need help on pricing outside my trade, on carpet removal

KLHhomeImp · 05-17-2007, 02:24 PM

I am in the New England area and a building being is sold w/ water damaged capet that needs to be removed first. The carpet is know dry and was origanally glued to a concrete floor. I am asking what a fair price is to remove 10,250sq. ft., either by the sq. foot or the sq. yrd. The owners are responsible for dumping. I am putting it into thier dumpsters.

KLH

send_it_all · 05-17-2007, 02:43 PM

I would go into it assuming that it will be difficult to get the carpeting up. Estimate how long it will take you to do a 10'X10' spot (I would think 15-20 min. per man or so if its stuck pretty good) then multiply that by 103. That's 300 sq. ft per man hour. Say for example your billing rate for those laborers is $30....I come up with about 34 man hours to remove the carpet or $1,020. (add a little for contingincy+ some profit). I might charge 1200-1300. If you have an opportunity to test a spot it would help tremendously.

send_it_all · 05-17-2007, 02:45 PM

Remeber to add the time it takes to put it into the dumpsters...my estimate didnt figure that in. If they dont have enough dumpster space to fit it all in one shot...add for the extra time there, too. Think it through.

KLHhomeImp · 05-18-2007, 01:36 PM

Using the man hours as a type of guide, I came up w/ a price of .15 cents per. sq. ft. that includes putting in dumpster and light clean up. The owner was quite eager to sign the dotted line leading me to believe i was low but $1650.00 between two men for two short days is decent for someone outside their trade. I also found that testing an area or two was very helpful so thank you for your time and advice.

KLH Home Improvements

Zero Punch · 05-19-2007, 07:32 PM

Good luck! Please return and let us know how you made out time wise.

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 05-19-2007, 08:47 PM

Generally, the carpet installation person we use, will not give a price for carpet removal without first visiting the site and determining what resistance will be encountered with the carpet removal.

In other words, he'll go around and try pulling some corners up to see if it is easy or difficult.

This 'check' also reveals whether he will have to factor in the cost to rent a carpet removing/carpet stripping machine to his estimate and time table costs....

Example of a carpet removal machine:

http://www.installertools.com/cgi-bi...atalogno=55-71

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 05-19-2007, 08:49 PM

KLH,

BTW-If you want to know a 'fair price' or 'ballpark price' - for your area....... simply call a local carpet installation company and ask them what they charge per SF...