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Renovation costs

3Girls

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For those of you that have paid to have renovations done, could you provide a rough estimate of the ratio of the cost of materials to the cost of labour i.e. 50/50 split on the total cost. I have had a few different responses on this on what a rough guide to use should be. In our case it is on an open basement that is being suited.
 
A rule of thumb I heard is 1:2 ratio 1=mateiral 2=labour. it really depends on the work done though.
 
I agree with the post above on the 2 to 1 ratio of labour over materials, for a typical renovation.

But I think I am reading that this is new construction of a suite in an unfinished basement. In that case I`m thinking you should expect to spend around $40 per square foot, assuming all new materials for the kitchen (that`s a big cost item in this job, cabinetry and appliances are expensive). If you were just `finishing` a basement you would be in the $30 per sq ft range.

I think the ratio, based on what I described above, would be around 1 to 1.

You can save lots of money by purchasing used kitchen cabinets and really shopping around for the flooring and plumbing fixtures - those are the big ticket items in this project.

Hope that helps,
 
If the suite is in Edmonton you will need to meet the egress bedroom window requirements, a separate heating and ventilation system for the suite, hardwired smoke detectors interconnected with the main floor and enclosed furnace rooms etc... A typical conforming basement suite would be in the $30-$40/Sq.Ft. range depending on the extent of window enlarging, ventilation, heating, noise abatement etc.
 
We have put in several basement suites this year and Garth`s numbers are almost bang on. 40/ft totally unfinished, ~30 if plumbing and electrical are already in place and it`s just refinishing and moving the odd wall around.

QUOTE (GarthChapman @ Nov 15 2008, 12:34 PM) I agree with the post above on the 2 to 1 ratio of labour over materials, for a typical renovation.

But I think I am reading that this is new construction of a suite in an unfinished basement. In that case I`m thinking you should expect to spend around $40 per square foot, assuming all new materials for the kitchen (that`s a big cost item in this job, cabinetry and appliances are expensive). If you were just `finishing` a basement you would be in the $30 per sq ft range.

I think the ratio, based on what I described above, would be around 1 to 1.

You can save lots of money by purchasing used kitchen cabinets and really shopping around for the flooring and plumbing fixtures - those are the big ticket items in this project.

Hope that helps,
 
QUOTE (RedlineBrett @ Nov 18 2008, 01:51 PM) We have put in several basement suites this year and Garth`s numbers are almost bang on. 40/ft totally unfinished, ~30 if plumbing and electrical are already in place and it`s just refinishing and moving the odd wall around.


This is in Saskatoon. It is a totally new build. My initial quote came back at $21,000 for material, $24,500 for labour. This is on a 1,000 sq ft basement.

Maurice
 
lol, pretty close to $40/ft! Never hurts to ask them "is this the best you can do?"

Make sure you can get 3 bedrooms out of that 1000 ft, and do your best to get as much pass-through natural light as you can for top rents.

QUOTE (3Girls @ Nov 18 2008, 03:54 PM) This is in Saskatoon. It is a totally new build. My initial quote came back at $21,000 for material, $24,500 for labour. This is on a 1,000 sq ft basement.

Maurice
 
QUOTE (3Girls @ Nov 18 2008, 02:54 PM) This is in Saskatoon. It is a totally new build. My initial quote came back at $21,000 for material, $24,500 for labour. This is on a 1,000 sq ft basement.

Maurice

The ratio looks maybe a bit high on the labour end of it. I`d work on trying to reduce that by about 10%. Think like governments have to now. Where can you cut back? Used or less expensive cabinetry? Less costly flooring? How much might the Contractor reduce his price by?
 
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