As I was milling around trying to figure out what I wanted to write about today, I was looking at a laser sight that I have had ready to mount for over a year. My next planned range trip was supposed to be in March and now it is August. So what I am saying is that I am going to skip ‘Tacticool’ Thursday.
Today, I am going to wrap up the office project with some numbers. I am deep into re-roofing my shed at the moment. That means that I am slowly moving stuff into the office and tinkering. What I am trying to say is that I am moving on here so it is time to get the results published.
What is currently missing is a desk, which is on order and a couch which is upstairs but we need to get a replacement. If I have all my plans come true, then I will build a table to fit behind the couch where the stereo system will sit. The rear speakers would be mounted. I am on the lookout for a inexpensive flatscreen TV that will sit behind the door and I could also project from the computer onto it. Regardless of all that, as soon as my desk arrives, I can move in.
Below is a breakdown of my hours on the project.
| Actual | Estimate | Description |
| 2 | 4 | clear out holiday area |
| 2 | 2 | remove west floor system, cleanup |
| 4 | 2 | remove south side drywall |
| 4 | 4 | install sheeting |
| 8 | 8 | build floor |
| 4 | 8 | frame east wall |
| 4 | 8 | frame west wall |
| 3.5 | 8 | frame south wall |
| 4 | 8 | frame north wall |
| 19 | 8 | electrical |
| 9.5 | 8 | insulation |
| 24 | 8 | interior drywall |
| 8 | 8 | paint |
| 3.5 | 8 | exterior drywall |
| 14 | 8 | install door |
| 5 | 0 | finishes/trim |
| 118.5 | 100.00 |
I talked about my expected overages earlier so that is not a surprise. It shouldn’t be a revelation but I am a little shocked at how much time the finish work took versus the overall build. By that I mean sheetrock, paint, trim. In my first vision, I wasn’t even going to do any of that.
Now, here is the real shocker to me. The little things that add up. What if I put down an finished floor? What if I didn’t have fasteners or a baseboard heater laying around or didn’t buy a used door or common lumber? I suspect that the cost could have been double what it was.
| 3/6/21 | $60 | Door | |
| 3/30/21 | Monmouth Hardware | $6.44 | Electrical boxes |
| 4/4/21 | Lowes | $49.99 | Wire |
| 4/11/21 | Home Depot | $64.97 | Lumber, Felt |
| 4/11/21 | Home Depot | $69.03 | PT lumber |
| 4/17/21 | Home Depot | $156.50 | Insulation, screws |
| 4/18/21 | True Value | $19.10 | Lockset, shims |
| 4/23/21 | Rickreall Bargain Shed | $150 | Plywood |
| 5/3/21 | Rickreall Bargain Shed | $110 | Framing lumber |
| 5/9/21 | Home Depot | $56.60 | Lumber, Insulation |
| 5/16/21 | Home Depot | $128.18 | Insulation |
| 5/21/21 | Amazon | $15.10 | Coax |
| 5/29/21 | Home Depot | 177.96 | Drywall, Electrical |
| 6/8/21 | True Value | 27.4 | Adhesive, Primer |
| 6/13/21 | One Stop | $17.18 | Joint tape, snips |
| 6/15/21 | Home Depot | $91.24 | texture, painting supplies |
| 7/5/21 | Lowes | $2.68 | Caulk |
| 7/21/15 | Amazon | $19.76 | Router bit |
| $1,222.13 |
Places where I cut corners on the cost were
- Reused existing drywall
- Reused 12/2 cable, outlets and etc
- Recycled door, heater, light fixture
- Paint was on hand with the exception of drywall primer
- No finished floor
The one place that I splurged at minimal cost. It was largely labor in the electrical category.
- Surround sound wiring
- Wired Phone, Data, TV and FM signal
Overall, I am happy with the outcome and feel reasonably satisfied with the execution. I can always do better but it takes practice, analysis and a plan. One thing that I wish I did better was drywall finishing. My joints and corners are rough. If I was doing this professionally, I would have to pay someone to feel good about the results without a lot more practice or instruction.
End Your Programming Routine: I think one of the intangibles with how I have been working is that the project is literally right next to me. The number of times things came to mind either fiddling around with something or planning is not factored into the hours estimate. If this were a job, conceivably more time per task may have taken because I wouldn’t have the luxury of seeing it all day long. I am looking forward to moving in within the next few weeks.
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