?contractor/electrician in southeast michigan?

[erika]

I am new to this industry and I am currently looking into a possible lease location.
There is currently 5 tons in the 1700 sqft building. I assumed I would need around 15 tons++ to make it sufficient for 10 room salon.
Today I had 2 reputable commercial AC installers come out to the location and look at the current AC and electricity to give me an estimation on how much more upgrades I would need. Needless to say neither could give me a straight answer. One knew nothing about the electric capacity and the other said that would have to be at a different time. One also was trying to persuade me into individual room ACs as opposed to just adding 10 more tons of rooftop AC.
Can someone tell me "what is it that I am missing in the communication?' How come neither of these companies could tell me how much 10 tons of AC would cost? I understand that additional cieling ductwork and ventilation would be an additional cost. However, why wouldnt they tell me what the 10 tons would cost?
Do I need to have an electrician &/or general contractor who specializes in the tanning industry come out to this location and give me an estimate?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

[Kathe]

Erika - my husband knows a ton (LOL) about air conditioning in a tanning salon. We have a salon in Livonia, MI so if you want to talk to him he'll be happy to talk to you about it. Just give him a call tomorrow at the salon 734-464-1401.

Oh! His name is Tom.

[northtanman]

i just had another 3 phase 5 ton unit added...but its a/c only. (no heat) it was a mistake unit someone had ordered in...i paid only 2k for the unit...another $1500 for the installation and electric bid was $850 of which i did myself...

[northtanman]

ps, call a HVAC company or 2...not an electrician.

[northtanman]

well, of course you need a a/c guy to look over what you have...and what you need...the 2 you already talked too are just idiots!

[ChiliPeppers]

yea, i agree, find a good ac guy, im an electrician, i couldn't help you with anything except getting the unit wired and controlled. as im up in Canada im no use to you anyway.
one thing about the units though, if they are a higher quality unit, your "estimator" will never be able to give you a straight answer until he knows exactly what you need for the space, there are a lot of variables in rtu's like dynamic braking speed, cfm count, how many ducts u have off of your main chamber, if there's going to be interlocking between the rtu and say an exhaust fan for a larger bed just saying 15 tons of air... kind of doesnt give him enough info for on the spot quotes, he'll have to do research, unless he's SUPER good.

Just my two cents...