Why Does a Small Job Cost so Much?
There are a bunch reasons why a small project is worth more than many think.
“What!!??”
That is the response I have heard many times when I give a price for what seems to someone who is inexperienced in what it takes to complete small projects.
To give some background, we installed three valances this weekend. Two 16’ long to screen a shade unit and one to create a better look for drapery for a French door unit (above). Cost for this particular project was not disputed but I am using for reference to show what goes into this.
To begin, there is meeting of some sort. Planning, texting, emailing, sharing information and ideas of what they’re looking for. Then there is the time it takes to work up cost for materials, finishing, and labor for all of it. Submission of a proposal and discussion of scope and confirmation. This is all just before the work can begin (also why I typically charge for working up a full proposal).
Moving on to planning and prep for the install. Thought, design, and engineering of everything takes place. This is to decide the method of install and how things should be assembled to achieve the desired look. Then there is purchasing materials and fabricating, milling, assembly, and prep for finishing of all parts. After that, hours of time for finishing. Priming, sanding, prime again, sand, finish coat, sand and finish coat again, done on both sides just in case parts are visible.
After all of this, there is coordinating install and the team. How, when, who, what’s involved in this and will this be done in a public place where we should be worried about clients entering the building. Organizing all equipment and checking to be sure everything is in order for the install. A member of the team asked me what we needed to load up for this install. My answer, “everything”.
Tools needed/used
- miter saw capable of cutting 12” material
- track saw
- blankets
- ladders
- adhesives
- fasteners and miscellaneous screws to properly install the materials and cleating
- domino joiner
- pocket screws
- nailers
- vacuum
- filler and caulking
- touch up paint
- extensions cord
- planer for scribing
All of this just for a three hour install??! Yes. Exactly. Small projects take the same amount of planning a large project takes. If the details are not confirmed prior then we end up taking the blame for not asking that question and assuming. So next time someone makes it look easy and seamless, compliment them as they have perfected something that likely took years for which they were developing a process and system.
Jason Mollak
Follow Jason on Instagram @jpmconstructioninc
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Cost of the work depends on the quality. Whether it takes a whole day or 3 hours. but only https://www.assignmentbox.co.uk/mathematics-assignment-help who always charge low cost and provide the best assignment with top quality.
One could use this metric to justify some outrageous cost on a whole house. Can you imagine the texting, planning, emailing, sharing information ideas, thought, design, engineering coordination, istall....? And could you imagine the list of tools needed on a whole house.......?
Sorry, but these three paint grade valances are not complex jobs.
Jason did a very good job in detailing why small jobs can and are frequently very expensive. It frequently all comes down to the time involved. Whether you have guys on the payroll or you're a one man crew, any project takes a certain amount of time. The expectation of quality, working environment restrictions, material costs and availability all come into play. If a job takes 10 hrs to prep for 3 hrs on site, it's at least 13 hrs of time involvement, and frequently can be more. Sometimes it takes 10 hrs in the shop to make a part that takes 2 or3 hrs to install. If that 3 hrs onsite turns into 5, then the entire day is shot and it's now a 2 or 3 day job. The costs have to reflect the real expenses of doing the job or you can't stay in business. I primarily subcontract everything but occasionally I will do small jobs by myself and it can take an hour just to load everything you might possibly need onto the truck. I also build houses (some pretty large) and the economy of scale and the use of off the shelf materials makes a big difference in the apparent amount of work done in a given time vs cost. Despite any theories that we in the construction trades do what we do because we love it and therefore we should do it just for the job satisfaction is quite amusing. We do it for the money. If it's fun (and most of it isn't) that just a side benefit.
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How can you write this and not include the cost of the project? The editor should have insisted it be included. It is what the whole article rests on.
It is the beginning of a very good piece though.