ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area charge for recess cans

I'm figuring up a price on a new house. Wonder if someone could give me an idea what you usually charge per recess can for installation only,I'v charged by square foot in the past, but this house has around 31 recess cans in it. I've got 2871 sq.ft. with the regular 3ways, 4 ways, telephones, etc....Remember I'm in North Carolina, our wages are not what some of you all get Thanks for any input.. Steve

For new work, I think $35 per is fair.

As you said, each area has different economic considerations, so on a labor unit figure what amount of time it will take to install the cans, rough wire them and finish work, on recess installations, finish work is often not considered when estimating.

Recess Can $9.50 plus material mark-up and taxes.
Trim $9.00 plus material mark-up and taxes.

Lamp $4.70 plus material mark-up and taxes.

Cable price depends on length of run.

Labor, and be careful here to include all labor rough and finish time.

Job Conditions have to be considered, heigth of ceiling, is there clear working area, other trades sched while you are working, type of construction, any mounting restrictions involved, unusual cable routing.

Then there is the final figure the most inportant your job profit.

$35 would not cover the labor and labor burden charges in my area, at $35 we would be paying the owner to install the job.

150.00 to 185.00 per can that includes the wiring switches feeds from panel and all hole drilling needed.

You shouldn't asked for cost because as you say you are in North Carolina and we can be from anywhere in the U.S.A. but a rough figure that you can use and it will work anywhere the cost of the can thew trim and bulb with mark up then figeure your labor in for one hour add together and there is your price if it is a bidded new construction you should already have the wiring included in the price per openning or square foot. I hope that helps.

Square foot pricing works well, where you have either actuals, to work from, or you have updated information on material and labor adjustments, some use bid packages that have automatic updating, and area cost units, then is is safe to use square foot, just don't forget to estimate any extras.

nov,

Are you trying to give a GC heart failure, what is wrong with your pricing, are you adding a profit to your job, that in not fair, we get between $90 and $140 on new work depending on holes required. and switching, for old work recess $175 and up.



[This message has been edited by LK (edited 05-30-2005).]

New construction $85 for 6" juno and baffel trim
Remodel $100 if it has attic access or drop cieling. $130 if we need to fish thru a finished cieling. Add another $65 for each new switch leg we need to pull.

We add about $30 for a 2 story hight.
The 6" Junos with bulb, wip, tax and a few wire nuts costs us around $30 each.

Tom

When I said "For new work, I think $35 per is fair.", I was talking about just attaching the brackets to the framing, labor only.

This is in addition to the wiring already figured into the job.

That's $35 per can over the base price. Remember, that's one less fixture to hang at trim-out, too.