Housing Market and the cost of Home Improvements

[screwtop]

Before the housing market took a dive, my wife and I got an estimate to have 800 sq. ft. of pavers installed beneath our deck. The estimate came back at $17,000. Needless to say, we were in sticker shock. It's been about 2 years since we got that estimate, and I'm wondering if I'll be able to get a better deal now?:dunno Perhaps contractors are getting a bit hungry, and will be willing to do it for alot less. Has anyone out there been able to take advantage of the market situation and get some home improvement work done at a much more reasonable price than originally bid?

[Belquar]

Just curious? Why would you put pavers underneath a deck?

[Belquar]

Just curious? Why would you put pavers underneath a deck?

Nevermind. I guess if you have a deck off a upper floor that makes a little more sense.

[Braddog]

Around here, there are a lot of contractors that are looking for jobs, and these aren't fly-by-night types, either.

Some friends of ours had some major home renovations done, and were impressed by the price, the speed, and the quality of the contractors they hired. The owner of the company admitted that they were in need of good work to do.

I don't a clue what the market's like where you live, but from what I've seen locally, I'd say unless the cost of the bricks has gone up substantially, you have a chance that the overall bid *may* be down some.

[screwtop]

Nevermind. I guess if you have a deck off a upper floor that makes a little more sense.

Correct-o-mundo! The deck is about 10' high and I have a lower landing on it where my charcoal weber rotisserie grill resides (best cooking implement ever devised, I might add).

I have french doors that open under the deck from the walk-out finished basement. I want to get the pavers so we can enjoy the area under the deck and not track mud into the basement (my beagle likes to bury bones outside the door and has done alot of unwanted excavating in the area, exacebating the problem).

[KGT1200]

Around here, there are a lot of contractors that are looking for jobs, and these aren't fly-by-night types, either.

Some friends of ours had some major home renovations done, and were impressed by the price, the speed, and the quality of the contractors they hired. The owner of the company admitted that they were in need of good work to do.

I don't a clue what the market's like where you live, but from what I've seen locally, I'd say unless the cost of the bricks has gone up substantially, you have a chance that the overall bid *may* be down some.


You got this right!

The building industry has extra inventory in Minnesota. All our custom Minnesota home builders are now "custom home remodelers". Some very skilled people out there at a reasonable price! Check the builders association for more info one the good ones!

[gsjay]

Before the housing market took a dive, my wife and I got an estimate to have 800 sq. ft. of pavers installed beneath our deck. The estimate came back at $17,000. Needless to say, we were in sticker shock. It's been about 2 years since we got that estimate, and I'm wondering if I'll be able to get a better deal now?:dunno Perhaps contractors are getting a bit hungry, and will be willing to do it for alot less. Has anyone out there been able to take advantage of the market situation and get some home improvement work done at a much more reasonable price than originally bid?

I'm not an expert but $17,000 seems F_ _ king crazy!

That $21.25 a square ft. or $191 a sq yd if I'm doing the math correctly.

I'd get a few more estimates.........

Find a local company that makes the pavers and ask them for a recommendation on a contractor. Or call the local builders association for a list of contractors.
jason

[Belquar]

Stamped concrete will give you the look of pavers at a lot less cost and no potential for those little bitty weeds to pop up in 10 years between the pavers.

[Braddog]

You could save a significant amount of the cash if you did it yourself. Get the sand and bricks delivered, get the right tools, get some beer and brats, invite some buddies over and have a go at it.

I understand if doing it yourself isn't an option, too, by the way. That takes time and a helluva lot of effort, but it is a way to save a few bucks on labor.

800 square feet is a large area for an under deck patio, that's basically the foot print of a small home. Stamped concrete, as someone suggested, may not be a bad option, either.

[screwtop]

Just got 2 quotes yesterday ranging from 18 to 20K. I guess the contractors aren't that hungry yet.

Braddog - Good idea and I've contemplated the DIY route. From past experience, I've found that this usually is not a good option (for me, or my marriage).

