Replace dangerous side steps

Posted by on March 21, 2007, 5:49 am

This is So.Calif West LA area..

I need two dangerous side steps replaced. They are concrete; go way
back before I bought the house. One is 9" high; the other is the
usual 6". That first step is awkward, even for a normal-sized person,
and I am very short. People have taken a dive on those steps.

I have back back and had shoulder surgery. Can't risk a fall.

The City has given me a grant for approx. $4k+ but I can't find a
contractor to do the job; called quite a few in the phone book.

Is job that small that nobody is interested? Or? Somebody said they
don't like jobs where a City pays, but I tried to tell them that the
paperwork totally protects them; I've seen it.

If any contractor in the area is interested, please post and tell me
where to contact you.

Tx

Aspasia

Posted by 3G on March 21, 2007, 6:24 am

<aspasia> wrote in message

|
| This is So.Calif West LA area..
|
| I need two dangerous side steps replaced. They are concrete; go way
| back before I bought the house. One is 9" high; the other is the
| usual 6". That first step is awkward, even for a normal-sized person,
| and I am very short. People have taken a dive on those steps.

I take it
the 9" step is the bottom step?
of course it is............................
remove and rebuild them.
it's not worth the time to cut and grind.

|
| I have back back and had shoulder surgery. Can't risk a fall.
|
| The City has given me a grant for approx. $4k+ but I can't find a
| contractor to do the job; called quite a few in the phone book.
|
| Is job that small that nobody is interested? Or? Somebody said they
| don't like jobs where a City pays, but I tried to tell them that the
| paperwork totally protects them; I've seen it.
|
| If any contractor in the area is interested, please post and tell me
| where to contact you.
|
| Tx
|
| Aspasia
|
|
|

Posted by on March 21, 2007, 3:32 pm

><aspasia> wrote in message
>|
>| This is So.Calif West LA area..
>|
>| I need two dangerous side steps replaced. They are concrete; go way
>| back before I bought the house. One is 9" high; the other is the
>| usual 6". That first step is awkward, even for a normal-sized person,
>| and I am very short. People have taken a dive on those steps.
>I take it
>the 9" step is the bottom step?
>of course it is............................

No! 9" is the TOP step! Very awkward/dangerous to navigate.

>remove and rebuild them.
>it's not worth the time to cut and grind.

That's what I want -- to remove and rebuild, pref. with wood.
I was never suggesting "cut and grind".

My problem is locating a contractor.

Aspasia

>|
>| I have back back and had shoulder surgery. Can't risk a fall.
>|
>| The City has given me a grant for approx. $4k+ but I can't find a
>| contractor to do the job; called quite a few in the phone book.
>|
>| Is job that small that nobody is interested? Or? Somebody said they
>| don't like jobs where a City pays, but I tried to tell them that the
>| paperwork totally protects them; I've seen it.
>|
>| If any contractor in the area is interested, please post and tell me
>| where to contact you.
>|
>| Tx
>|
>| Aspasia
>|
>|
>|

Posted by Steve on March 21, 2007, 5:53 pm

>><aspasia> wrote in message
>>remove and rebuild them.
>>it's not worth the time to cut and grind.

>
> That's what I want -- to remove and rebuild, pref. with wood.
> I was never suggesting "cut and grind".
>
> My problem is locating a contractor.

Look for a handyman. We tackle smaller jobs like this all the time.
Contractors don't like to mess with jobs under $10K because theres so much
cost in the setup.

Ask for references and check them out before you hire someone.

This isn't a repair, so he'll have to pull a permit with the city. This is a
good thing, since they'll make sure he meets code.

If I were doing it in the Fort Worth area, I'd guess the cost would be around
$1000. This includes hauling away the old concrete and building a stoop with
two steps and a railing. Your code might not require the railing, but I'd
want it anyway. (I didn't do an actual calculation here. Make your guy give
you a written estimate up front.)

Posted by on March 22, 2007, 1:28 am

>>><aspasia> wrote in message
>>>remove and rebuild them.
>>>it's not worth the time to cut and grind.

>>
>> That's what I want -- to remove and rebuild, pref. with wood.
>> I was never suggesting "cut and grind".
>>
>> My problem is locating a contractor.

>Look for a handyman. We tackle smaller jobs like this all the time.
>Contractors don't like to mess with jobs under $10K because theres so much
>cost in the setup.
>Ask for references and check them out before you hire someone.
>This isn't a repair, so he'll have to pull a permit with the city. This is a
>good thing, since they'll make sure he meets code.
>If I were doing it in the Fort Worth area, I'd guess the cost would be around
>$1000. This includes hauling away the old concrete and building a stoop with
>two steps and a railing. Your code might not require the railing, but I'd
>want it anyway. (I didn't do an actual calculation here. Make your guy give
>you a written estimate up front.)

Well, you did give me an idea. Maybe the City doesn't require him (or
her) to be a licensed contractor. I was thinking they had to be,
because it would be paid for by a City grant (senior stuff).

The City allocated $4000 for the job, but the ONLY bid I was able
to get was from a female head of a minority construction company not
in this area, and it ran $625 over.

Nothing developed for over a year, and then I got an inquiry from
whoever drew up the bid papers -- they're somehow connected with the
City (don't ask; I don't even understand it!) So now I am trying to
find out if the bid is still alive, and if not, go back on the hunt
for a contractor/handyman/whatever.

Sigh!

I originally asked the group if they knew of a way to locate a
person to do the job, other than the Yellow Pages.

Still asking...any thoughts on where to look? I really don't want to
lose the City funds, and I sure as hell need to fix those steps,
but I can't afford it out of pocket.

Aspasia

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