Do you need to get dirt removed? If so - dump fees for the dirt.

timmmay:

 

You'd get a laborer for $30/hr, not a builder.  Also people tend to underestimate time required.

 

Trademe is your friend @Ropata

http://www.trademe.co.nz/building-renovation/building-supplies/timber/other/auction-1392721489.htm

That's T&G and in Christchurch, but should be cheaper for plain in Auckland. 

timmmay:

 

You'd get a laborer for $30/hr, not a builder.  Also people tend to underestimate time required.

 

@timmmay over the last 12 months I've spent over $400k on building projects, trust me I know those numbers. Master builder $80, hammer hand or  apprentice $30-$40 (the $40 guy almost as good as the MB, the $30 guy easily competent to build retaining walls) labourer $25 is what I've been paying.

Those labourers were through AWF so the poor blighters were probably only getting $18 after AWF took a cut.

Aredwood:

 

Do you need to get dirt removed? If so - dump fees for the dirt.

 

Good point but hopefully not - will be building some areas up to the level of the wall by scraping back some other areas. 

But my main interest at this stage of the project is getting a baseline comparison for build it myself (with hired labour) vs get someone to do an all in one build. So the dump fee if applicable is applicable to both. As it happens the local landscape supplies guys allow dumping of clean fill at their yard for way less than most places (NZ Landscape Supplies, Marua Rd Auckland).

Which reminds me - @Ropata commented on scoria, drainflow and sock which from NZ Landscape Supplies website I can estimate at Scoria 6.5m3 @ $70 $455 ouch, and that's being economical. Drainflow 30m $179, sock $53. 

Interesting comparison here for gabion retaining - steel baskets of stone that basically sit on the ground and use their own weight to retain:

http://www.gabions.co.nz/Timber_Retaining_Wall.htm

Personally I like their look but I suspect it's not for everyone.

But they seem good value. Anyone seen these things in the flesh?

kryptonjohn:

Interesting comparison here for gabion retaining - steel baskets of stone that basically sit on the ground and use their own weight to retain:

http://www.gabions.co.nz/Timber_Retaining_Wall.htm

Personally I like their look but I suspect it's not for everyone.

But they seem good value. Anyone seen these things in the flesh?

 

Are they delivered as is? That will require a crane. They also will take up a lot more room meaning digging out a lot more to gain the space you want at the front side.

Ropata:

 

Are they delivered as is? That will require a crane. They also will take up a lot more room meaning digging out a lot more to gain the space you want at the front side.

 

they are delivered as the steel cages, and are empty, the stones are delivered separately.

kryptonjohn:

Interesting comparison here for gabion retaining - steel baskets of stone that basically sit on the ground and use their own weight to retain:

http://www.gabions.co.nz/Timber_Retaining_Wall.htm

Personally I like their look but I suspect it's not for everyone.

But they seem good value. Anyone seen these things in the flesh?

 

Ropata:

Are they delivered as is? That will require a crane. They also will take up a lot more room meaning digging out a lot more to gain the space you want at the front side.

Yeah as others have said - all in costs are way more than just materials and labour and could potentially include:

• Preliminary and General - Bonds, insurances, service location and protection, H&S requirements etc.
• Design - incl:

   

  • Site investigations e.g. geotech assessments.
  • Structural design.
  • Drawings / CAD.
  • Producer Statements.
• Consents (Building and or RC).
• Inspections and sign-off - by Council and potentially your engineer.
• Plant - diggers / piling or drilling rigs / compacters / tools etc.
• Access.
• Subbies.
• TIME - Skilled and Unskilled (As others have said tends to get under estimated by novice/DIY types.)
• Waste material disposal.
• Reinstatement.
• Allowances for unforeseen conditions and risk allowance for sh%t that goes wrong.
• On site overheads.
• Off site overheads.
• And hopefully - PROFIT MARGIN on all of the above. (Noting that for some jobs you may make no profit, so you may want to increase this in general i.e. to allow for the swings and roundabouts of being in business).

So yeah - sh&t adds up!

Re Rocks in a Basket aka - Gabions - They are used in infrastructure projects a lot as they are relatively quick and can be built with relatively low skilled labour and where access may be challenging ....but they are wide so take up a lot of room - and are just a bit too ugly for most peoples backyard.

I don't have rates available, but they will likely be more expensive than a typical timber pole retaining wall for most residential situations.

Your est profit margin is way short of current market....some (admittedly big boy) contractors like up to 20% for off-site and 20% for on-site overheads - so 40% all up - AND this applies to all costs - not just labour.