Concrete contractors all millionaires?

Question

I'm getting a pool deck priced out and getting quotes around 6.75 a sq ft in the state of Mass. From what i have determined by talking to the concrete company the contractor is paying around 1.50 per sq ft for the concrete. It looks like a 2 day job, they will probably show up with illegal labor and pay around 10 an hour. It appears they are making a profit of around $7,000 grand for the job, meaning if they only do 20 pool decks a yr or 40 days of work they make 140k.

Would it be cheaper and wise to find someone to build the framework and put down gravel and hire by the hour to manage the job--- then call the cement truck myself and pay for concrete? Money's tight and it seems like alot of money in exchange for some concrete around a pool..and there is alot more in the house that needs to be done.

Answer 1

It seems like good price actually.
It depends on grading , accessibility etc. going price around Chicago is around 6.50
Like everything else this prices are shaped by demand and supply - free market
Now if they were all millionaires - don't you think that some dentists and lawyers would quit their jobs , and started doing concrete (it's so easy according to you - just hire some illegal workers , give more competitive prices - like 6.25 - and you're rich !!)
You can try that cheaper and wiser way of course
I'll give it 85% chance you'll end up hiring that contractor after and paying him more (for braking and removing freshly done concrete)
By the way - good concrete finisher makes 30-40 $ per hour sounds like lot , but it is very hard work , its seasonal, and weather dependent to ( they can't do your concrete in rain )

Answer 2

Concrete work is expensive, mostly because it requires a lot of knowledge to do it right-but there are other ways to get a nice deck-you might want to check out concrete pavers which you can install a few at a time.

If you can`t do concrete work yourself, you might be able to find someone local to help, but if it turns out bad, you have only yourself to blame.

Answer 3

It sounds about right, plus or minus a $1. It depends on many factors, how close a truck can get in,how much wheel barrowing you have to do ( trucks start charging you time after 20 mins) how hard it is to remove old crete, how much forming and how busy he is.
Start saving, do not try to do it yourself, you will loose your shirt, plus it wont look as good.


Pavers cost about $20 sqft to have some do it for you, if you did it yourself it would cost you about $12 for material, ( pavers, sand and base)

Answer 4

What you "see" is not the only cost. Insurance, bonding, all applicable employee taxes (SS and such). Then there is knowledge and the actual work. Concrete work is not easy. Once the concrete arrives, it is run and gun.

Answer 5

I know a number of concrete contractors. None of them live more luxuriously than middle class, most lower middle class. If you think it is easy, you ought to be one.