" $7.69
24" x 18" $8.33
10" x 24" $6.69
12" x 24" $7.36
18" x 24" $8.17
24" x 24" $8.83
10" x 30" $7.22
12" x 30" $7.86
18" x 30" $8.83
24" x 30" $9.45
10" x 36" $7.56
12" x 36" $8.51
18" x 36" $9.45
24" x 36" $10.09
12" x 40" $8.51
18" x 40" $9.45
24" x 40" $10.41
30" x 40" $11.35
12" x 48" $9.45
18" x 48" $10.41
24" x 48" $11.35
30" x 48" $13.51
18" x 54" $11.05
24" x 54" $11.99
30" x 54" $13.85
36" x 54" $15.10
18" x 60" $14.42
24" x 60" $16.26
30" x 60" $18.00
36" x 60" $21.64

Do these prices includes backfill as well?

 

[480sparky]

i mean i dont own a trencher. i dig my trenches the old fashioned way with a shovel. i do have a trenching shovel that makes life easier but im thinking i should charge per foot of trench length and depth on top of the time it takes to actually dig it. around here there are some area where digging a trench will require a pick or crowbar since you cant dig without hitting rocks

I always figure if it would take more than an hour to dig it by hand, you're money ahead getting a trencher. Most rental outfits can give you a half-day rate, which is usually 70-80% less than a full day. But I'd rather spend 2 hours and $125 rental and be done than 8 hours with just a shovel.

 

[Rockyd]

Willing to bet that those numbers are based on your service area also. Bet there is a column 1, 2, 3 depending on soil conditions? Sandy, free dig could be an easy 800' in a day, to ugly rock pile and undersized backhoe seeing a 100', or less, for an eight hour day (if your lucky)?

 

[480sparky]

Do these prices includes backfill as well?

Yes. If I must backfill with sand or gravel, or backfill & tamp, that's even more. But obviously, this does not include any electrical material that goes in the trench.

 

[petersonra]

Yes. If I must backfill with sand or gravel, or backfill & tamp, that's even more. But obviously, this does not include any electrical material that goes in the trench.

I will hire you to come dig any trenches I need. Sounds cheap to me.

 

[480sparky]

I will hire you to come dig any trenches I need. Sounds cheap to me.

Easy work (er, I mean, money) for me. I just sub it out at $3/ft. Where do you want me Tuesday morning?

Oh, I should mention, I chage mileage based on that days' gas prices.

 

[R Bob]

Easy work (er, I mean, money) for me. I just sub it out at $3/ft. Where do you want me Tuesday morning?

Oh, I should mention, I chage mileage based on that days' gas prices.

I don't know where you're located but I'll fly you in @that rate!:grin:

 

[480sparky]

I don't know where you're located but I'll fly you in @that rate!:grin:

Cool. My hourly rate kicks in as soon as I lock my door.

 

[R Bob]

Cool. My hourly rate kicks in as soon as I lock my door.

1st Class OK?

 

[480sparky]

1st Class OK?

Charter, please.

 

[dcooper]

trench

trench

When I started I never dug! I once had a customer ask me how much I would charge to dig the trench. I told her $20 a foot. The run was 50 feet. She asked me if she was to pay it how would I dig it. I told her to ask the carpenter because I was going to pay him $400 to do it.
Now I still don't dig I hire a laborer for $12 hr and bill it out @ $10 per foot. And that doesn't include the price of the ditch witch.

 

[cadpoint]

Easy work (er, I mean, money) for me. I just sub it out at $3/ft. Where do you want me Tuesday morning?

Oh, I should mention, I charge mileage based on that days' gas prices.

OK, let's look at it this way IN/sq verses per foot, sorry it just seems low over-all ...

 

[Sparkyrob11]

If someone can afford to pay an electrician to dig, you're not charging enough.:wink:

 

[quogueelectric]

I live on a glacial meltdown leftover called long island so when I dig on the northshore I run into boulders the size of cleveland and when I am on the South shore I have sand and more sand. North shore excavation by others and south shore by me at 5 bucks a foot.

 

[cadpoint]

I live on a glacial meltdown leftover called long island so when I dig on the northshore I run into boulders the size of cleveland and when I am on the South shore I have sand and more sand. North shore excavation by others and south shore by me at 5 bucks a foot.

you still have two right holves...