Besides tell me the square footage (I already know it's only 822) required to be covered, can the experts please tell me what is wrong with this estimate…because it has confused the he!! out of me. Kinda feel like someone wants to take me for a ride….but I could be wrong.

See Below:
______________________________________________________


I have a break down on your costs involved with your flooring installation. Also, I have a price on The Anderson distressed hickory that you have chosen.


Anderson #VH5796 -- $9,262.00 incl. tax

Bostics' Best glue -- 1200.00 (the industry standard)

Labor- floating floor 4356.00
with cement product
to bring to level--
apply moisture barrier
--install wood

Install base- 300.00
board(you supply)

Total for the complete job is -- $15,118.00.


Please call with any questions. Also, if you need a bid on your tile work we can handle that as well. Moisture levels must be checked prior to installation. If levels are too high moisture proofing estimate may increase cost.

We are trained and certified to do the proper installation for your floor. Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,
Send me your first Born too.
___________________________________________________________

Looks like California prices to me. Actually the Virginia Vintage pricing is low by standards I've heard out there. $11.27 per SF including tax? Good CA price. Doesn't look like a floating floor job when Bostik is mentioned unless it's the MVP sealer?

$4356.00 Labor? That comes out to $ 4.94 square foot.

What isn't mentioned here? Furniture movement, carpet removal? Maybe a tiled entry that has to come out? Remove base? Remove quarter round? Baseboard installation sounds cheap.

We can get the VV to you for $ 219.00 @ $ 8.95 per SF. Pickup price.

38 boxes @ 22.0 SF each= 836 SF
836 Sf x $ 8.95= $ 7,482.20. No sales tax. Add in $ 219 freight

equals--

Comes out to $ 9.21 per SF

Check the link below:

http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... autumn.htm

I’m concerned because I wasn’t given a square footage. I knew what it was before he came in for an estimate. But he did not tell me what he found. Am I suppose to let him work completely blind as to the work area footage?

I can get Virginia Vintage pricing at $7.82-$8.39 a square foot. He knew that and was suppose to (through his contacts) find it for less. In fact, I handed him a floor sample that had a price of $8.39 marked on it. Yet he comes back with $9,262.00 to cover 822 sq ft.

And why would he charge me $1200 to cover 822 sq ft. Depending on where one shops, Bostik is only $165-$175 for 4 gallons (~200 sq ft). $1200 is twice the requirements….unless he thinks he can get away with charging $300 per 4 gallon unit.

I think his estimate is for twice the floor I need covering. Has to be.

Then he goes on tell me that he will do the floor as a floater with a moisture barrier…..and with $1200 of glue.

And if the Moisture levels is too high, moisture proofing estimate may increase cost. So what does that really mean? Is he gonna install a moisture barrier twice?

He sees PROFIT!!!!

Is he the only game in town?

There may be more then is lead to believe needs to be done, like suggested above.


I don't understand the Bostiks Best with a floating installation!!!! Bostiks glue is used for a fully glued down installation.

I think what the estimate meant was floating out the uneven slab with a cementous leveler and gluing the flooring down with Bostick's. However, $18.00 a sq.ft. is expensive but that particular product is way over priced. I've been receiving faxes for hand scraped, prefinished for as low as $4.99 so I don't even bother with VV. Sounds like he factered in all his material costs (which are expensive) and added a nice profit margin. This is the correct way to do business. If you don't like the price, keep shopping for another contractor. BTW, one of my distributors wanted over $12.00 a ft. for VV. And they said that was their cost plus 10%. I don't sell it! Other products out there that are as good but less money.

Your right.

With MVP and installation labor

That's a fair price. @ $5.30 a foot for all that labor.

Four NWFA member wood floor installers within 25 miles

Estimate 1.

Installation of MVP Moisture Barrier to concrete $ 251.55
Installation of 813 sq ft of ½” Anderson Distressed Engineered $ 2235.75 (@$2.75)
Demo existing Carpet / Haul Away $ 325.20
No estimate of floor leveling until floor inspection

Total Labor: $ 2812.50

ADHESIVE COST =
MVP $165.00 @ 4 Units (1 unit per 200 sq.ft.) = $660.00
Bostik’s Best $145.00 @ 4 Units (1 unit per 200 sq.ft.) = $580.00
Total Adhesive Cost for this project= $1240.00
_____________________________________________

Estimate 2.

Installation of MVP Moisture Barrier to concrete $ 275.00
Installation of 822 sq ft of ½” Anderson Distressed Engineered $ 2466 (@$3.00)
Demo existing Carpet / Haul Away $ Free
No estimate of floor leveling until floor inspection

Total Labor: $ 2741

ADHESIVE COST =
MVP $175.00 @ 4 Units = $700.00
Bostik’s Best $165.00 @ 4 Units = $660.00
Total Adhesive Cost for this project= $1360.00
_______________________________________________

Estimate 3.

Installation of MVP Moisture Barrier to concrete $ ???
Installation of ??? sq ft of ½” Anderson Distressed Engineered $ ??? (@$???
Demo existing Carpet / Haul Away $ ???
Apparently floor will be leveled whether it needs it or not. $???

Total Labor: $ 4356

ADHESIVE COST =
MVP $?????@ ? Units = $????
Bostik’s Best $???? @ ? Units = $1200.00
______________________________________________
Estimate 4.

Due out on Friday.


*Note* Exploited (Normal for Southern California) but highly skilled and experienced floor worker (3 brothers from Mexico) who work for Licensed contractors during the weekday have agreed to level 1400 sq ft of the down stairs level for the soon to be installed wood and tile and demo the carpet and old tile for $300 (labor) as part of another of their weekend side business. They do astonishing concrete work.

Why do you need glue when this is a floating floor?

Ray, I said the same thing and then went back and reread the original post.


Labor- floating floor 4356.00
with cement product
to bring to level--



They are talking about floor prep.

Steve,

I will say those last estimates you posted are, IMO, a good deal. Why? Here in N. CA. (SF bay area), we charge at least $3.00 a ft. to nail down UNFINISHED, about $5.00 a ft to nail down prefinished, and more to glue down to concrete. So if you're finding LICENSED contractors willing to work for less than $3.00 a ft. then I hope they're good because that is a cheap labor rate. Here, Home Depot charges $2.00 a ft to install clip laminate, and $5.50 a ft. to install any hardwood (nail,glue,float). Materials NOT included,nor prep, demo, trims, etc. Lowe's charges even more. I suspect that even licensed NWFA contractors are working "off the books" and for cash. Not paying income or self employment taxes. Maybe not all their income but some of it. Anyway, if you like those prices (and who wouldn't), then check them out further. Call the license board to see if there are any actions against them, look at recent work, get referrals, etc. Then get the floor installed and enjoy it.