Another "Is this estimate as outrageous as I think it is?" question

[Anonymous]

Estimate from electricians to install 3 ceiling fans in my upstairs bedrooms- $1400, not including the cost of the fans themselves. I've gotten two similar estimates so far. This is to install a box because there is currently no light fixture in each of the rooms. I am just floored by the cost.

Here is the interesting part- I have 2 projects- one is to add some recessed lights to my kitchen, and one electrician estimated $1300 for that job, the other? $200.

Seriously, wtf.

[Anonymous]

Ok if there's not already a box, it could be a difficult job. Is it accessible from attic? Do you need it hooked up to the light switch (which means drywall repair).

[Anonymous]

Out of curiousity, what do you think is a fair price?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok if there's not already a box, it could be a difficult job. Is it accessible from attic? Do you need it hooked up to the light switch (which means drywall repair).

We have a nice roomy attic, so that's not a problem, and there is an existing light switch. It's a newer house. They're not going to repair the drywall, I am.

[Anonymous]

It cost us $150/fan (not including price of fan)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out of curiousity, what do you think is a fair price?

When I asked around (on DCUM), the consensus was about 250 per light for a job like this- so I was thinking 800, 900, maybe 1k for the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It cost us $150/fan (not including price of fan)

Would you mind telling me who, if you are in the DC area? I really want some lights upstairs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Estimate from electricians to install 3 ceiling fans in my upstairs bedrooms- $1400, not including the cost of the fans themselves. I've gotten two similar estimates so far. This is to install a box because there is currently no light fixture in each of the rooms. I am just floored by the cost.

Here is the interesting part- I have 2 projects- one is to add some recessed lights to my kitchen, and one electrician estimated $1300 for that job, the other? $200.

Seriously, wtf.

If you need to install a ceiling fan where there is an existing electrical outlet, then it should be $100/hour.

If you need to install a box, then my guess would be $450 for that and maybe $300 tops for the fans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok if there's not already a box, it could be a difficult job. Is it accessible from attic? Do you need it hooked up to the light switch (which means drywall repair).

We have a nice roomy attic, so that's not a problem, and there is an existing light switch. It's a newer house. They're not going to repair the drywall, I am.

Ok then I think $150-200 a fan is a good price. Probably more like $200 since they're connecting it to the switch. It's a half hour a room job.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have an electric company they would like to recommend?

[Anonymous]

I mean electrician, sorry.

[Anonymous]

So you have a wall switch, no junction box in the ceiling?

Are the joist open in the attic or is there floorboard down?

[Anonymous]

We had ceiling fans installed in the four bedrooms of our house when we moved by two different guys. One of them priced the job by the job, the other by the hour. Sorry I don't remember how much we paid but the work was surprisingly complex and took much longer than expected with no junction box in the ceilings, extra switches by the room entry, threading the cable through the attic. Just get a few estimates.

[Anonymous]

They need to also install a special mount if there hasn't been a ceiling fan in that spot before. It has to withhold the pressure of the rotating fan -- it's different than a normal light box. A lot of people don't realize this when they install fans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you have a wall switch, no junction box in the ceiling?

Are the joist open in the attic or is there floorboard down?

That's right. There's no floorboard in our attic.