sheet metal ductwork in South Florida

[tmb5107]

I'm buying a home in Miami, FL that is 20 years old and has original duct board and flex. AC units are original and inspections revealed that there a good bit of mold in the air handler and on the coils and some mold in the ductwork. I am replacing the AC units and I would really like to replace the original ducts with sheet metal but everyone I contact down here says that they usually don't do metal for residential and quote me ridiculous prices. Is there anyone in South Florida who does sheet metal ductwork at a reasonable price?

[lentz]

Sheet metal is the best way to go. Seal all joints and wrap with two inches of blanket insulation. Most of the guys now days have not even seen sheet metal. Call some of the supply houses. They might be able to help.

[beenthere]

Sheet metal duct is not cheap.
You want metal in an attic. Be prepared to pay the price.

[DGIO-Not]

Might start here: http://www.acca.org/contractors/

I'm not surprised that you are having trouble finding a contractor who regularly follows best practice, But ACCA is a good start, especially if you can find someone who has embraced and is excited about Quality Installation Standard 5. Our industry can be so backwards--we sell hard Indoor Air Quality but insist on using fibrous duct work with a life expectancy equal to the unit we install--and ductwork when behind finished walls or ceilings is not easy to replace. Metal, sealed and externally insulated best way to go (with some flex for sound intonation.)

[sktn77a]

Keep calling contractors. You'll find someone who can do this at a reasonable price. The larger ones, in particular, generally have their own sheet metal fabrication facilities and will do this. Bear in mind, it will cost more than flexduct (probably 50% more) but I'd steer clear of anyone that wants to put in all-flex ductwork - they might do the job properly, but they probably won''t!

[dan sw fl]

I would really like to replace the original ducts with sheet metal but everyone I contact down here says that they usually don't do metal for residential and quote me ridiculous prices.

Is there anyone in South Florida who does sheet metal ductwork at a reasonable price?

NO.

[DGIO-Not]

NO.

Dan, forgive me if I took your post wrong. The biggest difference is labor, and if shop routinely does metal or has a fabricator to make the duct work, that isn't necessarily a price out of market quote. Are you saying you guys do not develop talent or resources as a matter of course?

[beenthere]

Seems like this is turning into a price discussion thread.

OP: It will cost what the CONTRACTORS in your area charge.

No pricing discussions.

[DGIO-Not]

Seems like this is turning into a price discussion thread.

OP: It will cost what the CONTRACTORS in your area charge.

No pricing discussions.

Will behave and accept my wrap on the knuckles, still trying to learn differing markets. Dan is right, from what I have been told, I'm just trying to understand better and perhaps it should have been a PM.

[beenthere]

Will behave and accept my wrap on the knuckles, still trying to learn differing markets. Dan is right, from what I have been told, I'm just trying to understand better and perhaps it should have been a PM.

You can go to the pro tech forums and find out.
B&M if you have access to it. Pro tech if you don't.

[dan sw fl]

Dan, forgive me if I took your post wrong. The biggest difference is labor, and if shop routinely does metal or has a fabricator to make the duct work, that isn't necessarily a price out of market quote. Are you saying you guys do not develop talent or resources as a matter of course?

Fiberboard is sssssso0000000 prevalent, that the talent
and use of metal duct is _like the Dinosaur.

[DGIO-Not]

Fiberboard is sssssso0000000 prevalent, that the talent
and use of metal duct is _like the Dinosaur.

:-) I'm over here sitting in the dunce corner with the big pointy hat!

[neophytes serendipity]

I'm buying a home in Miami, FL that is 20 years old and has original duct board and flex. AC units are original and inspections revealed that there a good bit of mold in the air handler and on the coils and some mold in the ductwork. I am replacing the AC units and I would really like to replace the original ducts with sheet metal but everyone I contact down here says that they usually don't do metal for residential and quote me ridiculous prices. Is there anyone in South Florida who does sheet metal ductwork at a reasonable price?


Ductboard can be made quickly onsite with only a few tools. Once it is formed, you have the conduit for air... and it is insulated.

Even if round metal pipe is used... the joints need to be sealed, and then the stuff needs to be insulated. You will likely need custom fittings at the air handling equipment.

That's what you are up against.

[dan sw fl]

I'm buying a home in Miami, FL that is 20 years old .... quote me ridiculous prices.

Is there anyone in South Florida who does sheet metal ductwork at a reasonable price?

E-mail me (see profile) and I'll give you a company name located in your area who will provide reliable service who does their own sheet metal.

Reasonable cost is all relative to ones expectations.
Sheet metal IS more expensive than the easily site-fabricated fiberboard.

You likely only need a sheet metal header of maybe ~ 25 feet to limit the single flex duct runs to < ~ 18 feet.

An appropriate hybrid metal/flex design and simplicity will provide the desired goals of "semi reasonable" initial cost and long term reliability.