Those are the numbers Mavericks actually quotes, not a national average. Here is how they break down and what moves them. The full scope is on the rough framing page.
Labor and material are separate questions
Most framing work in Michigan is sold labor only. The builder or homeowner buys the lumber package through their own supplier, it gets delivered to the site, and the framing crew assembles it.
This matters for budgeting because the two halves behave differently. Labor is fairly predictable and is quoted from plans. Material tracks the lumber market and can move 20 percent in a season. When somebody quotes you "framing," ask which one they mean.
Framing cost by project type
| Project | Typical labor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New house, 1 story, 2,000 SF | $26,000 to $28,000 | Moderate complexity, standard roof |
| New house, 2 story, 2,500 SF | $32,000 to $42,000 | Second floor system adds labor |
| Addition, 400 SF | $5,600 to $8,800 | $14 to $22 per SF. Tie-in to existing structure drives cost |
| Garage, 2 car detached | $3,200 to $7,500 | $8 to $13 per SF on 400 to 576 SF. Slab on grade, trussed roof |
| Basement framing | $22 to $30 per linear foot | 8 foot walls. See below, or the basement framing page. |
| Wall removal with LVL or steel beam | $2,500 to $9,000 | Depends on span, load and access |
Material, when you are buying it rather than your builder, typically adds $18 to $28 per square foot on new construction.
Basement framing is priced differently
Basements are priced by the linear foot of wall, not by square foot of floor, because the floor area is already there and the work is walls.
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Walls, 8 foot | $22 to $30 per linear foot |
| Walls, 9 foot | Multiply by 1.10 |
| Walls, 10 foot | Multiply by 1.20 |
| Soffits and bulkheads | $24 to $34 per linear foot |
| Bathroom rough framing | Add $600 |
| Job minimum | $1,500 |
A typical 200 linear foot basement of perimeter and partition walls runs about $5,000 in labor, done in one long day: 200 linear feet of wall, three framers, one ten hour day.
What actually moves the price
Five things, in order of how much they matter.
- Roof complexity. A simple gable is fast. Hips, valleys, dormers and multiple ridge heights add days. This is the single biggest swing factor and it is why square footage alone cannot price a job.
- Ceiling height and wall height. Nine and ten foot walls cost more than eight, and not proportionally. Everything gets heavier and slower.
- Site access. If a truck and a telehandler can get to the building, the job is faster. A tight lot, a steep grade or a long carry adds hours to every delivery.
- Engineered members. LVL beams, steel beams and columns take planning, equipment and crew. Installing a W8x31 is a different day than nailing studs.
- Plan quality. A complete, dimensioned, engineered set prices tighter and builds faster. A napkin sketch gets a padded number, because the unknowns have to be priced.
What is included, and what is not
Included in Mavericks rough framing:
Floor systems, wall framing, roof systems and truss setting, sheathing, window and door openings, LVL and steel beam and column installation (install only), and house wrap.
House wrap is part of the framing scope. It is never listed as an exclusion and never billed again under siding.
Not included by default:
Material, unless quoted as labor plus material. Equipment such as a telehandler or Skytrak, which is priced as its own line item rather than buried in the labor rate. Permits. Foundation, concrete flatwork, and any trade after framing.
Steel: Mavericks installs steel beams and columns. It does not fabricate, weld or coat steel. That is a separate trade.
How this compares to national numbers
HomeGuide's 2026 framing cost data puts national framing labor at $7 to $13 per square foot and total framing at $22,000 to $60,000 for a 2,000 square foot house.
Michigan labor sits at the upper half of that range, and Metro Detroit higher still. That is a real cost-of-labor difference, not a markup. Crews that show up on the committed date and hand off a frame with no punch list are paid accordingly, and that has to be in the number for them to still be there next season.