GSjay - I figured the going rate was, on average $15.00 a square foot, which would put this job at around 12K. I could handle that, but that's about the limit. You really have to pay through the nose for this kind of stuff in my area :banghead

Belquar - If you've got any first hand experience with stamped concrete, I'd like to know how good of an alternative this is in terms of durability and look.

Thanks all for your comments.

[Belquar]

Belquar - If you've got any first hand experience with stamped concrete, I'd like to know how good of an alternative this is in terms of durability and look.

Thanks all for your comments.

My neighbor has a stamped concrete driveway. I'll go take a picture for ya.

Loads cheaper than pavers from what I understand. By at least half. The only unsightliness is the expansion joints. But you could choose a design that makes them less obvious.

[john1691]

Depending on what part of MD you are in, look at some PA contractors who do stamped concrete. Lancaster County, in particular, has a good sized Amish and Old Order Mennonite population who don't pay into Social Security, don't pay unemployment taxes, and live frugally, (religous excemptions) so are therefore pretty competative price wise. My Brother in law works for an Amish roofer, and they travel all over. He was in CT last week, and has done work in NY, NJ, and MD as well. If you are interested, PM me and I'll do some further checking for you as far as contractor names and phone numbers from the local Yellow pages.

[Belquar]

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f229/belquar/P4080370.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f229/belquar/P4080371.jpg

The expansion joint. The contractor "forgot" to put one in so they cut this with a wet saw after the fact.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f229/belquar/P4080373.jpg

[OfficerImpersonator]

The housing market here in the Seattle area has leveled off to the point that our suburban areas are now riddled with new developments where the land was clear-cut, the lots carved out of the earth, some utilities were installed, and then the builder ran out of money or lost his financing.

Now we have all these clear-cut mud bogs around, with impoverished real estate speculators unable to pay for storm water management, security, and other expenses related to owning vacant land.

Sometimes capitalism sucks.

[Pat Carol]

I am glad to have my 41 acres of rolling hardwoods along with my home on the property. I always dreamed of living up north where I can walk out of my house and go hunting.
Now if I tried to sell this place, ha, this is Michigan. You may hear how the big cities are hurting. There is nothing here in Northern Michigan. That includes a home buyer.

PC

[screwtop]

Thanks Belquar, John1691, and others on your comments. After some consideration I think we will be going the Paver route. From what I am finding out, the material we want to use (Techo-block) comes at a contractor cost of approx: $4.50 sq.ft. Installed it's running around $18.00!!. When you consider labor, equipment rental, waste disposal, etc., I can see a figure of about 12K being reasonable, so I'm going to haggle on this one. We're actually getting 1,000 sq.ft. w/ a couple of "sitting walls" if it works out.

[bmwcliff]

Pavers is the way to go. Back in 1991, I installed a stepped[ sharp slope] Versalock wall and front steps with Omni pavers. I paid 1 guy off hours to do the work, with me acting as laborer and student. A few years later I did the sidewalk on the side of the house, framed with Versalock, and had to pay a guy for 1 day to do the actual laying of pavers, with myself as laborer and student. Since then I have done 3 patios, the back steps for a room addition to the kitchen, and the floor of my new garage. I am doing this summer, steps from the far side patio, and a small sidewalk. I always buy the pavers off season, and discontinued or leftover lots. I have developed a great relationship with the retail guy, resulting in savings of thousands of dollars, and to date have about 1200 sq. ft. paved, with steps and a multi-level patio. Nothing is as permanent, and as beautiful.:dance

[careycsg]

I'm not an expert but $17,000 seems F_ _ king crazy!

That $21.25 a square ft. or $191 a sq yd if I'm doing the math correctly.

I'd get a few more estimates.........

Find a local company that makes the pavers and ask them for a recommendation on a contractor. Or call the local builders association for a list of contractors
jason


Had Brussel pavers done last fall at $11.00 per square ft. in a suburb of Chicago. 12" base and you could drive a truck on the patio. Landscape contractor. Money well spent after researching his references and past jobs. Two other quotes at $14.00 per sf. $21.25 is rape.