Is $5,000 to upgrade insulation and subpanel a fair price?
Project Details
I am getting work done and the contractor does not comprehend that they need to put up capital to pay their subs and buy materials before I pay them, which is a law in California. This has caused some subcontractor delays, longer time on the job, and slower material processing. Their original bid was ~14% lower than the mean bid (6 total ranging $108-160k). I gave them a heads-up about these material changes during bidding and several times through construction, but they didn’t want to adjust their price at that time. We’re in rough framing now. I chose this contractor because out of 6 bids, they were the only ones willing to discuss detailed scope. I am a senior project manager and designer in the commercial construction industry, so I am well versed in developing cost estimates, keeping contractors accountable, developing and reviewing contracts, and reviewing bids. I appreciate the value the builder/laborers bring as they are extremely knowledgeable. I am mindful of making the area as energy efficient as I can. I have a marked-up document in their court and a call scheduled later today. I don’t mind paying a fair, marked-up price, but don’t want to be overcharged or push them so much that they don’t want to work with me on it.
Quote Details
This quote is for two requested material changes to an ongoing construction project. The homeowner is requesting: - Insulation Material: Upgrade from fiberglass to Rockwool for R-15 wall insulation and R-23 ceiling insulation. The base scope was R-15 batt + 1" rigid foam for walls (approximately 640 sqft) and R-23 for the ceiling (approximately 400 sqft). The homeowner estimates the retail material cost difference for this change to be around $1.40/SF for R-15 Rockwool vs $1/SF for fiberglass, and $2.55/SF for R-23 Rockwool. - Subpanel: Change to a slightly longer subpanel with more empty spaces. This change is not expected to involve any feeder or circuit breaker changes, nor any additional labor or prep. Any stock Home Depot NEMA 3R panel would suffice. The homeowner calculates the actual material price difference for both changes to be approximately $700 after tax.
You say...
Vote Distribution
These ratings are not endorsed by Quote Critic. They are submitted by other Quote Critic users like you.
More Details
Category
Insulation
Price
$5,000
Quote Date
October 2, 2025
Location
California
Insulation Type
Batt
Comments
No comments yet
Sign in to share your thoughts and ask questions.
Similar Quotes
Home Addition and Remodel (Office & Patio)
This quote covers a comprehensive home addition and remodeling project, including an office and patio addition, along with various interior and exterior renovations. The project includes: **General & Planning:** - Engineered Plans: Provided by Top Homes Construction for exterior addition. - Architectural Drawings: In-house architect to draw 2D elevations and drawings (free of charge). - HOA Approval: Client to provide written approval if applicable. - Soil Compaction Test: Provided by Top Homes Construction if required. - Framing: All framing requirements put in place by architectural and engineered plans, completed by experienced framers. - Survey/Plot Plan: Client to provide for county submission. - Existing Home Builder Info: Client to provide for siding and roofing matching. - Site Cleanup: Daily cleanup included. - Costs Included: Material cost, labor, and permit. **Demolition:** - Front Steps & Pad: Removal of current front steps and pad. - Screen Room: Removal of front screen room. - Door Removal: Door leading to dining room removed for French door installation. - Window Removal: 2 windows from front of home, 1 window from laundry room. - Water Heater Removal. - Roof Removal: Small pad on front porch roof. **Foundation:** - New Block Foundation: 8x30 foundation built. - Slab: Compact filled and poured 4" slab for new front porch. - Roof Slope: Low slope roof from home corner to new addition for office room. - Office Space Extension: 10x10 extended office space (flush with new front patio). - Office Slab Addition: 100 sqft. - Front Patio Addition: 240 sqft. **Framing:** - Addition Framing: Follows architectural and engineering plans. - New Office Framing: 10x20 office (200 sqft), including all stud walls and baseplates. - Window Openings: Framing for 2 window openings (1 double window