How To Determine the Estimated Cost of Home Improvement Labor
One of the biggest unknowns for homeowners when they want to begin a remodeling project is estimating the entire cost of the project, including labor costs. Depending on how the estimate is written, it can be both challenging and confusing to understand. You may not know what fees are included in the estimate, and the exact amount you may end up paying.
The following information will help you understand the basics of that are often used by estimators when determining final labor costs for home remodeling project. However, it is important to remember that every estimate for cost begins with one question, how much of each service or product is required?
How To Break Down Measurements For Repair Costs?
The first thing to understand is that most measurements in the construction industry are measured in:
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Linear feet
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Square feet
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Square yards
Linear feet are the simplest type of measurement. Take a tape measure and pull it from the wall on one side to a wall on the other side. If the measurements are 9ft by 5 in, you have 9’5” linear feet of wall space in the room.
This is important to know because if the area that is going to be renovated is small enough, it is possible you will not need to hire as many contractors and this will help you save money.
Finish carpenters use this type of measurement when they are measuring cabinets, trim and base boards.
Square feet measurements are the most commonly used measurements, and it is the simplest. The width of the room is multiplied by the length. So, if the room has measurements of 12 feet wide and 12 feet long, the square feet of the room would be 144 square feet. These measurements are often used for household renovations like drywall flooring, painting, countertops or more.
The square yardage is obtained by dividing the amount of square feet that is in a room by 9. This means that if a room has 180 square feet, it would be 10 square yards. It is a little more complicated to than finding the square yardage of a room.
Understanding The Scope Of Labor For Home Renovations
The estimate for labor cost begins with an assessment of the scope of the work needed. For example, if you are going to renovate the kitchen, you will need to create a list of everything that needs to be done. For example, if the walls need to be painted, it is important to take the square feet measurement of the walls.
The simplest way to get estimates is to find general contractors who want to bid on the project. Find at least 4 general contractors who are interested in giving you quotes. Schedule various times to meet with them.
Although you do not want to meet with them all at once, you may want to mention to each contractor that you are in talks with other contractors about the project. Hopefully, this strategy will encourage them to become more competitive, and that can mean a lower cost for you.
During the interview process, you will ask questions and ask for their input on the project. After the interviews, you will want to decide on a time for them to give you their estimate. You can plan this out 7 to 10 days after the interview. By giving them a deadline to submit their bid, you will get a sneak peek to see how well they respond to deadlines.
If you want the contractor to include the cost of materials and labor in their bid. Specify information like flooring and appliances if you want a certain quality. Keep in mind, a contractor with years of experience will ask you these questions without having to be prompted to.
In the bid, the contractor should also give you an approximate time for how long it will take them to complete the project (i.e. number of days or weeks).
You will also need to ask the general contractor for a list of the subcontractors they will be using for the job. This way, you can do a background check on them and get the necessary lien releases to ensure they are paid.
These are some of the things to keep in mind when you are trying to determine how to estimate the labor costs for your home renovation project. Make sure you are getting a fair price and quality craftsmanship for your project.
Do read the next article if you are looking for how to estimate the cost of home project.
