ESTIMATOR

DOORS AND WINDOWS

A simple, hollow door designed for interior use can cost from $50 to $100. For a solid core construction door it can cost from $250 to $500. High end solid hardwood doors can go from about $500 to $1,000. Of course, the sky’s the limit when it comes to custom doors, etc.

Sliding “pocket” doors cost about $150-$350 but are much more complex to install and therefore cost a lot more for the total package than comparable doors. Pocket doors are usually very thin-walled, hollow doors with a very small, cheap plastic latch for a lock, and are typically used on half baths. However, they are convenient for small spaces where one doesn’t have room for a conventional hinged door.

It will cost about $75 to $300 (to $500 for pocket doors) to install any of these doors, depending on factors such as existing conditions of structural surroundings (warping, settling, rotting, etc.) and the complexity of the project (such as a pocket door that needs to be installed in an existing finished wall, as opposed to one that’s preplanned before construction of the wall).

Exterior Doors

Standard exterior doors (materials only, no labor) range from about $250 to $1,000, and can range from $1,500 to $5,000 and up for solid hardwood doors with features such as transoms, etc. Steel doors can start low in price, around $150, but can go up to thousands of dollars. The high end steel doors feature double doors, (the inner door being made of a high grade hardwood), with full length side panels and decorative metal scrollwork over glass panes. These combine security and beauty, but they are very expensive. French doors cost about $1,500 to $2,500. French doors are very decorative and allow a lot of light, but they are expensive and are not very secure.

Patio doors (sliding glass pane doors) come in six-foot wide versions and eight-foot wide versions. The smaller ones range from about $800 to $1500, and the larger ones from about $1,000 to $1,500.

Labor costs are about $250 to $300 for installation of a standard door, and can go up to $1,500 for installation of French doors or for other demanding jobs. These are standard, typical costs and can increase substantially due to structural complications, etc.

Screen Doors

Metal screen or storm doors with a lock run from about $100-$300. High end models with decorative trim can go up to $800. Simple wood framed screen doors are about the same range as the standard metal storm doors, but ornate models in select hardwoods can cost substantially over $1,000.

Replace Windows

It typically costs about $350-$750 (and up to $1,000) per window to replace most windows (labor and disposal of old windows included), if the window frames do not have to be replaced. If the window frames are damaged, or they are of a non-standard size, they must be replaced, which can double the cost of the job. Vinyl windows are typically the least expensive, while wood frame windows with triple-glazed or argon-filled panes are at the higher end of the cost scale. Aluminum frame windows are somewhere between in cost. Other frame options are steel and fiberglass.

FLOORING

Vinyl and Linoleum Floors

Standard vinyl tiles and vinyl sheets cost about $2 to $5 per square foot. Linoleum flooring costs about $4 to $5 per square foot (but can cost much more for high end linoleum) and is available in tiles or as sheets. Installation of either type of tile is pretty simple and straightforward, but installation of linoleum sheet requires more skill. Linoleum lost popularity for a long time, but is making a solid comeback for a number of reasons: it lasts about 40 years without losing its color because the color goes all the way through to the backing (vinyl lasts about 15 years); linoleum is made of natural materials (primarily linseed oil) and so is biodegradable and environmentally friendly; it’s easy to clean and maintain; it is naturally anti-microbial, and; it is fire resistant, and if it does burn, does not release toxic gases as other synthetic materials can. In addition, linoleum tiles are available in dozens of colors and patterns, and the sheeting is available in hundreds of colors.

The great cost variable can come in the preparation of the subflooring prior to application of the tiles or sheeting. Both vinyl and linoleum require flat surfaces that are compatible with the adhesives that are used in their application. Old glues and surfaces might need to be scrubbed down, and this adds to the cost, and if these undersurfaces or glues contain asbestos, then the process becomes even more expensive, due to the requirements of handling and disposal of hazardous materials. In some cases, tiles can be placed over existing flooring, but this is not always the case.

