Comments on Cost
How Much Should a Rumford Cost?
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Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 From: Bill Thomas Subject: Relative pricing To: Jim Buckley Cc: Ann Thomas Jim, Just as a ballpark figure, how much could I expect to pay for - say - a back-to-back or a rumford with a 36" oven. We are still years away from building, but like to plan ahead.
Thanks,
As you may imagine it's difficult, maybe even irresponsible of me, to guess at how much some other mason or contractor might charge to build a couple of Rumfords and an oven at an unknown (to me) location and with an unknown level of finish. Nevertheless, we have some guidelines on the website at http://www.rumford.com/training/cost.html that might help you understand the process, give you some ballpark figures and arm you to interview contractors. Tell me a little more and maybe I can be more specific. Obviously stone costs more than block or concrete. The big savings is in having a good plan and hiring craftsmen who are production oriented - ie. show up on time and get some work done without having to stumble over each other or make too many cell phone calls. Time and opportunity costs translate to money and, if you're not ready when the mason comes, it still costs somebody $1,000 a day or so even if no work gets done. Send me plans and discuss your overall strategy and I'll try to help you get ready. It's a good sign that you're starting years early. You'll probably be ready.
Best,
Wow. A propmt, precise thorough answer. I can see why you are good. This is precisely what I needed. I knew I'd seen the page you sent, but couldn't find it. Thank you. Black Canyon City, AZ is on the Maricopa/Yavapai County line north of Phoenix on I-17. It seems to me there was a link so someone in PHX. I could pursue it that way. I liked your idea that starting early would probably have us ready. We'll take it to heart. It has to be so satisfying to constantly create new and beautiful works of functional art.
Thanks again,
1/26/04 Hi Jim: I met you last week at NAHB. I am doing my second Rumford fireplace, this time a large one. Can you give me an idea of the cost of the R7254 kit? The job is in Wexford, PA (near Pittsburgh). Thanks.
Mary Cerrone, AIA
Costs seem to be going through the roof lately. Let me try to help you shop for Rumfords intelligently without actually quoting any hard figures which would only irritate our dealers and mason contractors who are the only ones in a position to quote real prices. Firstly, the components and materials prices should be available directly from our dealers listed on line at http://www.rumford.com/dealer.html. Ask two or three dealers. Ask, if the product is not in stock, if any freight and crating charges can be saved by shipping directly to the job site or by adding your order to the next full truck load of flues. The shopping list for the 72" Rumford is linked to the "specs" page and is at http://www.rumford.com/specR7254.html Don't order too much material. A dealer may deliver up to 20% more material than needed to avoid making two trips. Better to order the right amount of material and save the 20%. Design the fireplace and chimney intelligently. Locate the fireplace in the right place to minimize expensive finishes and maximize the use of the chimney for other flues. Using the correct size flue can save you 20%. See http://www.rumford.com/articleFluesize.html I'll be happy to review your plans and make suggestions. Next, review the "simulated production" construction picture series starting at http://www.rumford.com/prod.html. I know this is only a simple 36" Rumford built under ideal conditions but it's purpose is to give you an idea of the process, what's involved and what a masonry crew can do in a day. The bigger 72" fireplace will take longer and cost more. So will a fancier bigger chimney and job site glitches like not being ready, or the mason having to spend half a day moving windows out of the way. Now find two or three masons to interview and/or ask for bids. Get referrals from our dealer and check our masons list at http://www.rumford.com/mason.html. We want masons to make good money - maybe up to $1,000 per day - but we want them to work smart. If the bid comes in at $20,000 and you already know that all the materials cost $4,000, does the mason expects to work on the job for three weeks? Or is he insuring himself against unforeseen contingencies? What does he expect to get done each day? What can you do to make his job easier and therefore faster so he can make money and you can save money? Break the job down into separate tasks. You don't need a skilled stone mason to lay block. Maybe it's better to get one mason to rough in the fireplace and someone else to do the finish work. Is there a way to share the risk rather than pay for it up front? If you think the bid is way too high you might consider taking all the risk yourself and hire a mason by the day or hour on a time and materials basis. The real money will be in the labor costs. Be prepared, ask hard questions, find the right mason(s) and then give them a bonus so they don't feel beaten up. Let me know how this approach works.
Best,
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