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Modern Addition (ok not a full home.. just an add on)

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conversation started by Thomas Zdon last modified 10-19-2008 03:41

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Re: Modern Addition (ok not a full home.. just an add on)

Posted by sea.design at October 16. 2008

both disciplines usually charges a flat fee based on industry standard using % total construction cost:


architects charges 10-15% (new); 15-20% (remodel).


engineers usually take up 2% of the architects fee


in SF bay area, the construction cost is about $350-500/SF.  based on your rendering, it'll most likely be on the higher range due to all the structural elements and architectural detailing (Emerson is dead on about his comments).


something like this you have no choice but to use an architect and a damn clever engineer.  stainless pool enclosure - modern but not quite sustainable??!!


Re: Modern Addition (ok not a full home.. just an add on)

Posted by Thomas Zdon at October 17. 2008

Previously sea.design wrote:





both disciplines usually charges a flat fee based on industry standard using % total construction cost:




architects charges 10-15% (new); 15-20% (remodel).




engineers usually take up 2% of the architects fee




in SF bay area, the construction cost is about $350-500/SF.  based on your rendering, it'll most likely be on the higher range due to all the structural elements and architectural detailing (Emerson is dead on about his comments).




something like this you have no choice but to use an architect and a damn clever engineer.  stainless pool enclosure - modern but not quite sustainable??!!


 


The pool exists - its an endless pool - that company will move it - I only need the contractor to erect a square slab.  The building is 1 wall, 1 interior wall, and 1 roof with the glass windows handled by local firms - PGT.  Wow - contractors are smoking crack in SF if they are getting 350-500.  Thank god I don't live there.  It always amazing me how much more contractors get by region when material costs don't really fluctuate that much.  Building costs in texas are subtantially lower than Miami which are lower than SF. 


 


Here's the good news - its a recession - contractors will be looking for work so they seem more willing to negotiate right now.  I'm fine with a builder making 20% on his work - but at $500 a square foot your really talking making more like 100% on the labour and effort.  Lets face it  - 1 concrete truck costs 1,000 in Miami.  I may need 5-10.  That leaves framing it up and very few internal finishes.  Plumbing and electrical are not subtantial - one drain and 2 water lines.  Electric is already near the location due to current pool location - and I've priced moving the pool at 5k (it dissambles and reassembles).


 


Hard part is going to be getting equipment in - and that is where I think the cost will come from as well as whether or not the site requires pilings - a miami code thing.  But seriously - considering the total lack of finishes, the total lack of complex requirements - I can't see this costing more than 100k.  The windows price out at 20k - add the pool with pad - 10k, we are at 30.  Now add in the 1 wall and roof and 1 interior support column - you aren't that high yet.


 


We lost the moat... was too complicated anyway and not enough room to support it.  I'lll let folks know as I progress.  But - to build a single room of 600 sq. feet and pay 300,000 (at 500 dollars a sq. foot) would be a joke.  I can buy a full 3 bedroom 2 bath home in Miami or fort Lauderdale right now for less than that... so it just depends on how hungry the contractors are... cause if they don't want the job - I can always just buy a vacation home for less.


 


Architect fees are 10-15% is true - but they aren't doing any design work here - I've got the plans in cad... I believe in SoFla an engineer can do those plans for the code - in fact I don't think architects add a lot of value in the states since they tend to be more design focused and rely on engineers for structural - whereas when I studied in Europe (architecture) we had to do both. 


 


I also have an Architect (former college mate) who is doing the plans - so I'll only need an engineer to take those and do the structural and certify so hopefully that will save money as well.


 


300k for 600 sq. feet - lol.  And people wonder why we're in a credit crisis... lol.




 


Re: Modern Addition (ok not a full home.. just an add on)

Posted by Jeffrey Rous at October 19. 2008

Thomas, We are finishing up builing an "affordable" modern house in Dallas and so I have some experience with this. You need to get a spread sheet going and start thinking up row for every element of the project. If you already have a CAD file for the design (that is as detailed as necessary to allow no room for builder "interpretation"), then you should be able to find an architect to review and stamp the plans pretty reasonably. In Dallas, you do not need an architect stamp for stuff like this. But you do need an engineer to review everything, and there is a minimum cost for doing a project. Shop around for a structural engineer (builders often work with them), but I bet that will cost you at least $1500.


 


In Dallas, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contractors can all design their layouts and systems to work and met code. Depending on where the sun hits, that little glass box is going to get hot. Because building costs per SF drop with size, you will have a high SF cost for all trades. There may not be a lot of openings, but the electrician still has to get power out to this thing. There may not be a lot of fixtures, but getting water and sewer out there is a lot. It may not be a lot of SF to condition, but there still has to be a entire system out there for this building.


So as I see it:


Design and engineering: 3000-5000


Permits: 3000? Any idea what this is in Miami?


Foundation: 10,000 (slab on grade?)


Windows: 20,000 (does this include install? If not, add 5000)


Electrical: 6000 (but assumes you will need to upgrade your existing service and panel)


Plumbing and HVAC: 6000


Framing: 5,000


Roof: 4,000


gwb: 3,000


Exterior: 5000 (stucco?)


Finish floor: 2500 (seal the slab) and could go much higher


One full bath and lighting fixtures: 4000


Interior paint: 4000 (nice paint job by real painter -- new trim is a pain)


Exterior hardscape and landscape (move pool): 12,000


Finish carpentry: 2000-6000 depending on details and how good you want it to look.


Trash disposal and clean up: 2000


Builder profit: 20,000


WIth this, we are at about $120k, or $200/SF.


Now these are rough prices (not knowing level of detail and local construction cost, so you might be able to amend all this quite a bit. If I were you, I'd start a spreadsheet with these numbers, show the plans to a few builders and see what they say about each item. That will allow you to see where you are without too much trouble. I think you could save a lot if you moved away from Mies and went more www.krdb.com . The devil, as well as God, is in the details.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 
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