Breakers Panel and water meter cover cabinet.

There are projects hard to quote because they seem too simple and straight forward to justify its hidden but real cost to bring it successfully to complexion without incurring in a financial lost.
Most people would think that few hundred dollars could be an excessive cost for such a simple task,
but most of the time, experience will tell me that these " simple projects " are impossible to complete without a break down and properly costing all the materials and labor to complete that "simple project" without the assumption that is an straight forward task and it should not cost much.
Building for example this cover cabinet for the electric breaker panel and water meter is without a doubt a very simple and straight forward task, but lets break down this simple project in materials and labor to calculate its cost.
materials :
2 sheets 4x8 mdf   ( 80 dollars ) mdf materials was chosen due to its finishing properties because the cabinet would be painted same color as the wall.
Mouldings ( 19.00 )  12 feet of two different mouldings profiles to be use at the bottom of the cabinet and as an astragal piece between the doors.
Hinges   ( 24.00 dollars )  4 pairs of European cabinet type hinges to facilitated the easily removing of the doors in case electricians or plumbers needed total clearance when working.
Miscellaneous ( 20.00 dollars ) nails, screws, gas, wood filler ... )
Paint ( 15.00 )
Nobs ( 8.00 )

Total materials cost : 166.00 dollars

Approximately labor cost : 480.00 dollars  ( base in 12 hours )

Minimum project cost : 646.00  ( this amount represents only the cost of materials and labor but not included the general contractor expenses and cost to arrange and manage the project )

In a superficial, unknowing analyses of this small project is hard to imagine it could cost hundred of dollars, but experience shows this is the true cost to build this " simple project "