If they're using 32 4x4s to make 7.5 foot beds, they're likely going to be 8' long. 32 would be 8 per bed, 2 per side. As they're actually around 3.5" thick, you would have a bed just short of 7'x7' (7.5'= 90 inches - 7 inches = 83"/6'11"), 7 inches deep. 32 treated 4x4s around here from Lowe's would be $160 dollars. If they're talking about using cedar, which I wouldn't use for ground contact, you're looking at around 3.5 times that. If I were doing it, I'd use at least 12 18" rebar stakes per bed to anchor it to the ground and at least 16 8" landscape timber spikes for the top boards of each bed to secure it to the bottom. 48 .5" thick 18" rebar pieces plus 64 galvanized spikes would be at least $80, probably more. If the gravel walk is 2 or so inches deep, it would be about 16.5 cubic feet. Bought by the bag as opposed to bulk because I don't know the cost :-) would be 33 .5 cubic feet bags, at a cost of around $120. I priced soil back in the spring and at the time sandy loam and compost were running about $125 per cubic yard at one place around here. 4 cu yds of sandy loam and 1 cu yd of compost - ~$600. No idea of the bale size/cost of the peat. So based on local prices/estimates we have: Lumber - $160 Pea gravel(Retail bags) - $120 Sandy loam/compost - $600 Fasteners - ~$80 Around $960. As catkim mentioned, how are the paths going to be prepared? Steel edging can be a little pricy, and you would need around 70 feet to go along the ends of the paths and the inside edges of the beds. If your landscaper is going to lay fabric underneath the gravel that's another cost. Just for the sake of argument, call the cost of materials $1000 since they probably get at least some materials wholesale or have a supplier. That leaves $800 towards plants and labor. I personally don't think the labor in laying out and constructing the bed and path should be that intensive. It's good sized but not huge, and is a fairly basic layout. If they dig down a couple of inches for the path to keep it level with the ground it would be a little extra work, but not a whole lot. The real wild card is in the plants used, as has been mentioned. If plants are included, how many and what varieties? Are they more commonly available, relatively inexpensive plants, or harder to find or more well established sizes that would cost more? If the plants aren't included, I'd say check other options. Even if that $1,000 material estimate is off by $200, if plants aren't included you're paying around $600 for labor. If the estimate is fairly accurate, that's about $800 for labor. I could probably build something similiar myself in around 8 hours and I'd take $70-$100 an hour to do it every day and twice on Sunday. In the end, I basically agree with Frankie. Research materials, methods and make some other inquiries. $1,800 is nothing to sneeze at and you want to make sure you're not overpaying or at the very least, getting your money's worth.

You need to tell us where in the country you are, since prices are much higher in NYC, CT, and California than in most parts of Texas, Nebraska and Iowa, for example. Also, not giving a list of what the materials are, it still is very difficult to say. Custom, Semi custom or stock cabinets? A lot of crown molding? Off the top, the only things that seem high are the plumming and electrical for the size of the space and relatively little movement of plumbing. Do you need to upgrade the elctrical box or add a second one to accommodate the increased outlets and lights in the kitchen? If the Plumbing estimate of 1150 includes t he first time dishwasher intallation, what is included in the "finish plumbing"? Just hooking up the sink, faucet, GD and maybe refrig? If so, that seems high to me. However, please note that my prices are in CT, which is high, but from people I contacted myself. To have a GC provide the plumber DOUBLED the cost. But after I went with my own plumber, the GC kept trying to cut costs to increase his profit elsewhere, so beware of trying that. If you want to GC yourself you will probably save a lot, but don't then call a GC for the small stuff. Most won't appreciate it. Sue

I also live in the midwest and like you the only thing we wanted to lift was the pen to write checks for our kitchen remodel. I might just be extremely lucky but we had a contractor who didn't charge a dime over his estimate, had subs who who there exactly when he said they would be, had no issues with any work done and completed everything on schedule. While it certainly isn't comparing apples to apples, I will list the things that were done just to give you some info. My contractor did not actually give us itemized costs but we were comfortable with that because he had done previous work for us and we had 110% confidence in him Our bid included: City permits Demolition and removal of cabinets and drywall Rough carpentry (shifting and reframing a doorway) Disconnecting old wiring, installing wiring for 5 switches, 4 general outles, 2 island outles, dishwasher,disposal, microwave, ovens, cooktop and vent hood. Installing 6 recessed light, 3 pendant lights, 4 in cabinet lights and 2 chandeliers and under cabinet lights. (we did purchase our own lights.) and installing new control for sound system. Rough and finish plumbing: relocating sink drains, vents and waterlines, relocating waterline for regrigerator, relocating gas line. Furnished and installed sink, strainer basket, garbage disposal, disposal flange, air switch, soap dispenser, air gap, and faucet. Drywalled, taped, finished and textured 3 wall and ceiling. Installed vent pipe through the rough for vent hood and installed the chimney vent that we purchased. Installed all appliances. The total we paid was $17,175.00 This did not include our cabinets but our cabinet maker only charged $1,400 to deliver and install. It also did not include our countertops. You may want to see if you can supply some of the material such as light and plumbing fixtures. You may be able to get them for less money. And definitely get some more estimates. Wish I could send my GC to you.

If you take the perimeter overflow and the raised beam out of the equation your around 80,000.00. After adding up the total with all the options he gave you, 80,000.00 seems high because of what he is giving you as far as engineering, materials and plumbing. Not sure how much any existing demo you have and whether that is figured into the cost. I can't tell you whether 41,000.00 is to much for an perimeter overflow or not since I don't know your enginnnering, plumbing requirments or size of your surge tank. Sorry I can't be of anymore help.