I Know, I Know
Hey folks, Brad here. I've had this conversation about 50 times in the last two months so I figured I'd just write it all down. If you got a quote from us recently and thought "wait, that's more than my neighbor paid last year" - you're right. It is. And I want to explain why.
Everything Went Up
Here's what happened. COVID shut down manufacturing plants, messed up shipping, and created shortages of basically everything. Now that demand is back - and it's back BIG - there's not enough supply to go around. Basic economics.
The numbers are real:
- Portland cement - up about 15% from last year
- Rebar and wire mesh - up 30-40%, some weeks higher. Steel prices are insane right now.
- Lumber for forms - don't even get me started. A 2x4 that cost $2.50 in 2019 is going for $7-8 right now. We reuse our forms as much as we can but they still wear out.
- Fuel - diesel for the trucks is up. That mixer truck doesn't run on good vibes.
We're Not Price Gouging
I want to be crystal clear about this. Our labor rates are the same. Our profit margin is actually LOWER than it was two years ago because we've been eating some of these increases. But we can't eat all of them and stay in business.
When our ready-mix supplier raises their price, that flows straight through to your quote. We don't mark up materials extra on top of what we pay. I'll show you the invoices if you want to see them. We've got nothing to hide.
What Can You Do?
Honestly? If you can wait, prices might come down in a year or two. But they also might not - nobody really knows. If your project is needed now (crumbling driveway, safety issues, selling your house) then waiting doesn't make sense.
What we CAN do is look at your project and find ways to save where it makes sense. Maybe 4" thickness is fine instead of 6". Maybe we reduce the scope a little. We'll work with you.
I hate having these conversations but I'd rather be honest than have you think we're trying to rip you off. That's not how we operate and it never will be. Give us a call and we'll give you a fair quote based on what things actually cost right now.