Rebar mechanical splice - ballpark cost? 2

[Dennis59]

Does anyone have a rule of thumb for this? (something like 'a mechanical splice costs about the same as a XX diameter lap splice')

I've tried contacting splice vendors for cost info, but I'm really more interested in installed cost of a mechanical coupling compared to the installed cost of a lap.

Also, would anyone care to name a particular favorite brand of mechanical splice?

Thanks for your time.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

In the electric power plant business, Cadweld Mechanical Splices are often considered to be "the best". (Our specifications would say something like "...Cadweld mechanical reinforcing steel splices, or equal..."
Here is a link

http://www.erico.com/products/CadweldRebar.asp

As for installation costs, at a time long ago - as a Contractor, assuming that installation cost equals material cost was usually a reasonable assumption (if we did not have better data). However this applies only to items of MINOR value in an overall project estimate - I would never do this as a significant part of bid preparation.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

 

[jheidt2543]

Just a thought, but some manufacturers have done time studies on their products and will give you a range of time in man-hours to install their product. Ask and see if they can help you out. It is a another place to start if you don't have your own cost data.

 

[LCruiser]

You have dollars per lb. vs. cost per coupler plus time - It will vary depending on size. If you say one minute per coupler (at $1 each) at rodbuster price plus overhead of $60 per hour = $2 each. If your average lap is 4 lbs and cost is $0.50 per lb, that would be about a wash (these are numbers I pulled out of ... the air).

Check your lbs per splice - by bar size, and confirm the other info. Coupler $ will also vary by size.

One caveat - some manufacturers will give optimistic prices so their products are purchased.

 

[Dinosaur]

I have been working in the highway industry, mostly in bridge design, for the past seventeen years. I don't recall ever hearing a Contractor asking to use a mechanical splice in leiu of a lap splice. We use mechanical splices for rebar in several cases, so the Contractors are aware of them. Given this, I would be shocked to hear it was more economical to use a mechanical splice. Having said that, laps for #14 or #18 bars are very long, and the bars are very heavy. We almost never use #14 or #18 bars for this reason. I would use bundled #11s first.