What's the situation with contractors right now? Need a screened porch.

[Anonymous]

Hire a college kid to do it

[Anonymous]

There is at least one person on this board who is convinced that you can just have a deck with a roof basically built quickly and cheaply. This person has never provided receipts. We have snow and wind here. The building code is strict. A screened porch is not a deck with a roof.

If you detach it from the house, you may have more, somewhat less expensive options. I think that’s why you sometimes see screened porches that are detached from the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I looked into this pre-pandemic and it was 40k then for a reputable insured/bonded contractor. I don’t know what it is now, but 70k sounds right. Contractors have to eat too.

?

It's two weeks work at best and maybe 10k in materials, tops.

You think 30 grand a week is a fair salary?

How old are you that you think life is "fair?" Free market, baby.

Free market is 100% correct. Keep saying that as all your work dries up for the next 5 years. All contractors are about to eat a sh*t sandwich for a loooong time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Really?

I need ground prep and concrete base. 3 walls with aluminium posts and mesh with single screen door. A single roof in the continuation of our existing roof. Electric installed for fan and light. No fireplace, hardwood, fireplace, gizmos, etc.

It’s basically an addition because of the requirements for the roof. Indeed, most people eventually just enclose them anyway.

Not really - if it's essentially a screened patio, there's no insulation, no drywall, no flooring, minimal painting because no walls... If contractors are charging $70K for that type of work, I don't believe you. But I can believe that some close-in luxury contractors might not accept such a humble project, or they'd mark it up just because they're looking for bigger things.

So what should a screened patio cost? I have a brick patio. I am envisioning some poles bolted into the brick, probably some kind of barrier between the siding and the pole where the screens meet the exterior wall, and a metal roof - If you've ever been to the Pope-Leighey House, that is what I have in mind. What should that cost me? What is likely to cost me in the DMV?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Really?

I need ground prep and concrete base. 3 walls with aluminium posts and mesh with single screen door. A single roof in the continuation of our existing roof. Electric installed for fan and light. No fireplace, hardwood, fireplace, gizmos, etc.

It’s basically an addition because of the requirements for the roof. Indeed, most people eventually just enclose them anyway.

Not really - if it's essentially a screened patio, there's no insulation, no drywall, no flooring, minimal painting because no walls... If contractors are charging $70K for that type of work, I don't believe you. But I can believe that some close-in luxury contractors might not accept such a humble project, or they'd mark it up just because they're looking for bigger things.

So what should a screened patio cost? I have a brick patio. I am envisioning some poles bolted into the brick, probably some kind of barrier between the siding and the pole where the screens meet the exterior wall, and a metal roof - If you've ever been to the Pope-Leighey House, that is what I have in mind. What should that cost me? What is likely to cost me in the DMV?

$75-100k. If there isn’t already a roof, the patio is meaningless. The PP above is wrong. You have to have a proper foundation with a structure that can support a roof that can hold a snow load and keep it from blowing away in high winds, that’s integrated into your existing roof. You can’t just slap a roof on some poles above your patio like you were stringing lights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I posed in another thread. However we have since received the final invoice and we are up to 83k




I’m in loudoun county and am waiting on final building and electrical inspection next for my brand new screened in porch. Here are my specs:

Trex transcend all composite build
20x20, plus an 8x12 open area for grilling (a total of 500sqft of decking)
3 infrared 6000w heaters
5 sconces
6 uplights
Ceiling fan
Wainscot covering the house side wall, painted ceiling
2 oversized sky lights
TV
Remote controlled floor to ceiling solar shades that can cover the entire screened in area for full privacy.

Everything, including all materials I had to get in my own is sitting at 80k. My screened in porch is not basic, lots of extras.

Can you share the name of your contractor?

This is great but I wouldn’t count on being able to build a trex screened porch anywhere in town. I don’t think you can do that on a brick colonial in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I looked into this pre-pandemic and it was 40k then for a reputable insured/bonded contractor. I don’t know what it is now, but 70k sounds right. Contractors have to eat too.

?

It's two weeks work at best and maybe 10k in materials, tops.

You think 30 grand a week is a fair salary?

How old are you that you think life is "fair?" Free market, baby.

Free market is 100% correct. Keep saying that as all your work dries up for the next 5 years. All contractors are about to eat a sh*t sandwich for a loooong time.

I’m not a contractor. Insert childish smiley here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Really?

I need ground prep and concrete base. 3 walls with aluminium posts and mesh with single screen door. A single roof in the continuation of our existing roof. Electric installed for fan and light. No fireplace, hardwood, fireplace, gizmos, etc.

It’s basically an addition because of the requirements for the roof. Indeed, most people eventually just enclose them anyway.

Not really - if it's essentially a screened patio, there's no insulation, no drywall, no flooring, minimal painting because no walls... If contractors are charging $70K for that type of work, I don't believe you. But I can believe that some close-in luxury contractors might not accept such a humble project, or they'd mark it up just because they're looking for bigger things.

