anybody do any guard rail work?

[welder_one]

i ahve been asked to bid on a guard rail going around a swimming pool at a health club here. i have done smaal stuff like this before, but never on this scale. i would like to know an average price per foot completed. i have to replace 4,860 feet. the design is 1 1/4 square tube on top and bottom, in ten foot sections. with 3/8 square stock on 4 inch centers. pretty simple and classic design. any help on bidding this would be great. ask me more questions if need more info.thanks

[tacmig]

GraaaVeee

I did railings, grab bars etc. for years and never came up with a /ft. price due to the different materials and location conditions. My best answer is bid it at T&M and if they want a /ft. breakdown, well just divide it up. These are sweet in & out jobs that only tax your patience due to the repetitive nature.

Oh, by-the-way, I've been here a long, long time and this is my first post.....

[SundownIII]

welder__one,

More info would be helpful.

Material--Steel or Aluminum?

Are you responsible for the entire project? Mounting posts (concrete?), gates, etc?

Many times light poles will be incorporated into fence design.

Is the terrain level or will it require that sections be "stepped"?

People vs equipment access gates.

Check with your insurance company to insure you're covered against any potential claims.

Once these factors are considered, I would guess that something like 2x material cost will be in the ballpark.

Just my .02

[BWS29128]

welder__one,

More info would be helpful.

Material--Steel or Aluminum?

Are you responsible for the entire project? Mounting posts (concrete?), gates, etc?

Many times light poles will be incorporated into fence design.

Is the terrain level or will it require that sections be "stepped"?

People vs equipment access gates.

Check with your insurance company to insure you're covered against any potential claims.

Once these factors are considered, I would guess that something like 2x material cost will be in the ballpark.

Just my .02

Is this a public health club subject to OSHA safety regulations or is it private? I'm guessing that it's private if they're willing to pay someone for ironwork, but OSHA is pretty specific about handrails, their spacing, and their size requirements. As I recall, handrails can be a maximum of 38" off the ground and can be a minimum of 2-1/4" in diameter...round or square. (Max dia is around 2-5/8" I think). SundownIII's point about checking with your insurance company is a great one....might try checking with their insurance company as well...

[BWS29128]

Ahh....I see where you said "guard" rails as opposed to "hand" rails. Forget my OSHA comments but stick with the Insurance Company comments.

[welder_one]

it will be made of steel, it is a private club with membership. my insurance will cover liability. and the department of health services is the "governing" body when it comes to rules. the manager did mention thinking about making it out of stainless b/c of the corrosive nature of the pools. i also mentioned price. and also powder coating the steel would make it last much longer than just painted. i will also have to remove the old and install the new including the concrete work as well. more questions about it just ask. i like the materials times 2 but that might not cover concrete and all, and what if i have to call in a contractor for the concrete work. i dunno. oh, i almost forgot, the railing is not on the same level. it is all level (no hills) but on different levels with stairs and handicap ramps, and a baby pool on hte upper deck. i will take some pics tomorrow and post them, maybe that would help.

[Anti-GMAW]

it will be made of steel, it is a private club with membership. my insurance will cover liability. and the department of health services is the "governing" body when it comes to rules. the manager did mention thinking about making it out of stainless b/c of the corrosive nature of the pools. i also mentioned price. and also powder coating the steel would make it last much longer than just painted. i will also have to remove the old and install the new including the concrete work as well. more questions about it just ask. i like the materials times 2 but that might not cover concrete and all, and what if i have to call in a contractor for the concrete work. i dunno. oh, i almost forgot, the railing is not on the same level. it is all level (no hills) but on different levels with stairs and handicap ramps, and a baby pool on hte upper deck. i will take some pics tomorrow and post them, maybe that would help.

