Retaining wall $

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kryptonjohn

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#222498 14-Aug-2017 17:43

Hi - am thinking about getting a some retaining wall built - about 30m up to 1.5, high. Looking around it sounds like the going rate to get someone to build it is $450/m and up so close to $15k for the project.

I've built plenty of these in the past but have got old enough that I really don't like doing the manual labour any more. OTOH I'd rather spend $15k on something a bit more fun that a wall so had a crack at estimating the actual cost...

So I reckon I'd need 150mm round H5 polse at 1.2 centres, 25 @ $65, $1625

200 x 50 rough sawn H4 planks, 210 lm @ $6 $1260

Some 100mm galv nails, cement, builders mix, hire a mixer, hire post hole borer, draincoil+sock, scoria... say $700

5 man days labour - 40h @ $30 $1200

Jeez that's under $5k, say $160/m.

What am I missing here - that is not even close to $15k?

Cheers

JohnO

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#1846563 14-Aug-2017 17:46

Compliance costs - building permits etc

$30/hr, I'm sure they charge way more than that, I would think $45-$55/hr would be their charge out rate.

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Ropata

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#1846564 14-Aug-2017 17:46

Where did you get the 30 per hour figure from?

Ropata

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#1846565 14-Aug-2017 17:49

Also, if you can get the 200 x 50 for 6 bucks I might start buying it off you, even with your margin on top.

timmmay

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#1846566 14-Aug-2017 17:50

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

plod

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#1846567 14-Aug-2017 17:50

Probably also a 2-3 man job

kryptonjohn

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#1846568 14-Aug-2017 17:51

@Ropata - We've been using AWF labourers for $20-$25 and our builder's apprentices/hammer hands are $30-$40 (and they know what they are doing).

@gregmcc - no permits or any other paper work required of not exceeding 1.5m high and not carrying additional load above (structures, cars etc). However I can understand a business doing it will carry some overheads. But if that's all then I guess I can save a ton of dough by designing it myself, ordering in all the materials and then just hiring the labour.

[edit: note that the labour prices above include margin to the supplier - should be able to save some money with a direct hire of a sole trader)

mattwnz

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#1846570 14-Aug-2017 17:52

There was another thread here not long ago that discussed builders chargeout rates. Council and compliance costs are often blamed, but it depends where you are located.

kryptonjohn

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#1846571 14-Aug-2017 17:53

mattwnz:

There was another thread here not long ago that discussed builders chargeout rates. Council and compliance costs are often blamed, but it depends where you are located.

Yep. I think with the demand vs supply the builders can get away with inflating their estimates.

As mentioned there should be nil council/compliance cost due to 1.5m Auckland City rule.

plod

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#1846572 14-Aug-2017 17:54

Probably also a 2-3 man job

kryptonjohn

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#1846573 14-Aug-2017 17:56

plod: Probably also a 2-3 man job

Well there's efficiency for extra hands but my wild estimate is based on man-hours not job duration. I made a conservative guess on the time it takes to dig a hole, brace a post in it, mix some concrete and pour it, nail up the planks etc. In other words, under three days for two guys plus me trying to help without getting in the way!

Ropata

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#1846576 14-Aug-2017 18:02

Sounds like a plan, all you need to do is find a sole trading labourer/hammerhand that's willing to do it for cash and try and pay cash for the materials and do all the driving and material handling yourself.

mattwnz

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#1846582 14-Aug-2017 18:12

kryptonjohn:

plod: Probably also a 2-3 man job

Well there's efficiency for extra hands but my wild estimate is based on man-hours not job duration. I made a conservative guess on the time it takes to dig a hole, brace a post in it, mix some concrete and pour it, nail up the planks etc. In other words, under three days for two guys plus me trying to help without getting in the way!

Maybe get someone to do a labour only contract on a hourly rate, and not on a quote. Any quote will build in a risk margin. So you over all the materials in etc, and get them delivered, and then just get them to do the work. Some builders seem to prefer this. A lot easier than doing all the manual labour yourself.

scuwp

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#1846612 14-Aug-2017 18:49

Have you allowed for drainage costs?

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Ropata

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#1846616 14-Aug-2017 18:53

scuwp:

Have you allowed for drainage costs?

Drainage chip 6.5m2 450.00, they should lend you a trailer, Drainflo with sock 230.00 plus labour and assuming the pipe wont need a sump and storm-water connection.

kryptonjohn

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#1846619 14-Aug-2017 18:57

Hope it doesn't need a connection. It's not a catchment, just a drain to prevent water build up behind the wall

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