Square footage cost estimate

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john37 said:
Is there a simple way on doing general electrical cost estimate by square footage? Just need something that would be in the ball park range.
Thanks.
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History and time and good record keeping can give you a ball park price but it will not give an accurate price. There are too many variables. Imo its best to do a take off. RS means has a sq calculator now.If you were doing the same tract house one after the other you could get a sq price that way. as long as you're watching copper prices. I wouldn't do it on commercial, Imo to risky
 
This has been discussed several times here, and I think the general consencus is square-foot pricing doesn't really work well.

For example, let's say you price your work at $4 ft?. A 2000 ft? house you would bill out at $8000. Now, that's assuming a 200A service and Code-minimum wiring.

Now, take a 2000 ft? house, and make all the appliances electric. Instead of forced-air, you've got a geothermal or air-to-air exchange heating & cooling system. And the customer wants electric in-floor heat under the tile. Oh, and don't forget the 40x100' shed for the workshop. Throw in a whirlypool and a hot tub, too... these folks like to live it up. You now need a 400A servce. Are you still going to wire it for $8K now?

Another way to look at is take the same 2000 ft? house you are doing for eight grand. Let's say it's got a basement, and they want to finish 1500 ft? of it. At $4 ft?, that's another $6000. Seems kinda steep for nothing more than switches, lights and receptacles.

Now, right down the street the builder is doing another home, this one only 1200 ft?. Can you make any money at $4800?

Part of the problem with square-foot pricing is most of the work costs the same regardless of the size of the house. A 200A underground service costs the same whether it goes into a 1200 ft? or on 8000 ft? home. Same for dedicated circuits.... bath, furnace, AC, sump, SABCs, etc. If you calculate an average 2000 ft? with a price of $4 ft?, you will over-price larger homes and lose them to the guys who calculate it by the item. On smaller homes, you'll cut yourself off at the knees.

IMPO, square-foot pricing has a place. I use it as a check for my line-item pricing method, comparing the two to see if they jive.

When all is said and done, I don't buy switchgear, wire, devices, etc. by the square foot. So I don't price by the square foot either.
 
john37 said:
Is there a simple way on doing general electrical cost estimate by square footage? Just need something that would be in the ball park range.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

The day you can buy a square foot of cable, and a square of panels, and all cables run in the same direction, you will be able to use sg ft for electrical estimating.
 
480sparky said:
... in the 28' tall entry way.
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And no room for scaffold, a lift , a ladder,
Then once you hang it and the wife shows up..
" can you make it a bit lower"
You tell her well I used all the chain and all the wire.
I want it lower. .........
..............................................
.....................................:mad:
 
Sierrasparky said:
And no room for scaffold, a lift , a ladder,
Then once you hang it and the wife shows up..
" can you make it a bit lower"
You tell her well I used all the chain and all the wire.
I want it lower. .........
..............................................
.....................................:mad:
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Followed by the obligitory call next week, "After looking at it from outside through the transom windows, can you raise it a foot or so?" :mad: :mad:
 
480sparky said:
Followed by the obligitory call next week, "After looking at it from outside through the transom windows, can you raise it a foot or so?" :mad: :mad:
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"Is'nt that included in the bid.............................:mad:
 
480sparky said:
We missed a step. We forgot about the homeowner not liking the fixture and wants to replace it.
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We say " that will be extra"
Then the customer say's I'll take care of that and do it myself. You come back and to get paid and there is a different fixture in a new location. You look and think I know that wire is not that long.........:roll:
 
Sierrasparky said:
We say " that will be extra"
Then the customer say's I'll take care of that and do it myself. You come back and to get paid and there is a different fixture in a new location. You look and think I know that wire is not that long.........:roll:
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Right from my proposal form:

"Warranty:

b. Warranty does not apply to:
(1) Material, fixtures, equipment and other items supplied by others.
(2) Extensions, alterations or additions to the original installation if made by others. "
 
480sparky said:
Right from my proposal form:

"Warranty:

b. Warranty does not apply to:
(1) Material, fixtures, equipment and other items supplied by others.
(2) Extensions, alterations or additions to the original installation if made by others. "
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Mee too:smile:
 
Thanks everyone...To be more detailed of what I'm trying to do is that the owner (Hilton Hotels) wants to renovate their ballrooms and meeting rooms. We just got the scope of work but have no idea what is involved yet electrically with the exception of it's just going to be a face lift. Nothing major. No new or demo'd walls. All the lighting and dimmer controls are handled by someone else so I don't have to worry about that portion. I just need to come up with a ball park preliminary cost for the owner to get a general idea. They won't hold us to the numbers. (I made that clear to them that it would be a ball park number).
So my problem is since the project is in preliminary stages and haven't been designed yet I have no idea what is involved with the exception of knowing it's just going to be a facelift renovation. They will be providing a new dimming system and latest and greatest telecom, audio, etc....
Being that this is a commercial project, I want to be somewhat in the area for the electrical costs. Any ideas on how to approach this? Thanks...
 
john37 said:
Thanks everyone.... They won't hold us to the numbers. (I made that clear to them that it would be a ball park number).
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BULL______! If you give them a "ballpark figure" it will bite you on the butt every time! If they are not going to use it for planning and are not going to expect you to honor it, what good is it? Tell them the price will not exceed $1,000,000.00. When they tell you that is ridiculous assure them that it is just a ballpark and that you will not "hold them to it"! When they get their act together enough for you to give them a meaningful quote. put one together for them. Anything else is a waste of everyone's time and an excuse for them to beat you down later. If they insist on having "something now" tell them that you will be happy to do the job for X dollar's per hour and material at cost X %. They can guess at how long it will take and what material will be needed just as well as you. Otherwise run, do not walk for the nearest exit. If you bow to the pressure and give them a "ballpark" figure based on the square footage you will regret the day you ever saw this job! I guarantee it!
 
haskindm said:
.....Tell them the price will not exceed $1,000,000.00. ....
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You're cheap. My standard 'outlandish' price is 16 billion. And I never use the word "dollars". That way, if the project can exceed 16 billion dollars, I can state, "Oh, that was 16 billion (__insert favorite form of foreign currency here__)!" If I slip up and say 'dollars', I can still use Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore or Taiwan dollars. ;)
 
Thanks guys....I guess that answered my question! I'll try to get more information or just tell them we have to wait until we see a design first. I guess they just want some budget numbers....
 
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