Difference in Contractor Price Quotes

[debodun]

I am looking to get my driveway re-paved. So far I've had three estimates - two of which the paver actually came and looked. The other was sent photos and gave his quote from those. One actually measured it - it's 40 feet long and 15 feet wide (600 sq ft). The first guy said $7500, the second (was sent photos) was $4120 and the third (that actually measured) was $3500. Same driveway - why such a difference in price for the same work?

 

[Pecos]

The answer is in the details of how they intend to fix it. If they just slap a coat of material on it and cover things up, it is going to be cheap. Using asphalt will be cheaper that poured concrete. Adding steel rebar to the concrete will be even more expensive, but it will hold up much better.

 

[hearlady]

Look at that green grass!

 

[Jules]

Sometimes the high quote just doesn’t want a little job.

 

[debodun]

Sometimes the high quote just doesn’t want a little job.

He came to my door looking for work.

 

[Nathan]

Same driveway - why such a difference in price for the same work?

Cost of materials and labor to the contractor is a factor, also what the contractor's profit margin needs to be, in running his business.
Also, a high bid may signal that he may not even want the job. I recently got a estimate from a body shop to touch up the faded paint above the windshield of my wife's Subaru...he blurted out $2400 and we both knew we were done with that discussion.

 

[hollydolly]

He came to my door looking for work.

don't use him...if he was good at his job he wouldn't have to canvas ....

 

[Disgustedman]

Cost of materials and labor to the contractor is a factor, also what the contractor's profit margin needs to be, in running his business.
Also, a high bid may signal that he may not even want the job. I recently got a estimate from a body shop to touch up the faded paint above the windshield of my wife's Subaru...he blurted out $2400 and we both new we were done with that discussion.

Reminds me when looking to repair my dodge ram door. Guy quoted $500 and said "That's if I can find one in a junkyard"

At that price. It should have been new.

 

[hawkdon]

Sometimes the "scam" type drive work involves a low
price and then a simple black thick paint job....watch out
for that one....

 

[Lewkat]

Every spring there is a group of so called house repairers who go door to door offering their not so expert services for a price. Beware, they are a bunch of clowns who like to take advantage of the elderly and widows.

 

[Alligatorob]

The answer is in the details of how they intend to fix it. If they just slap a coat of material on it and cover things up, it is going to be cheap. Using asphalt will be cheaper that poured concrete. Adding steel rebar to the concrete will be even more expensive, but it will hold up much better.

Pecos is right, you need to understand what you will be getting. Could be anything from removal of the old and replacement to a quick seal, big difference.

I'd call the two lower bidders back and ask exactly what they will be doing. I'd not call the high one, that sounded too much like a scam.

 

[Muskrat]

Same story…different project. Three quotes to replace sod with synthetic grass and put in some flower beds. One group 5000, one group 4200, one group 9050.

 

[Jules]

He came to my door looking for work.

That was the original guy you wrote about in another thread? His wasn’t worth equating in the bids from the get go. He was just looking for a sucker and it wasn’t you.

As was suggested, get the details from the lower two and look for positive referrals.

 

[Knight]

Or you could google this and be more knowledgeable about what the best way to repair or replace a driveway entails. Once you know what can be involved. Making a decision based on a detailed explanation of what will be done for the price
https://www.google.com/search?q=wha...7j33i160l3.22237j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[Remy]

Driveway looks OK to me. If there aren't large chunks falling out, I'd be fine with it.

 

[RadishRose]

You should get estimates in writing listing details of what the estimate include. You should also get proof of insurance.

 

[Remy]

You should get estimates in writing listing details of what the estimate include. You should also get proof of insurance.

"details of what the estimate include" That's great advice!

 

[Wigglestein]

See if any are removing and replacing. They may just be coating. In our area there are guys who do hot coat and others just do the cold right out of the bucket coating. All different and priced accordingly. Also if you are signing a contract or bid sheet they may have written in a "cost over run" charge. They do that as a way to bid low and then charge more.

 

[Moon Rat]

I had my driveway resurfaced maybe 7 years ago. The contractor offered me different prices on what “grade” of materials would be used for the blacktop and whether I wanted curled edges or flat edges and patching was important. Did I want them to dig out the deep small potholes (2) or just put stone in the hole and blacktop over it. I told the contractor I wanted the Cadillac and not a Pinto. He understood what I was saying. I think the difference was around $2000, so I went with the better materials, which also comes with a longer guarantee. The company I picked was in business for a long time and it gets passed down the bloodline, so I felt good with using them.

 

[debodun]

The last estimate I got was for $9500! That's 3 pension checks! Some of the contractors say they use what they term "road fabric" as a foundation. When I had my driveway done at the old house, the contractor put down a bed of crushed stone. Is road fabric ant better or worse as an asphalt foundation?