No one is home to see my work

[1973911s]

I must demo the kitchen this weekend, as the GC is starting on Wednesday.






Walls and carpet are going out today.

Michael

[vash]

damn, you did that in one weekend?!!! what are your plans? i wish i could help, so i could learn something or two. i plan on doing to same thing soon....

[84porsche]

Nice demolition - just had a kitchen remodel - added about 60 sq ft - cost: $ too much - not to harp on things - but make sure you check the contractor license # - and make sure everything is in writing - the loopholes can be painfully expensive - the microwave became our best friend.

[Schrup]

I love demo work, it's putting everything back together that sucks. I just had to spend $1k to back out of a contract with a GC, because we decided to buy a different place.

[1973911s]

Demo work is easy. Learn that when hand hits nail, and sharp point is pointed to hand, it time to say oouch. Well the nail pulled out easy, but dam did it bleed, all over the place, would think I hit in artery.

We are taking the two rooms and making one large great room (kitchen). She got the kitchen, I got the porsche.

Michael

[1973911s]

http://www.pbase.com/msnowdon/kitchen

[trj911]

You make it look clean and easy with those pics.

[Zeke]

Looks like about $35,000 is about to start circulating in the economy. I was going to doa kitchen this year, too, until Uncle Sam decided I was going to spend the next 12 mos. paying him off. That's what happpens when you sales go up 40% and you don't realize it. I actually make more money when I sell less. My prices just went up again. I hate taxes.

[1973911s]

35K, I wish, double that, and then 10% for extras. There is some major structural changes to the house, and wife only wants the best, Granite, Hardwood.

Michael

[1973911s]

I got everything done but the drop ceiling in what was the kitchen. My hand just isn't ready to grip a hammer.

The new plan



Thanks for letting me show.

Michael

[Zeke]

$77,000 for a kitchen with struc work. At the usual contractor P & O markup, that's about 45K in materials and labor. If you are including appliances in your figure then I would have to back those figures out before estimating labor and mat. Still, nice job for someone. There's a min of 20K profit in a job like that. Five of those a year and I'd be happy.

Looks good. Hope it all goes perfectly.

[1973911s]

That includes $16,781.99 for Appliances and $5,000 for furniture and $2500 paint.

I saved $1750 this weekend by doing the tear out myself. Well it wasn't $1750, when you back out the bins at $110, and materials of $50, so really saved $1590, which is almost what I spent on my car last week.

Michael

[johnco]

$77,000 for kitchen remodel? wow! that will get you a brand new 2000sqft house and lot where I live. Actually $59,000 for a brick home and lot in one subdivision. not a great house, but a decent house

[1973911s]

I tried to tell my wife we would get more out of a 2003 Porsche then we would a kitchen. She didn't buy off on that one.

Michael

[Zeke]

Originally posted by 1973911s
That includes $16,781.99 for Appliances and $5,000 for furniture and $2500 paint.

I saved $1750 this weekend by doing the tear out myself. Well it wasn't $1750, when you back out the bins at $110, and materials of $50, so really saved $1590, which is almost what I spent on my car last week.

Michael

Ah, and the satisfaction is priceless.

[1973911s]

Zeke,

So what do you think my contractor is making with the above figures? He is making all the cabinets himself, but buying the fronts.

Michael

[Zeke]

I have no way of knowing the man's overhead. Standard P & O to stay in business and be legit with license, insurance, showroom/office and sales commisions is up towards $70%. Meaning, if you could hire his subs or employees directly, you would pay out about 59 % of what he is charging. Many do it for less, some can make it and some don't. You have to take out all free standing appliances and anything else you supply or otherwise contribute to.

I am one of those contractors that has very low overhead, have a very narrrow specialty and do less than 2% of my gross in advertising. That's unheard of in business. Most do around 10%/gross in advertising and or marketing. Other expenses come with the territory, like an office/showroom/shop, or any combination thereof. Most expenses can be cost out to the job, even a truck supplied to an employee and you see that in your direct job cost. But profit and overhead is pretty closely guarded information. I like to make 15% on everything I touch for my overhead. I don't work on a profit basis because I am a one man company. My profit is my wage. If I wanted to expand, I would watch that overhead and try to keep it under 20%. I would then determine how much my salary would be and try to make a 20% profit beyond that. I said try. So, bare ass minimum would be a 40% markup on any cost, hoping the costs ran true and not over. Hard to do. But the best survive.

[1973911s]

Zeke,

Thanks for your insight.

I found this contractor, when I was looking at another Porsche on this board. Walked into the kitchen said it was really nice, and he said we just finished it. Took the name and held it tell we were ready.

The contractor is a small shop, no showroom, no glitter, just a really nice guy. His insurance and contractor licenese are current.

I hope to have a continued good experiance with him.

Michael

[Zeke]

Sounds like a diamond in the rough. There are a few of us that function as owner/operators and you are dealing direct with the source. If you go to the Home Defect (or Lowes, Sears, etc., I better throw that in there to be fair), you can expect to pay for multiple overheads and profit margins. It's ridiculous how many poeple the paperwork passes thru until someone fianally drives a nail.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by 1973911s
That includes $16,781.99 for Appliances and $5,000 for furniture and $2500 paint.

Man that sounds like a lot of $$ for paint. Are you doing some sort of faux technique? If you're going with a pro make sure they roll it - not spray. Roller/brush touch up's never match sprayer applied paint. Wife and I painted our entire new house (3900sq/ft) interior - one room at a time. Spent ~$750 on paint (~6 colors total) and supplies - came out better than any pro could have done.