Would you mind discussing barn electric/plumbing cost?

[SugarCubes]

I know this varies greatly, but after pulling my hair out trying to get plumbers and electricians to call me back, or send me quotes, I figured I’d ask you guys, just out of curiosity.

Barn is an L shaped shedrow with a 12’ overhang/aisle. Three stalls, tackroom, washrack.

For plumbing, we will need a 150’ trench from house to barn, hot and cold frost free hydrants in wash stall, water heater hook up in tack room, and water lines for two nelson waterers that will go in two stalls.

The one quote I’ve gotten so far for that is $2200, which I thought sounded pretty reasonable. Thoughts?

As far as electric goes, I’ve met with three electricians but am awaiting quotes. I’m figuring 6 lights for the aisle, two in the wash stall, one in each stall, radiant heater over wash stall, three outlets in the tackroom, two in the wash stall, and one above each stall for fans. Plus one outlet on the outside of the barn. Would need the heaters hooked up for the Nelson waterers too. Also, two jelly jar lights on front and back of barn. We already have an extra 100 amp subpanel in the basement that is dedicated to the barn. Ballpark for what running the electric will cost?

Again, I know there are a ton of variables, but I’m just trying to guesstimate what this all will cost as I’m impatiently awaiting quotes Thanks!

[Frog_Pond]

Check your local codes to see how far apart the water and power need to be – you’d save $$ by using the same trench, if allowed. Or, if that can’t happen, consider asking the excavator to do the second trench on the same day they do the water line trench. My neighbor is an electrician, and I have a verrrryy long run between house and barn, and his advice to me was: never pay an electrician to dig a hole!

That’s a lot of work for $2200 . . . but then again, I live in a very high cost area. Chasing down contractors is my hobby, too, insert head-slap here. Good luck!

[tangledweb]

That sounds very reasonable. The only quotes I’ve had here were $4000 for a 50 yard water line to one Nelson waterer and $9000 for a 400 yard water line with no new fixtures.

Inexplicably I’ve ended up doing a lot of DIY plumbing even though I hate plumbing.

[clanter]

on the electrical, make sure to use either armored (BX style) cable or EMT conduct to protect the wiring from rodents … more expensive but less worry

[horsepoor]

I think clanter was the victim of autocorrect and probably meant conduit instead of conduct. Which was going to be my suggestion as well. Can’t help on the cost estimates, but do know that when we built our barn (~36’x36’ with two stalls originally, and since expanded to include another stall and wash stall), having all the electrical ran through conduit cost about $1,000 extra. Money well spent, no question.

[gumtree]

I do pretty much everything needed on my farm and house so I can’t be of much help on what is a “fair” cost for installation of things. $2,200 for a 150’ and the other things you are having installed seems in the “ball park” considering what plumbers and electricians are getting these days. A lot of the cost comes down to the “lay of the land” and building. In other words how easy or difficult it will be to “retro fit” to an existing building. How much has to be torn up and repaired. Getting wires/plumbing through walls, foundation etc. How deep things have to go to meet local code.

I trenched over 1800’ installed ¾" black poly pipe, 12-2 direct bury wire, and installed 4 frost free hydrants and outlets at the paddock, and 2 auto waters in other paddocks. I rented a pretty big walk behind trencher but it was slow going and a bit of a learning curve. The cost of materials and renting the trencher was around $1,200 not including the waterers.

So, based on the quote of $2,200 for 150’ I am really glad I know how to do these things. It only took me a couple of days. Not even full days because I have lots of horses to deal with also.

Basic residential/barn wiring is very easy to install. There are very good reference books and or websites that explain everything in “layman’s” terms. Step by step. Home owners are allowed to do the work themselves in the states I have lived in. State specific “code books” can be bought. When done the home owner can call the building department and have their work inspected.

There are websites that offer electrical and plumbing estimating calculators based on zip code. Don’t know how accurate they are but they will give a pretty good idea of what things cost in the area.