[jprefect]

Hi kids and kittens,

I'm new to Paint Talk, but I'm not new to painting. I've wandered into this forum a couple of times when searching for answers or products, and kind of like the atmosphere. I thought I might stay awhile.

I've been in business for myself since just a couple of months before the big crash, so I feel pretty good about staying in the painting business now that the economy seems to be picking up. I'm trying to get more solidly into the Restorations market. I have a lot of bids out right now, but I'm just waiting for one of them to give me a green light. Been kind of a slow winter, and I can't wait until spring really kicks off. Even though I do 4-5 times as many interiors as exteriors, it's still highly seasonal.

I feel, after doing this for several years now, like I'm becoming a pretty competent estimator. As such, I'm making an effort to pay more attention to that part of my business. I'm learning how other people do it. Experimenting with how my own models go. I use excel spreadsheets nowadays as a general matter of course (I did guts-and-paper stick estimating for the first few years, but you know what? I never lost money on a job!). I'm thinking about getting the cost estimator book, and using unit prices more. I'm thinking of ways to be more thorough in my quantity takeoff.

One of the things I wandered into the forum today looking for was a reality check. I know painting a pergola is a real pain in the butt -- from experience -- but it's been awhile since I did one. Guy wants it white, and I planned on doing two coats of Aura (self priming) by Ben Moore. The number I came up with was $1120 in labor and $135 in materials, but it felt a little high, so I searched and found a thread with folks talking about it, and while I'm above average, I don't think I'm out of the ballpark. Never did want to be the low bidder anyway. Not my style.

For the record, it's just the top of the pergola (the posts are getting wrapped - vinylmonsters!!) but there are 9 horizontals (13' 2"x6") and essentially four longitudinals (18' 2"x8") and some tracks for a canopy to cut around or take off. It's stained orange semi-solid now. I figure a quick buzz with the orbital aught to take it down. Two guys, two days. I lowered my bid rate because it's residential, but not historic. At full price, I'd be almost $1600 for the project, and I know that's too much!

Anyway. I like the way you all talk shop, and I'll be happy to participate from time to time.

Besides anyone who has a comment on the pergola thing (and I'm going to get back to him in 48 hours) I am going to buy some interior staging soon. I guess that's best left for the tools and equiptment forum, but I haven't really dug into it yet. I do enough popcorn removals, and I've got a big one scheduled for April, with a vaulted ceiling. I think I'm going to get a 12' tower with fold-out-outriggers. Should put me up damn near an 18' ceiling if I have to.

Anyhoo,
CHEERS!

-JH

 

[RH]

Welcome to the group.

Dan

 

[Damon T]

Welcome to the group. Hard to say what's high or low but sounds like you have a good handle on things. Break down all the steps and figure out how long each step is. You can measure your LF of timbers, just take into account on larger boards that each side counts as one LF so a 1' length is actually 4 LF.
Personally I would do a coat of bm 046 high hiding primer followed by one or two coats Aura but that's just me.

 

[Rbriggs82]

Welcome. Like Damon I'd go with a real primer on the first coat then two coats of paint.

 

[Repaintpro]

Welcome. I had a pergola that wrapped around two sides of a standard 3-4 bedroom house and my boys had it two coated in about 6 hours. Cost for materials would have been around $150. If I was quoting I would maybe think $150 labor 2 x labor for one day $600, my markup $350, total $1100 + tax. Just my thought. I would choke if a pergola took two guys over a day. It would have to be very involved.

 

[jprefect]

Welcome. I had a pergola that wrapped around two sides of a standard 3-4 bedroom house and my boys had it two coated in about 6 hours. Cost for materials would have been around $150. If I was quoting I would maybe think $150 labor 2 x labor for one day $600, my markup $350, total $1100 + tax. Just my thought. I would choke if a pergola took two guys over a day. It would have to be very involved.

I'm definitely used to being conservative in my estimates -- I'd rather lose a bid than lose money. Funny that you ended up at a similar number though, when you included your markup.

I figured it this way -- I can't bill for less than a full day, because if I were there for six hours, it's not like I can go make money on some other job, so 6 hours is a day. And it's two days for sure because you can't count on paint drying. Especially in springtime in New England. Gotta wait until the temp is going to stay above 40F for at least 6 hours. The second guy is necessary to make sure it gets done in the shorter window. If he works six hours then he gets paid six hours, so the rest is profit. I pay pretty well when I have employees, so $150 per day for the helper is reasonable. Also, the first day is going to be longer because you've got to sand.

I agree that 046 is preferable, but I feel that If I charged for three coats the guy would walk. And, I have had totally decent results with Aura before, so I don't feel like it's such a terrible compromise. I love to oil prime wood whenever possible.

 

[PACman]

Welcome. I had a pergola that wrapped around two sides of a standard 3-4 bedroom house and my boys had it two coated in about 6 hours. Cost for materials would have been around $150. If I was quoting I would maybe think $150 labor 2 x labor for one day $600, my markup $350, total $1100 + tax. Just my thought. I would choke if a pergola took two guys over a day. It would have to be very involved.

See now? It's not so hard to be nice to the new members!

 

[DrakeB]

Welcome to PT! Always glad to have another member kicking around.