I need schooling on septic tanks

« **on:** August 12, 2009, 09:26:56 PM »

Got an estimate to replace a septic tank and lines that others who may not know anything at all tell me the price is too low. The house will eventually have 6 bathrooms, but only 5 people will ever live there. Straight forward install, no problems with perc and lots of land to run leech out to. What is a reasonable price? The backhoe guy will already be on site moving water lines and gas lines etc.

« **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2009, 10:15:35 PM »

Quote from: GlassCutter on August 12, 2009, 09:26:56 PM

Got an estimate to replace a septic tank and lines that others who may not know anything at all tell me the price is too low. The house will eventually have 6 bathrooms, but only 5 people will ever live there. Straight forward install, no problems with perc and lots of land to run leech out to. What is a reasonable price? The backhoe guy will already be on site moving water lines and gas lines etc.

I would imagine that giving the latest state of the economy, a very low price would not be a suprise at all.

That being said, there is no way in hell to come up with a "site unseen" estimate. The soil conditions, landscape, location around the home, local codes and permits, environmental impact reports and materials (concrete versus plastics), there would be no way in hell to give an "over the phone" type quotation.

FWIW, I had one quoted here in Santa Clara County in 2003 (before I bought my current house) and the price was to "replace" the old system which had been abandoned for 3 years, the quote was for $26,000 and was "all inclusive", meaning no suprises.

This system was in a hill and was going to be all concrete tank and PEX piping with a 50 year warranty..

BTW that was considered "stealing it". There was over 180 hours of just backhoe time in the job....

GT

« **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2009, 10:46:39 PM »

Too many variables to say what's cheap and what ain't. Bear this in mind "Cheap isn't good, and good isn't cheap" Need an out of work plumber to come do it for you?

« **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2009, 11:07:05 PM »

I have a whole family of out of work plumbers and potentially enough work to keep em busy. It's just when I asked an older brother, he laughed and said "Paul always underbids stuff." But he was at a concert and told me he would call back tomorrow.
It really is a straight forward job. The house sits on top of a gradual hillside. It is the only building on nearly 4 acres. The ground is easy digging with no trees or other lines to worry about. These guys are going to get the work if I get the house. I expect I will have to throw at least $100K at this house over six months or so to get it up to snuff. I just wanted a ball park guess from someone who maybe does this stuff all day long.

« **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2009, 01:59:43 PM »

My Pops still does them things from time to time back east (retired, kinda). Latest septics he's put in have been sand mound systems at well over $55k each that noone else had the balls to run a hoe close enough to the house to save the people plumber money. (My old man can drop the bucket on the old JD 310B and scrape the basement wall clean, and not blink an eye! Not ME!!!!)

Dunno what a typical system even costs these days, but back when I was helping the old man, $25k was a pretty reasonable price complete if I remember right. That included bedding and plumbing the leech bed and plumbing it to the house. But the last one I helped with was 15 years ago or more.

Ray

« **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2009, 02:19:40 PM »

just put the shitter as far as possible from the house....lol

GlassCutter

I need schooling on septic tanks

GT Jets

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