How many hours is reasonable?

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sfav8r

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San Francisco Bay Area
We're on a job right now that just seems to be taking too long. I thought I would throw some numbers out there and see how long everyone else thought this job would take in man (people) hours.

It is a two story addition of approximately 2000 sq. ft. We are installing the following:

6 lighting outlets
27 duplex outlets
40 can lights
2 vent fans
11 single pole switches
6 3W switches
furnace (j-box)
There are 9 new circuits, 4 20a and 5 15a circuits.
We are installing a new 125a sub panel to feed this area.

The only thing that might be considered unusual is that there are no serviceable stairs that are accessible, so the 2nd floor requires using the fastened in place ladder. The job site has been clean.

I put a little more detail below if anyone want more specifics. We are doing the job on T&M so it's not a problem in that regard, it just seems to be taking a long time. Then again the weather has been way too nice out here in sunny CA to work too hard.

Thanks for any input.


Top Floor:

5 duplex outlets on a 20 amp circuit for the eating area.

22 Incandescent line voltage can lights. These are in three zones. The first two zones are controlled by 3W switches approximately 30' apart and the third zone is controlled by a single pole switch.

3 Fluorescent cans in the bathroom controlled by two separate SP switches.
1 outlet for a vanity light controlled by a SP switch.
1 vent fan controlled by a SP switch.
2 duplex outlets in bathroom.

8 duplex plugs in the living room on one circuit which is a home run.

1 duplex outlet at the rear deck.
2 lighting outlets for the rear deck (either side of the French doors) controlled by a SP switch.

Lower Level:

10 Incandescent line voltage can lights in 2 zones controlled by 2 #W switches approximately 30' apart.

8 duplex outlets in the family room on one circuit.

2 lighting outlets for the rear yard on one SP switch.
1 GFI outlet for the rear yard.

1 20a duplex plug for laundry
2 Fluorescent cans in laundry controlled by 2 3W switches approximately 15' apart.
1 under cabinet light in laundry controlled by SP switch.

3 fluorescent cans in bath controlled by 2 SP switches.
1 lighting outlet for vanity controlled by 1 SP switch.
1 vent fan controlled by 1 SP switch.
1 GFCI outlet in bathroom.

1 furnace circuit.

1 new 125amp sub panel to service the above.
 
I'm going to make an assumption that this is a job you are able to use nm cable for? If so, I put it at around 50-65 man hours to rough in if it is standard wood. Add about 20 hours if steel studs. Drop the figure to the low end if you have 3+ men working and you all do this frequently.
 
This job is pretty close to one we just did, 120 rough 16 finish, plus hours,the ladder access would be the plus hours.
 
Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it.

Macmikeman, you assumed correctly. It was in MM.

Were at 64 hours right now and should rap it up with one guy today, so I guess we're not so far off.

Thanks for the reality check.
 
Might be if you do them all the time, I would not know about that. I do one every other 5 years or so and they take longer for me. Its the headers and beams that slow me down on those jobs.
 
I have stud punches galore and used to do only commercial, but the houses around here built with steel use some really hefty steel in the beams, plates, and corners. Governer Arnold would struggle mightily to use his greenlee studpunch on those. I drill with the carbide multistep drill bits or I break out my plasma cutter.
 
Additions are usuually a completely different beast. I did a small 2-story remodel rough-in that felt like it took forever. I do not remember the actual hours, but it was probably 60, give or take. Tieing in new wiring with exisiting is the royal pain, for me. That, and remaining sheetrock vs. open walls. Compare that with a completely new rough-in a few weeks later that I did in about 2 1/2 days. (I wanted to do it in 16 hours, but I think it was more 18-20. I did a house when I was younger in right at 16 hours from the first box to the last cut-in. That one has been my "bar" ever since. Age tends to lower the boom rather than raise the bar, though :grin: )

Edit: Climbing those ladders like you mention is a definite calculation of time. Material off-loading and tools/cords loading and unloading does add quite a bit, as well as how close you can get the vehicles. If you forget tools like I do, than it is a major consideration.:D
 
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2 good rules of thumb

2 good rules of thumb

Here are a couple I use.
1: 2 men can do around 800 square feet per day(a little high but close)
2: Take your square footage and use a multiplier of .048 Depending on your men adjust accordingly. Someone once told me they use 0.50 and i worked that on a few residential dwellings and lowered mine due to my guys. for example: a 6500 square foot custome we can do in about 305 hrs. 6500*.048=312 hrs. That is pretty close for me. I also use the extra 7-8 hrs for supervision like meeting with builders and homeowners to do a exact layout and changes. We go through and box out completly and lay recess cans on floor as an approximate. Once homeowner comes in and approves we pull wire. Once wire is being oulled any changes go through extras/change orders. Hope this helps
 
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