How to bid exterior painting jobs ? - Paint Talk

TomHuggins · 03-02-2008, 10:39 AM

I have seen alot of post about estimating interior painting.

How about exterior painting? Presure Washing, Scrapping, Especially if it is more than 1 story, is it better to use scaffolding verse ladder?

timhag · 03-02-2008, 11:04 AM

Only you have the answers to your question. Every exterior job is different. Try reading thru the post on this site, may come up with some ideas.

bikerboy · 03-02-2008, 11:29 AM

Look Here:

exterior pricing

Can anyone help me with an Exterior Bid?

HomeGuardPaints · 03-02-2008, 12:01 PM

flat price on every house of $450 should cover it

Jason@API · 03-02-2008, 12:18 PM

What it will cost and how much you will make at an exterior, really is up to you. Things to consider when doing an exterior:

How much prep (scraping, sanding, and priming) is involved?

To what extent is Pressure washing needed? do you pressure wash the whole house, part of it or none of it? Is this before or after the prep? This depends on the quality you want to provide.

What warranty do they want in a product (quality of paint)? (varies in price)

What sheen do they want? (varies in price)

Ladders or scaffolding? That also depends on how you want to go about it... and how long will it take you using one or the other. each job is different. I don't bid jobs that need scaffolding any more. In the past, I would call a scaffolding company to give me a bid and include that cost in my proposal. I have never done an interior that justified the use of scaffolding either. Not that I wouldn't ever... It just hasn't happened yet.

1 lvl vs. 2 stories? I don't have this nailed down quite yet. To me, it comes down to time and materials.

What is involved in supplies? This again depends on how you want to attack the project. If you hand paint it, you won't need so much supplies compared to spraying.

Hand painting vs, praying. I did an exterior that took me 7 days to hand paint. It would have taken me 3 days to spray. The folks were dead-set on hand painting and payed the extra to get it done. Hand painting in my experience requires less paint. You can save on the cost of product that way. There is a local painter who only does hand painting in our area. Again, what do you want to do and how do you want to go about it? This will determine how your going to bid your job.

Labor (extra help outside of my capability to complete a job in a timely manner).... I don't use labor so I cannot vouch for this part of my bidding. It's just my partner and I.

I am sure I have only suggested a few surface issues in bidding an exterior.

Any other thoughts? I am sure to have missed something...

J

Jason@API · 03-02-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeGuardPaints

flat price on every house of $450 should cover it

Cover what? Pressure washing? Please clarify...

J

Brian · 03-02-2008, 12:58 PM

The following formula works for calculating the price on any job:
Total price = (((Overhead per man hour) + (Average wage + labor burden)) X Man hours) + (Materials + Material markup) + (Other expenses + markup) + Profit

Brian Phillips

TomHuggins · 03-02-2008, 01:00 PM

I guess i a trying to figure out how much labor would be involved in a each process. Preasure Washing, Scapping, Painting.

I know there is alot of variables.

Lets assume you have a 4000 sq feet of painting service. The house is two stories and you are using ladders and hand painting cedar siding requiring 2 coats and spot priming.

How many labor hours could be estimated to do each phase

Preasure Wash, Light Scrapping, and apply 2 coats by hand with ladders
and only one person.

Jason@API · 03-02-2008, 01:18 PM

Ughh.... Ummmm This really depends on the experience of th individual. Some, depending on experience can move faster than others based on their knowledge of the skills required to complete the project. Like you, I am sure there are other variables...

J

cole191919 · 03-02-2008, 01:26 PM

Well Tom, this again depends on what Brian has already said. How much are your materials, how fast you can work depends on how many hours it will turn out, overhead... these are things simply we cannot know about you.

I could give you a price of $***x, but I may also get cheaper materials, or have a higher overhead, or charge more per labour hour. I may also paint 3 times faster or slower than you...

Brian · 03-02-2008, 01:47 PM

Tom,

The following formula can be used to calculate your man hours:

Man hours = (Time to perform 1 unit of the task X Quantity of the task)

I'm not trying to be a wise guy. As others have said, there are many variables, including your speed. It is impossible for us to tell how long it will take you to do the job.

The best advice I can offer is this: identify each task/ step in the job. Then assign a time to each task/ step. Be reasonable. Allow for obstructions, heights, etc.

Do you know the best way to eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Brian Phillips

HomeGuardPaints · 03-02-2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason@API

Cover what? Pressure washing? Please clarify...

J

you mean you don't think everything would be covered for my flat rate?

HomeGuardPaints · 03-02-2008, 02:36 PM

on a more serious note get the 2008 paint estimator book and use it until you can create your own man hour estimates. then figure out how much you need to charge per hour to cover direct costs + overhead costs + reasonable profit and then multiply it by hours per job.

bikerboy · 03-02-2008, 02:41 PM

Look here for the 2007 version: (save a few bucks)

http://www.bookmarki.com/2007-Nation...1572181793.htm

bikerboy · 03-02-2008, 02:43 PM

bikerboy · 03-02-2008, 02:43 PM

Even cheaper here: (new and used)
http://www.amazon.com/2007-National-.../dp/1572181796

Wing 54 · 03-02-2008, 08:01 PM

Found the 2008 for $38.95 on Amazon new and ordered it.

Thanks Bikerboy. BTW guess what the Wing stands for? What's yer scoot?

bikerboy · 03-03-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wing 54

Thanks Bikerboy. BTW guess what the Wing stands for? What's yer scoot?

Can figure what the "Wing" stands for. One deluxe super luxury motopickel.

I currently have a 2001 HD Sportster, an 1986 Sportster bored out to 1600cc (88ci) a 1965 FLH and a 1972 Kawasaki H2 (love to choke on two stroke smoke!)

DreamScapes · 06-10-2009, 07:00 PM

I cant delete my post?

aaron61 · 06-12-2009, 11:46 PM

PDCA Cost & Estimating Guide www.pdca.org