single hung front, 1 single-single hung window side). - Gable Roof: Framing to attach to existing roof. - French Door Entrance: Framing leading to dining area. - Ceiling Height: Estimated 8-10 feet. - Laundry Window: Removal and framing for siding replacement. - Porch Posts & Roof Structure: Framing for front porch and roof structure attaching to home. - Total Added Built Space: 440 sqft (200 heated living space, 240 patio space). **Windows:** - Stationary Fixed Window: Removed and new installed at front of house. - Double Vinyl Single Hung Window: Installed after removal of old single windows. - New Double Single Hung Window: Installed at front of office space. - New Single Single Hung Window: Installed on left side of office. - Window Rating: Vinyl DP-50 rated windows. **Exterior Finishes:** - Patio Posts: Hardie wrapped and painted posts. - Roof Shingles: To match existing home. - Soffit Ceiling: Vinyl soffit ceiling with vented soffit on overhangs. - Office Siding: Vinyl siding on exterior of addition. **French Doors:** - Client will provide door of choice. **Electrical & Split System:** - Electrical: Up to code for office space. - Split System: 1 installed to cool and heat office space separately from main home. - Office Lighting: 1 light with fan (client provides fan of choice). - Porch Lighting: 4 can lights. - Tankless Water Heater: Electrical up to code. **Flooring:** - LVP Allowance: Up to $2 per square foot for office space and laundry room. **Insulation:** - Installed where needed in laundry and office space. **Drywall & Paint:** - Drywall & Paint: Office space drywalled and painted. - Vinyl Removal: Vinyl removed in office space, new space drywalled, mudded, and painted. - Paint Color: Flat white paint included. - Hardie Posts: Painted white for patio. **Driveway:** - Area: Approx. 900 sqft, from street to addition and pathway to new front patio. - Material: 3000 PSI 4" concrete slab. - Inclusions: All prep, labor, and material. **Warranties:** - Split System: 10-year warranty for cooling and heating. - Workmanship: 1-year warranty. - Manufacturer Warranty: On windows, siding, and shingles (range from 15-year to lifetime).
Replace 30 can lights, 11 dimmers, 3 bathroom lights, change/move kitchen light, replace under cabinet light
This estimate covers labor and materials for various electrical and lighting upgrades. Please note that patching and painting are not included in this estimate, but referrals can be provided. Any additional required alterations by the city or client not explicitly listed will be billed on a time and materials basis. - Labor: Bypass transformer and install LED trim on 4" LV cans (30 units) - Materials: Elco 4" Warm Dim Trim line voltage (30 units) - Labor: Installation, syncing, and programming (billed time and materials) - Reused Components: Existing three-way switches (on/off functionality) - Included Components: Dimmers in bathrooms, screwless cover plates throughout - Lighting Control: Lutron Caseta Diva Style (11 units) - Lighting Control: Lutron Bridge (1 unit) - Lighting Control: 4-button Pico remote (2 units) - Lighting Control: Standard Pico with stand (2 units - one for living room, one for master bedroom) - Lighting Control: Pico Holder (1 unit) - Cover Plate: White screwless 1-gang cover plate (15 units) - Cover Plate: 2-gang screwless cover plate (5 units) - Cover Plate: Lutron Screwless 3-gang cover plate (2 units) - Outlet/Cover Plate: Brown outlet and screwless cover plate for peninsula (1 unit) - Dimmer: DVCL153 (3 units) - Dimmer: Lutron CL Diva Dimmer (for bathrooms) (1 unit) - Labor: Relocate countertop light (includes covering old location with blank out) - Materials: Fan box, wire, protective materials - Labor: Replace under cabinet lights (2 units - 29" and 18") - Under Cabinet Lights: Elco 18" & 29" (1 unit)
Perform various electrical upgrades and repairs
This electrical work included adding a new circuit for the water heater in the garage, fixing dedicated circuits for the refrigerator and smoke detectors, and a wiring inspection. The sub panel was replaced, arc fault breakers were installed, and the panel was made up. Materials included arc fault breakers and wire. - Add circuit for water heater (garage) - Fix dedicated circuits for fridge and smoke detectors - Wiring inspection - Replace sub panel - Install arc fault breakers - Make up panel - Materials: Arc fault breakers, Wire