Bidding a deck repaint?

I've tried....

I could come up with a general production rate on the decking itself, thus getting an average sq. ft. price, but then we get to the railings and everything goes out the window
New and/or to code (around here) balusters can throw that all to heck
Then there's height...
Now I might even come up with linear production rates for specific types...But....

As I'm a small op I find it much easier to bid by day/half day

Like if I think it's going to take me 5.5 hours, that really doesn't matter, I'm not packing up and getting to the next job and setting up and working for an hour
Pretty much my day is shot, so that's a day's rate
Same with the leftover 2.5 hours, I'm not going to break down, clean-up, and set up at another job and start applying at 11:15...the morning is shot...so that'll be a 1/2 day

So if it's going to take me 2.5 hours to prep, and 5.5 hours to stain, it's not 8 man-hours or one man day, it's a day and a half

Maybe the big crew big production guys can go by sq. ft./lin. ft., it doesn't work for me

beemerpaint said:

Thank you for that feedback. I did not look at it that way. I hate painting decks. I have a customer that has multiple needs and repainting an already painted deck is one of them.

My plan was to do a good pressure wash to remove any dirt and peeling paint. Let the deck dry well of course. Then I would prime as necessary using a brush and roller. Lastly I would paint with some kind of Dura-Poxy paint, probably two coats. Im not sure if the paint itself could be sprayed on? Or if it should be brushed just as the primer was.
I guess I have the option of not doing it but then again I have connections with this customer so it may be wise to just get it done. Thanks Slickshift.

Click to expand...

Beemer,

Sub it out so it is done faster and better.

There are a lot of Pressure Washing companies that do remarkable work, especially on exterior wood. There are three types of pressure washing - 1) paint prep and general cleaning - 2) professional cleaning with a class set up - 3) "pressure washers" that specialize in wood that puts most painters to shame.

I would recommend finding a quality Pressure Washing company in your area that you can sub out to. At very least you can build a referral alliance with another company that can refer the painting back to you.

The whole reason I went torwards that market was to pick up more painting clients after we did their deck or house. Now, I would almost do nothing but decks if I could build that end of the business up. When you look at PW'ing seriously it is a whole different ball game.