Hardwood Floors

Factory finished hardwood flooring costs about $10 to $12 per square foot, installed, if the installation is simple and straightforward and does not include tearing out the old floor and baseboard, or moving appliances and furniture. Other factors that increase the price considerably are custom borders and complex architecture with odd shapes.

Laminate flooring costs about $6-$12 per square foot, installed, and that includes foam underlay and glue. The above prices are for straightforward jobs. The costs for custom borders and installation of medallion inlays, etc., can run costs up many times. The highest select grades of exotic woods can also be much higher. Select grade means wood that is has the tightest grain, fewest knots, and the longest board length.

Tile Flooring

Glazed ceramic tiles run from about $2 to $18 a square foot. These can come in many colors and designs, and different colored tiles can be arranged in patterns according to your individual taste. In addition, you can special order custom made tiles starting at about $25 per square foot and up. Installation charges are about $5 to $10 per square foot for simple installations. Natural slate tiles cost about $3-$4 per square foot, and installation costs run about $6-$10 per square foot, but this is for straightforward floors. Tearing out the old floor and custom designs will cost considerably more.

KITCHEN REMODELS

The cost of kitchen remodels nationwide range between $3,000 and $100,000+. The extreme ends of this range are rare, and the norm is somewhere between $12,000 and $24,000 for most kitchen makeovers in northern Utah (L-shaped kitchens of about 10’x15’ to island kitchens of about 10’x20’, with replacement of cabinets, counters, floors and walls with standard grade materials and installation of standard grade appliances and fixtures). There are so many variables in a kitchen remodel that it’s hard to give even a ballpark figure for any specific project without seeing the kitchen first and then getting specifics on everything you want done.

For instance, if you tear out the cabinetry and flooring yourself, it will cost considerably less. If plumbing and electrical circuitry has to be moved or installed, it will cost considerably more. A polished granite or marble countertop costs 30 times as much as a plastic laminate countertop. Also, upgrades in lighting and appliances, addition of islands or peninsulas, structural changes, and other considerations can increase your costs greatly.

BATHROOM REMODELS

Remodeling costs vary widely depending on the shape and square footage of the existing room, whether walls or plumbing are moved, and the quality of materials used.

According to a survey by an online remodeling service, a standard remodel of a 5x7-foot bathroom averages about $11,500 to $15,000. This is a national average, and upgrades of the same size and quality in the Wasatch Front area are about $5,000 to $7,000. Quite a bit of difference However, if the upgrade required addition of a window, and moving of all the plumbing and electrical, and the installation of the highest end fixtures and lighting, and installation of marble floors and custom made wall tiles, then the upgrade could cost the national average (or more) as reported by the online service.

LANDSCAPING

A landscape designer might charge as little as $300 or up to $15,000 for detailed plans for your landscape. This depends on the size and complexity of the project and other factors. Onsite verbal consultations can cost $35 to $100 per hour.

Landscape plans can be informal with general ideas about what you want to do, to very detailed drawings that cover the planting of every shrub and flower (named by genus, species, and cultivar) to the centimeter… It’s best to do a lot of homework and know exactly what you want in considerable detail before you hire a landscape designer. Check online resources as well as books, consult with friends, check out some books from your library, etc., for ideas that you might want to use or modify.

Remember to take into account sunlight and shade, maintenance involved (koi ponds require an enormous amount of maintenance most of the year), soil, microclimates, grade (slope), how you and family members will interact with the area, etc.

One national source says that for the actual labor involved, costs for an informal garden run about $11 per square foot, and can range from $17 to $23 per square foot for labor costs associated with installation of a formal garden with water features, walls, and other items.

A landscape plan can range from a concept design providing various ideas about what to do with the property, to master plan drawings showing a specific vision for the site, to a detailed construction plan that the homeowner or a contractor can use to create the entire project. A landscape plan should take into account soil conditions, drainage, area usage, sun, shade, slope, level of maintenance desired and other factors.