Might I sugest 316 SS? With salt water it's the chlorine ions in the salt that cause a reaction with the cromium in SS that cause it to corrode in many salt water or high chloride aplicication. Due to the higher molybdenum content of 316 SS over the rest it helps to avoid this reaction and prolong the life of the part somwhat longer.

just my 2 cents

[dabar39]

welder_one, Be very careful when you quote this job, especially if you get into doing handi cap rails attached to the railings. Make sure you check ALL of the state and county codes pertaining to the handi cap assist requirements. This may sound silly but check with the fire marshall as well, We did a job a few years ago that we subbed out all of the staircases, catwalks and railings to another company. O.S.H.A. and the county building inspector approved the work, but the fire marshall made us rip out a number of stairs and railings and rebuild them before he signed off on the project.

Another thing to keep in mind when bidding this job is temporary barricades and screens to keep the public out of harms way, it's the little things that will add up quick. Just by the minimal description you have given us I would take a wild guestimate in the 50,000 to 60,000 dollar neighborhood. Hope I helped somewhat with your question. Dave

[welder_one]

i was thinking that number. the temporary barricades will be no problem, i plan on building the guard rail in sections, and remove an old section to replace with new section, no breaks in barricade this way. i have talked with another contractor that does alot of work for this club, and i will be subing the concrete work to him and his boys. this will help a bunch. here are the pics. the first one i am standing at the back side with my left to the building. #2 is looking straight across the pool deck. #3 is facing a gate just the other side of the handicap ramp#4 is showing the upper pool deck (baby pool) #5 is showing two gates and the handicap ramp. all gates must be self closing and self latching. hope this sheds a little more light on it

[SundownIII]

Welder__One

Any particular reason they don't want it made out of aluminum? Would sure be a lot less money than SS. Not really that much more than steel by the time you factor in the prep and painting of the steel.

Just a dumb question.

[welder_one]

well, to be honest i never even thought about aluminum and i get a real good deal on material. i'll run that one by her as well. although, most of the time when you say aluminum, people think pop cans anf frying pans, not strong enough to do anything. i will weigh the costs and see how it all comes out.

[Darmik]

Handrail

My guess would be that you will need about 5832 Feet of material for the top
and bottom.How much is this per ft? x 5832 this includes 20% more material than what you need because sh!t happens.so (5832) x ($ per foot) + (20% markup).= little pot of gold.

Now the 3/8 square material. Now BWS29128 said 38" long is that right? If so I think you might need about 200 20footers if so x 20% more material (240 pieces)x ($ per foot) + (20% markup).= little pot of gold.

How many people will be helping you out?

[dabar39]

After doing some basic math, you better think in the 60 + range. Steel alone is gonna be close to 30 grand based on steel prices in my area. And then I'm thinking a solid week of cutting and deburring, 3-4 weeks to fab up the sections, another week or two for paint and primer, and about 3-4 weeks install time. So if you figure in the steel prices and labor prices, then add the fasteners, paint and related materials, consumables, drawings, permits, sub contractors, etc...etc...etc... you are gonna have to go sixty plus to make anything on the job. Keep in mind these are just the bare minimum guesses. Dave

[dabar39]

Darmik, unless I read the original post wrong you need to do a little more work on your math. The amount was 4860 foot of fencing. so now 4860' top and 4860' bottom comes out to about 10000'.
And you did not figure in the posts and corners there's another couple hundred foot there. and I didn't refigure the 3/8" posts but do believe you are way, way short in that estimate as well. Dave

[welder_one]

i have just talked to the manager, and i brought up aluminum, and she didnt think it was a good idea. she did like the idea of powder coat instead of paint. and we talked a little about doing this job on a time and material basis. she is willing to purchase the materials, though i cant make any on mark up, but i would have a hard time fronting that much material. it will be myself and 2 others, not including the concrete boys on this project. i can powder coat sections up to 30 feet by 7 feet (my brother on that hook-up) so i can make out pretty good there. i will have until july 15 of next year to have completion. i dont believe that will be a hard goal to reach. i am just not sure that she went for my $$$ amount on time. she said that there were a couple others that she was accepting bids from. i hope it turns out, it would be a real good click