I'd appreicate any infor about pricing pipe work as for any thing I should be aware of.I am starting to get more industrial work which I do like better then residential so I want to or hope to get my pricing within reason.Two jobs are pending my propsals.First one is for two 20 amp single phrase circuits about 190 feet in 1/2 emt approx. 10 ft high to end in 232 box and breakers to c/h panel.Nothiung in way all 6 ft. ladder work.The other is 50 amp 3phrase 240 volt 1 inch emt about 220 ft 16-18 ft high they provide forklift and driver from c/h panel to area in shop.Shoud this be priced by foot including the wire or figure the hours and percentages.Thanks for the help.
Pricing
- Thread starter GerryR
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Gerry,
For jobs like this, you need to know all the job conditions, installation time, just ladder movement alone, eats up time, moving material, another time eater, one building may have a receiving area that is easy access, another may take hours just to unload. how will the material will be staged, will there be traffic in the working area, or will it be clear space, with no traffic, time setting up the pull, number, and type of fasteners, used, material your fastening to, all should be considered.
These jobs, usually take some experience, and good estimating data to estimate for a profit.
By the foot, or by the square, is great estimating single task jobs, but not so good for electrical installations.
For jobs like this, you need to know all the job conditions, installation time, just ladder movement alone, eats up time, moving material, another time eater, one building may have a receiving area that is easy access, another may take hours just to unload. how will the material will be staged, will there be traffic in the working area, or will it be clear space, with no traffic, time setting up the pull, number, and type of fasteners, used, material your fastening to, all should be considered.
These jobs, usually take some experience, and good estimating data to estimate for a profit.
By the foot, or by the square, is great estimating single task jobs, but not so good for electrical installations.
tadavidson
Senior Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Why are we electricians so evasive with each other when it comes to sharing calculations, pricing and rates with each other, plumbers and hvac guys sure will . An assoc. recently told me to purchase an estimating program that although the initial cost (3500 up) was high time cut on estimating was worth it. I usually estimate the job by the hours I have learned it to take to run the pipe and pull the wire x # of men x 30% (why I dunno)+material + overhead (ins, gas, tools). Sometimmes we win sometimes we lose. Good luck if this helps you.
I hope the driver is qualified and not just a yard monkey with "mad skills"...likewise, there should be an approved cage and fall protection - don't even think about having one of your people (or yourself) just stand on a pallet and get chauffered around:GerryR said:
Rent a scissor lift or a boom type lift if you have to!
Have you checked the price of wire lately?GerryR said:
I would price it by the foot AND add the appropiate percentages (mark-up, PITA factor/job conditions, etc)
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I don't think satcom was being evasive at all.tadavidson said:
The job conditions dictate the price...a 200' run of 1/2 EMT 10' AFF sounds like a breeze...until we discover that it's:
A) In an active warehouse and must be run over the shelving/stock
B) Is in an office - but must be IN the drop ceiling and the customer wants the job done at night so as not to disturb his staff.
etc...
There is more to estimating than just the height and distance for a pipe run.
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My advice to the OP, and anyone starting out, is to BUY an estimating program.
You DON'T need to run out and get some $3000 soup to nuts program...something basic until you understand the basics (K.I.S.S.).
How's $35 sound?
Here is a link to a thread where "The National Estimator" was discussed :
[Estimating and Bidding Help]
To come up with a realistic hourly rate, try this [ Business Owner's Cost Calculator]....oddly enough ~ it's at a plumbing site
Quote: "Why are we electricians so evasive with each other when it comes to sharing calculations, pricing and rates with each other,"
The contractors that know what they are doing, will not share pricing or rates, because they understand, every business has different overhead, and operating costs, location of business, wages for different areas of the country, insurance costs also differ from state to state, and type of operations, are you doing installation work, new or remod, is most of your work service, or is it a mix of both, could it be your doing all residential, and a small amount of commercial, they are not being evasive, just cautious, the fastest way to go out of business, is by following someone elses pricing, for all you know he is following the crowd, and on his way out.
An estimating program is only one tool for pricing a job, you will still need to know all the job conditions, and have either job actuals data, or accurate labor units, and updated pricing.
"they provide forklift and driver"
That can be a problem all by itself!
The contractors that know what they are doing, will not share pricing or rates, because they understand, every business has different overhead, and operating costs, location of business, wages for different areas of the country, insurance costs also differ from state to state, and type of operations, are you doing installation work, new or remod, is most of your work service, or is it a mix of both, could it be your doing all residential, and a small amount of commercial, they are not being evasive, just cautious, the fastest way to go out of business, is by following someone elses pricing, for all you know he is following the crowd, and on his way out.
An estimating program is only one tool for pricing a job, you will still need to know all the job conditions, and have either job actuals data, or accurate labor units, and updated pricing.
"they provide forklift and driver"
That can be a problem all by itself!
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