Tree Trimming and Removal

Some species of trees are easier to trim than others. The higher the tree, the more it will cost to trim. The easier the access and the more clear the surroundings (i.e., power lines, buildings, landscaping features, public roads, etc.) the less it will cost. Customized jobs (such as a fan espalier, or creating a pleached or tree-tunnel look) cost substantially more.

Keeping those things in mind, it might only cost $35-$40 to trim and prune an 8-foot Weeping Cherry or other small tree.

From about 9 feet to 15 feet, think in the $40 to $60 range.

From 15 feet to 30 feet, it’s in the $60 to $400 range, depending on the species of the tree and how much work has to be done (especially how much hand pruning has to be done), ease of access, and so forth.

From 30 feet to 60 feet, costs range from $100 to $900.

For trees over 60 feet, costs can range from $350 to over $1,500. Extra charges apply to have felled limbs hauled away or chipped. Or you can use them for firewood (let them dry amply), or you can even use them as rustic accents for informal gardens, as stands for bird baths, or whatever you might dream of.

Removal of trees is very close to the same cost as tree trimming. Stump removal and hauling is extra, but for most small trees with a base trunk diameter of 8 inches or less, this would only add $5 to $20 to the cost, depending on the size of the tree and how accessible the tree is to a road or driveway.

Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler systems average about $0.50 to $1 per square foot of lawn space, depending mostly on the size of your lawns. The smaller the lawn, the more it will cost per square foot, because of the installation of plumbing connections and automatic controllers.

Decks

Simple, single level flat deck, no railings or steps, including installation:

Pressure-treated wood:………………………………………$10 to $16 per square foot.

Red cedar or redwood (20 year life span)…………………$18 to $22 per square foot

Tropical hardwood……………………………………………$22 to $25+ per square foot

Plastic wood composites……………………………………$20 to $22 per square foot

Vinyl decking (includes railing)……………………………...$13 to $20 per square foot

Add $8 to $12 per square foot for a multi-level deck with railings and stairs.

ROOFING

The costs for roofing (including tearout of old shingles and valley flashing, and installation of new roofing and flashing) are as follows:

Asphalt shingles (25 year), single story, moderate pitch ………..$4.88 to $6.79 per square foot

Asphalt shingles (25 year), two stories, steep pitch……………...$5.57 to $8.70 per square foot

Mission Clay Tiles, one story, moderate pitch…………………..$14.46 to $17.77 per square foot

Mission Clay Tiles, two story, moderate pitch…………………..$16.07 to $20.63 per square foot

Natural Slate Tiles, one story, moderate pitch…………………$12.97 to $17.32 per square foot

Natural Slate Tiles, two story, moderate pitch………………….$13.36 to $17.91 per square foot

Prices can change substantially according to the pitch of the roof and other factors. For instance, if you have dormers and/or skylights, the job is more difficult and requires additional flashing and labor. Also, if you need new rain gutters, or other things done, such as new sheathing, it can increase the costs significantly.

SIDING

Remember that when calculating how many square feet of siding you will need, you must add the lengths of each side, then multiply the total by the height to get the correct figure. For instance, if your house is 40’x60’, and is 12 feet tall, you need to add 40+40+60+60 and multiply the total by 12 to get the correct square footage (2,400 sq ft) of siding that you will need.

Vinyl siding costs about $4.50 to $7.00 per square foot, installed, for a high quality siding. Real wood siding costs about $5.50 to $8.50 a square foot, installed (fir or pine is at the low end, beveled redwood is at the high end). Engineered wood siding costs about half that much, installed. Stucco costs about $6 to $9 per square foot, installed.

Brick siding requires a 4-inch ledge for support, and this might have to be added to your home. This can increase costs considerably, but plan in the $8 to $12 per square foot range for real brick veneer siding, installed.