Anybody out there care to throw a number together for the electrical cost of a pool. Bonding 20 metal wall suports(walls and bottom composite material), 22 individual pcs of coping(mechanical connections of coping are not an approved means per AHJ),J box under diving board for 1 niche light,150' 3/4 pvc u/g back to switch location at house for light, 2 speed 240V pump, 50A 240V heater, 120V convenienc gfci within 20' of pool,. 4' apron around pool is standard wire reinforcement, pool is 20'x40', electrical panel is located within 20' of pool equipment which is sitting outside. Panel is of sufficient size and will need no modifications or additions to supply the added load..Equipment disconnects will be located where rerquired, wiring methods can be whatever code allows for that particular portion of the job. There will be an aluminum fence within 5' of the pool on 3 sides, the sections are mechanically joined and will require bonding at only 1 point. I bid this and the owner is telling me that I'm anywhere from 20-25% higher than the 2 other bids she got.I know of the other contractors and to my knowledge we were always very competitive on other work, is pool work generally charged out at a higher factor than other work? Thanks.
I/G pool cost
- Thread starter nizak
- Start date
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- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Last one I did was about $5,500 but the pump house was about 125 feet from the house. I did not do any of the digging so if you have to dig then my guess is you are looking at $3500-$4000
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
It is entirely possible that someone who does more of this then you do is better at it and can do it for less and still make a buck.
Even though we think we are very competitive, we get hosed like this now and then. I don't see how the other bidders can make any money on a job they bid that much lower than us, but they are still around so my guess is they are making money somehow on the projects.
On a few occassions we had jobs where our material price was close to what the low bidder got the job for. It seems unlikely they would take a job with no markup and no labor built in to it, so I have no idea how they made any money on them.
I would not get real worried about getting hosed now and then.
Even though we think we are very competitive, we get hosed like this now and then. I don't see how the other bidders can make any money on a job they bid that much lower than us, but they are still around so my guess is they are making money somehow on the projects.
On a few occassions we had jobs where our material price was close to what the low bidder got the job for. It seems unlikely they would take a job with no markup and no labor built in to it, so I have no idea how they made any money on them.
I would not get real worried about getting hosed now and then.
andyselec@aol.com
Member
- Location
- durham,nc
- Occupation
- Electrical contractor
Your number sounds reasonable, I would go work for free for my wife than try to meet those other prices. As a mason once told me if someone ask if you can lower your price you say "No, because if I could that would mean I charged you to much to start with" makes sense to me.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
I don't know how much of the cost was material, but I would not so sure about the 5% statement. I have seen many, many cases where there are huge differences in the prices being paid for the exact same items from the same supply house by different customers.
Some things there is not much difference on, other things will make you shake your head. If material is a significant part of the job cost, it might be that the competitors found a cheaper source for the material, or just get a better deal from the supply house.
I am not saying you are wrong about the material cost in this case, but don't take it for granted either.
sorry man, but yes..you bit it at 32...someone else comes in at 24 or 26..........it's the labor/overhead.
Are you bidding to stay in business and have a certain rate? You may want to reduce your labor/overhead rate
It sux...but, if you can hang in there, the 24-26 guy will get weeded out. Same boat here...sorry too say.
question..should you or would you bust a nut for your price of 100 dollars a week or work and bust a nut for 15 dollars a week..to maybe "keep the doors open".
Sorry,
Lost in Jersey
I don't know, because people here are looking at 10, 20 100 bucks.
Maybe it's the your better than the other guy and your using the high grade conductors and materials...
again,
Lost in NJ
Respectfully........or hires mexicans (illegal) or minimum rate on the book employees.
again, respectfully.
But I understood your point that maybe the contractor banged out 15,000 pools in the last 2 yrs. and he can do the job for a grand less and still make a profit.
Profit? that word is on the same page as Vacation.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
it is hard to know just what the other contractors are up to or how they can do the work for so much less. But even n good times bids are lost like this.
I doubt it would take 15,000 pools to make a difference, maybe just one a month if the OP is doing one a year. How much difference is tough to say.
ECs are no more interchangeable than anyone else.
Maybe it's the pool guy doing all the work with his day labor, and he pays an electrician for his license.....
Maybe it's a new electrician....bidding on alittle more than what he was getting paid from his old employer.
Maybe he did 32,000 pools in the past couple years, and he's really really good.
Tuff to say.
What's not tuff to say is......people are giving away work......to keep the few with money very very happy.
Truth.
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