Second story deck rebuild *update*

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

2. I should think your builder friend knows what contractor rates are

in your locality Shred. Contractor rates vary from state to state and from there down to localities dependant upon how much work there is going around. And estimates will also vary as you know.
5,or 7 grand is about right there in the ball park. The project is broken down into phases and each phase is estimated across time and materials. And percentages are involved .Wear and tare on tools, fuel for transportation ,tax, business overhead Sq. footage yadda yadda. Your auto mechanic looks to the books to tell what the billing hours are for the fix. If the book says 4.2 hours, those are the billing hours and the mechanics hourly is usually posted ,for example $65.00 per hour. Than there's the parts and material mark up and of course the tax.And sometimes the book lies !

Construction estimation,different book but to the same end.

If your thinking about paying your builder friend and wanting to save money by being your builder friends helper, than why not ask your builder friend if he would be interested in estimating the job and perhaps doing it with you as a helper.

All my books & computer programs are put away in box's and really, I would worry if I were to estimate that,somebody might call wanting the same thing and I'm done with all that ! 5,or 7 grand seems about right though !