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breakingground08

slab foundation $20,293??!!! I need opinions please :)

breakingground08
16 years ago

Hi, we are due to break ground within the next few months and we got a good bid in from one contractor. Everything seemed to fall in line as far as comparing the trades with differant bids that we've gathered so far. However, once it came to the foundation...thats another story. We live in San Antonio, TX so prices here are pretty moderate. Our lot is level, no rock, and little excavation work will be needed. There is access from the front and back of the lot for the cement truck to get in. Overall, I believe a pretty simple job. Well his bid came in a $20,293 plus $950 for the excavation and site work for a slab foundation. The slab footage is 2589 ft. He broke down the $20,293 in his bid for us. According to him it is 387 for termite treatment, 578 for concrete material, 835 for flat work labor, 1020 for flat work concrete, 378 for flatwork material and $18,060 for something called "concrete turnkey". The bid seems really high to me. The company is only charging us a $10,000 fee to build the house and we are covering materials and labor separate. I kind of think that he is padding the foundation work and he may end up keeping a percentage. I may be wrong , but if anyone could chime in with their opinions or your costs for foundation, it would be really helpful.

Thanks!!

Comments (17)

  • robin0919
    16 years ago

    Seems high to me too......but, does it include the plumbing under the slab? Also, how thick are they pouring it? What is a yard of concrete going for in your area?

  • kellyeng
    16 years ago

    I'm in San Marcos, TX and my slab foundation was $42k for about 3000sf. It's conventional steel w/ rebar . Sounds like a bargain to me!

  • kemptoncourt
    16 years ago

    How many yards estimated in the slab?

  • jackofalltradesaz
    16 years ago

    Gilbert, AZ.

    2800 sq ft home + 3 car garage
    large back patio
    front porch
    expansive soils (bit more excavation, rebar, concrete)

    Total was $21,000

    If your paying 10k for the cost plus to build your home, it is very likely the GC is marking up materials for "just in case" costs. He's covering the liability cost of something not working out right and him having to cover the costs. The foundation of a home is not a place to cut back on costs or be frugal. Ensure that he's reputable and pay his asking price.

    -Steve

  • rachelh
    16 years ago

    Build NW of Houston. Total slab 3656 including 2 porches and garage. Living area 2628. Conventional slab per engineered design $23,576. Didn't include termite treatment. We had a ton of select fill brought in and dirt work done by someone else so no excavation was done either.

  • mike13
    16 years ago

    What were the other foundation trades bids?

    For a 2,589 sq ft slab that translates to approximately 45 cu yds X say $90/cu yd equals $4,050. That does not include the footings.

    Re:"we got a good bid in from one contractor" and "The company is only charging us a $10,000 fee to build the house " definitely raises suspicions about how well your build will go.

    Is the contractor doing the foundation himself? What other jobs will he do on your house?

    If his company is doing the foundation, framing, & other functions I can see how he would only charge $10,000 to be the GC. He'll definitely make it up in those other areas. One way to test it is to tell him he will only be the GC & all work will be done by others. He will most likely walk away.

    If he is not doing any of the hands-on work, then make sure you see the invoices from the subs & material suppliers. And to whatever extent you can make sure there is not some kickbacks going on from the subs that may be friends of his.

    What size house are you building? Regardless, the $10K sounds really low unless maybe he is really functioning as a "construction consultant" & not as the GC.

  • kellyeng
    16 years ago

    Oops, I forgot about the porches, garage and workshop. So it's actually 4770 square feet for $42k. That seems to be more in line with everyone else's cost and your quote.

  • owaller
    16 years ago

    What is the psi rating of the concrete that they will use? Are they using rebar, rebar plus piers,or rebar plus post-tension?

  • michaeloklahoma
    16 years ago

    I've got 3600 SF in Oklahoma (which equates to 4700 SF including garage). Total price of footing, stemwall, slab and termite treatments was 17,271. Concrete prices are very high and going up.

  • galore2112
    16 years ago

    "Concrete prices are very high and going up."

    Urban legend. Here in DFW, a cubic yard is $88, if you buy more than 9 cubic yards.

    http://www.cooperconcrete.com/products.htm

    It's been at this price for more than a year.

    Given the groaning and moaning in the construction business lately, I expect it to go down. Less demand = lower prices.

  • romanes4_verizon_net
    12 years ago

    I,m planning on doing a project of same size(2600 sf) slab of 4 inches thickness in Mesquite TX. Any thoughts of what bids I should expect on the excavation, site prep and foundation. Our lot is level and without any trees or rock. The concrete is expected to be 100psi and piers will be used

  • gregwilcox44
    8 years ago

    what price did you get back?

  • Ninjaneer
    8 years ago

    Greg, this is an old discussion from 2008. Are you looking for concrete prices in south texas? If so, I would be happy to list what I paid.

  • gregwilcox44
    8 years ago

    Hi Ninjaneer

    yes i would like to know what you paid I'm in Texas dfw area my foundation size 4,100 sf. with 50 piers. what size was yours and did you have any piers. Thanks


  • anil singhal
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Hi gregwilcox, would you mind giving the name of the engineer who designed the foundation and how much do they charge for slab on pier foundation

  • gregwilcox44
    8 years ago

    Hi Singhal, I used Gram - Martin Engineering out of Grand Prairie Tx to design my foundation.

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