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Been an Electrician for 27 years here. Without seeing the job first hand, and what had to be done exactly to change those fixtures, 8 hours sounds about right. The one about removing existing lights and installing recessed lighting is where the time would be. Those can either go real smooth, or be a living nightmarish hell on Earth. I would think 8 hours would be spot on, and if $90 an hour is the going rate in your area, that isn't a bad deal. In all honesty, for replacing existing lights with recessed lighting I figure it is going to take 1 1/2 hours per fixture if I have to give an estimate, just to be on the safe side because you just never know what you are going to run into up there. If the time comes in less, you charge for time actually worked, if it goes over, you eat the time.
Side Note: Wish I could charge $90 an hour here. That is way higher than going rate for this area, and an honest double the rate for Northern Maine where I just left.
Bydand can you tell us what the going rate is where you live up in Michigan?
I have hired this electrician before and liked his work. So I just hired him again to install three 6 inch canned lighting, three 4 inch canned lighting, an exhaust fan (exhaust pipe was already there), and switch out lighting over my desk area in the kitchen. He also switched out a light fixture on the exterior wall of my garage. He charged me $90.00 an hour plus materials.
Bill came to $1,000!
Does this sound reasonable for the work performed? Any electricians out there that can tell me if I was taken for a ride this time around?
Reasonable. Next time ask him how long it's going to take, that way you won't have surprises.
Bydand can you tell us what the going rate is where you live up in Michigan?
Depends on the equipment used. Straight man hours are between $65 and $75 an hour and if you use a piece of big equipment (ie. Bucket Truck, Scissor lift, etc...) if is between $85 and $100 an hour depending on the size of the piece of equipment and conditions you have to drag it out in. Some guys work cheaper, some higher.
We are planning to do something very similar - put in can lights, add two switches, change some wiring so we can install under cabinet lighting (ourselves). We figure it will cost us about $1200 for an electrician, so it sounds on target to me.
DH's brother is an electrician and he told us it would probably be about that range. Unfortunately, we are in NC and he is in MO or we would have him do the work!
That's actually pretty funny. He was flirtatious with me at the end. When I replied "holy cow!" to the amount he quoted, he took off $70.00. Then he said if my husband gives me a hard time about the amount, to call him and he may take off more just 'to make me happy'. Uh, no thanks.
I told him no need for that. Yikes. I like to keep things on the up and up. And by the way, my husband isn't like that anyway...he's a major nice guy and sweetheart.
Maybe I'm just cheap, but spending a thousand dollars to pay somebody for a day's worth of work just sounds silly if there's a way you can do it yourself.
As long as you know the basics, there's no reason an average homeowner couldn't wire up some lights, and it feels a lot better to know that you did it yourself (and saved enough for a cruise ticket in the process).
In my case, I updated the electric service myself to 200-amp, and the power company came out and tied in my line yesterday and set in a new meter (digital face meter). I installed the meter socket, indoor breaker panel, ran new service conductors, new conduit, weatherhead, and new ground rod. MAJOR accomplishment and it feels awesome that I accomplished the work myself.
My cost? $500 for all parts. Had I hired an electrician, it would've cost me a fortune. I bought the right books I needed to do the job right (studied before I did any work) and had a retired electrician I consulted with to guide me along to ensure all was good. I posted pics of the work on another thread I started.
Now the real work begins: rewiring the house.
My area of the county permits nor inspections are required (unless building a structure over 100sq ft).
Maybe I'm just cheap, but spending a thousand dollars to pay somebody for a day's worth of work just sounds silly if there's a way you can do it yourself.
As long as you know the basics, there's no reason an average homeowner couldn't wire up some lights, and it feels a lot better to know that you did it yourself (and saved enough for a cruise ticket in the process).
That's why my husband has put in our wood floors all on his own, spackling the walls and ceilings when needed (such as today), we do our own lawn care and landscaping, etc. He's actually quite handy and we take great pride in what we do to our house. He also installed a chandelier last night. But when it comes to rewiring things and putting in canned lighting, we thought it best to use professionals.
That's very reasonable. You'd crap your pants if you knew what I am about to give up for 1 light.
Now the real question. Are those lights well sealed tight or will the bill be an ever growing burden on your income? Are they fluorescent?
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