So what should a screened patio cost? I have a brick patio. I am envisioning some poles bolted into the brick, probably some kind of barrier between the siding and the pole where the screens meet the exterior wall, and a metal roof - If you've ever been to the Pope-Leighey House, that is what I have in mind. What should that cost me? What is likely to cost me in the DMV?

$75-100k. If there isn’t already a roof, the patio is meaningless. The PP above is wrong. You have to have a proper foundation with a structure that can support a roof that can hold a snow load and keep it from blowing away in high winds, that’s integrated into your existing roof. You can’t just slap a roof on some poles above your patio like you were stringing lights.

+1 I know this just from watching a lot of Love It or List It. Screened in porches are usually the most expensive item on a Love It person's wishlist, even more expensive than a kitchen, and usually taken off the list because of the expense. Generally even if you have a non-screened porch, you won't be able to use it and just add on a roof because the footings won't be strong enough to hold the weight, and you'll never pass inspection.

[Anonymous]

Contractor required $100 for an estimate. It's been a month. They haven't given us an estimate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I posed in another thread. However we have since received the final invoice and we are up to 83k




I’m in loudoun county and am waiting on final building and electrical inspection next for my brand new screened in porch. Here are my specs:

Trex transcend all composite build
20x20, plus an 8x12 open area for grilling (a total of 500sqft of decking)
3 infrared 6000w heaters
5 sconces
6 uplights
Ceiling fan
Wainscot covering the house side wall, painted ceiling
2 oversized sky lights
TV
Remote controlled floor to ceiling solar shades that can cover the entire screened in area for full privacy.

Everything, including all materials I had to get in my own is sitting at 80k. My screened in porch is not basic, lots of extras.

Can you share the name of your contractor?

Decks with Style and they only work in NoVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I posed in another thread. However we have since received the final invoice and we are up to 83k




I’m in loudoun county and am waiting on final building and electrical inspection next for my brand new screened in porch. Here are my specs:

Trex transcend all composite build
20x20, plus an 8x12 open area for grilling (a total of 500sqft of decking)
3 infrared 6000w heaters
5 sconces
6 uplights
Ceiling fan
Wainscot covering the house side wall, painted ceiling
2 oversized sky lights
TV
Remote controlled floor to ceiling solar shades that can cover the entire screened in area for full privacy.

Everything, including all materials I had to get in my own is sitting at 80k. My screened in porch is not basic, lots of extras.

Can you share the name of your contractor?

This is great but I wouldn’t count on being able to build a trex screened porch anywhere in town. I don’t think you can do that on a brick colonial in Bethesda.

I know nothing of brick colonials and wasn’t aware of a trex transcend ban in Bethesda. However I did just finish a trex transcend screened in deck on my home in Bethesda. Had no issues either permitting other than the process is a colossal pain in the ass. The finished product is amazing and looks so nice. I got the contractor from a neighbor who also had a trex transcend deck…..in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I posed in another thread. However we have since received the final invoice and we are up to 83k




I’m in loudoun county and am waiting on final building and electrical inspection next for my brand new screened in porch. Here are my specs:

Trex transcend all composite build
20x20, plus an 8x12 open area for grilling (a total of 500sqft of decking)
3 infrared 6000w heaters
5 sconces
6 uplights
Ceiling fan
Wainscot covering the house side wall, painted ceiling
2 oversized sky lights
TV
Remote controlled floor to ceiling solar shades that can cover the entire screened in area for full privacy.

Everything, including all materials I had to get in my own is sitting at 80k. My screened in porch is not basic, lots of extras.

Can you share the name of your contractor?

This is great but I wouldn’t count on being able to build a trex screened porch anywhere in town. I don’t think you can do that on a brick colonial in Bethesda.

I know nothing of brick colonials and wasn’t aware of a trex transcend ban in Bethesda. However I did just finish a trex transcend screened in deck on my home in Bethesda. Had no issues either permitting other than the process is a colossal pain in the ass. The finished product is amazing and looks so nice. I got the contractor from a neighbor who also had a trex transcend deck…..in Bethesda.

Great! I'm not suggesting there's anything wrong with Trex! Just that houses from different eras have different construction, municipalities and lots have different rules about impermeable surfaces, and that may affect what you can or can't build. Whatever you do has to be structurally kosher and to code, which means you can't always translate what happens in one area to another. That's all. I'm just trying to give OP some info. Jeez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Contractor required $100 for an estimate. It's been a month. They haven't given us an estimate.

Oh hell no. Never pay for an estimate.

[Anonymous]

Fed gonna raise the rate another 3/4 point next month. Contractors will be taking it on the chin for the foreseeable future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fed gonna raise the rate another 3/4 point next month. Contractors will be taking it on the chin for the foreseeable future.

I don't want people to suffer, but I don't want to be paying obscene profits to these guys either. Working and middle class people cannot afford needed repairs. I need a new roof badly but have been putting it off because of insane quotes.