[Aaron]

I was wondering how everyone does thier estimates...is there a formula that most painters generally use? how do you deal with variying degrees of damage on surfaces?
Thanks for all your help everyone, your responses to my last posts really helped me out.
Aaron

 

[timhag]

http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=1532&highlight=estimates

http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=1459&highlight=estimates

http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=1502&highlight=estimates

http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=394&highlight=estimates

http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=873&highlight=estimates

http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=934&highlight=estimates

http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=659&highlight=estimates

http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=510&highlight=estimates

 

[JNLP]

I just visualize doing the job & figuring out how long it'll take me. Who will be helping me, how long to set up, how many ladder movements, how long to prep, how long to apply, how long to clean up, etc. Figure out how many days I'll be there & times that by the daily labor rate per guy + materials + daily overhead & so on. For interiors I have my own personalized sq ft formula I go by to check my estimate against to see if I'm in the right timeline or totally missing something on larger jobs. To do that you need to know how much you can paint in how much time. How long does crown take you per foot, base per foot, different types of doors per coat per side, and so on. For exteriors it helps to snap photos & look them over when you get home as what you saw in person can become a little fuzzy & seem alot easier or harder than it really is.

Every painter has different labor rates, different profit goals, different overhead costs, different experience, and different quality.

 

[Aaron]

thanks

thanks again. Trying to work the kinks out and cut down on the uncertainty.

 

[Housepainter]

thanks again. Trying to work the kinks out and cut down on the uncertainty.

While everyone most likely has developed some type of "system" that work for them...

A basic system is evaluate the job, based upon what is to be painted
determine the SqFt of the painted areas
know how long it take to cut and roll those areas (spray etc)
allow time for set- up and prep add this in
determine the required Man Hours
multiply manhours by the going rate in your area per hour
add in fixed cost variables
this should provide the bid or quote price.