Wiring & Plumbing: How much does this add?

[durian]

I see I can buy an Argus package home for under 20K, but have no idea how much it will cost to do the plumbing and wiring. Can anyone give me a range of what I should expect to pay to get these things done in the way the Building Department wants them done?

[lquade]

if you are building legally, you cannot do your own plumbing or electrical but need licensed people. so figure 4K each as a starting point, depending on the size of your project. pretty hard to swallow when you could do it yourself for much less but those are the rules..

[dwedeking]

F the rules (my person opinion)

"Government is good at one thing: it knows how to break your legs, hand you a crutch, and say, 'See, if it weren’t for the government, you wouldn’t be able to walk." - Harry Browne

[EightFingers]

I was quoted $5500 each for plumbing and electrical for a cedar "kit house". I also wish I could to it myself as I have all the skills needed for both.

[durian]

Thanks so much for the estimates. That is very helpful. BTW, the last time I said F*** the rules, I built a tiny off the grid cabin on a 100 acre farm. Six months later 3 municipal officials showed up, told me to "vacate immediately and commence demolition tomorrow". One threatened that if I did not, he could easily have some child-protection agency take my baby on his recommendation.

[dwedeking]

yea, so much for land of the free (I understand your point, and I usually follow the rules since they have bigger guns)

"Government is good at one thing: it knows how to break your legs, hand you a crutch, and say, 'See, if it weren’t for the government, you wouldn’t be able to walk." - Harry Browne

[kalakoa]

Just amazing, the uses they find for YOUR tax dollars...

[YurtGirl]

That's about right, including permits. There can be hidden costs though... meter service, running the line to the house, 'finish materials' in plumbing are often not included, like propane fittings and regulators, propane conversions, escucheons, things like that.

Melissa Fletcher
___________________________
"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973

[DanielP]

These "packages" are the cheap part.

[Cagary]

I could see maybe letting "people" do their own plumbing. The worst that could probably happen is a bad connection flooding and ruining the floor.

Electricity is different; "people" could get killed messing around with it if they don't know what they are doing. If its not done right, it might be a few years before something happens behind the walls. And this maybe after the original owners have left. Let the pros do it.