How bad did I get ripped off by my handyman?

You're going to supply 3 posts , 3 saddles , hardware , tempoarily support the existing deck , remove the old posts and reinstall new ones for under $200 and in less than 2 hours ?

No fucking chance

 

No, he was going to reuse the existing hardware and provide three 4x4 Trex posts with the homeowner helping.

 

Not sure if serious

 

You haven't seen worse?

 

I have seen some pretty shoddy work in the name of saving a few bucks , yes

 

Jesus christ, I'm glad I work in industrial/diesel maintenance.

 

Wait if those are Trex posts, those are expensive! They'll last a lifetime though. I though pressure treated lumber was green, but these look like cedar and also the anchors used look like they were cemented into the existing foundation, so yea $400 is worth it.

 

Trex posts are hollow sleeves and non load bearing.

 

I would still be interested to see what the first job consisted of ie:time and materials wise, and see what the charge was.

 

why

 

Just comparing apples to apples.

 

go to the home depot site , add up 3 / 9' 4x4 PT posts , 3 HD 4x4 post saddles ( look like Simpsons ) , 3 twist type post to beam connectors ( look like Simpsons ) , and add in 6 bolts , nut and washers

The rest is labour

 

About $100.00 bucks or so I guess.

Do they still give contractor pricing discounts?

 

It's more than $100

I don't shop at Home Depot

 

Yes they still give contractors discounts but it's not a whole lot. 10-15% unless you're buying a whole stack of lumber or plywood. Or if you're a little bitch and complain to the managers that you can get it less somewhere else it might be more of a discount, but for the most part they're competative with other big box stores.

 

Handymen shop at box stores. I don't have time to dig through that pile of bent 2 x4s to find the good ones. The box stores are a last resort and more expensive than my supply houses.

 

Yep

 

• Materials about $150 tops.

• In Philly PA I would charge $15 in hour.

• So $15 x 5 hours = $75 x by two men = $150 in labor

(as contractor I would have paid second guy AKA helper $10-$12 per hour and kept difference of $15-$25)

• Don't forget he had to use his time for estimate and store run.

So grand total in Philly $300

• In Long Island NY I charge $25. ($25 x 10 man hours=$250) Materials about same $150. So total in NY $400

 

Why is your time worth more in new York than pa?

 

$15 / hour ?