I use RSMeans Repair & Remodeing Cost Data book for estimating. For Painting walls and ceilings it gives a square foot price. Does this cover the cost of cutting in the room or just rolling over the area? I mean, if you have alot of inside corners and window, door, and things to cut around wouldn’t that take longer? Does anyone know how these are accounted for? Any personal pricing methods you use?
Chief of all sinners.
Replies
i also us the RSmeans book but i only use it as a guide
i never quote a sf price to a customer and never give any quote with out first looking at the job
RS Means might be ok for a idea for an average house but I always check over the job first.
Color change, lots of doors, windows, built ins, smooth or involved molding etc!
Small room will use less paint but will it really cost less? What you going to do while the paint drys?
For me painting a room starts at $500 cause its always two days killed if not more!
I don't have the book, but doesn't it have tables for figuring lin. feet x width of trim, depth of window jambs, number of doors and windows in a room, height of ceiling, color of ceiling, color of trim, number of coats (2nd coat costs about 30% less), and a heck of a lot more details?
Do yourself a favor and put that book down and figure how long you're going to be there and what the materials are going to cost.
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.net
Meet me at House & Builder!
Edited 4/12/2009 11:13 pm by Ted W.
Screw that book...figure how long each room'll take ya...add in yer paint cost and daily rate...then dbl everything and ya'll have the right price : )
All kidding aside...I bet it comes close to being right!
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
I hold the voice dial button down on my phone and yell "DAVE" ...
then the phone dials Dave, my painter.
Dave tells me what it'll cost ... and I tell the customer.
It's a fairly automated system ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
For me...painting has to be the single easiest thing to figure out the price of.
I guess like most everything if you've done it enough you can figure out how long somethings going to take but with painting there aren't all that many variables that are all that complicated in the equation. Move some furnature? Drop cloths...set up, break down.....trimwork...etc etc. I learned to shorten my time by using stilts to cut in the ceilings...liquid sand instead of steel wool or sandpaper...adding Flotrol to the paint....using the Y shaped scraper with a sharp blade on all windows to remove the paint....I use very little painters tape. A little spackle here n there...good primer and good paint...tunes and datz dat. I don't love it but it cool in the fact that it's pretty mindless work and my mind gets tired from time to time so.....lol
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
LOL....that and those yellow legal pads will put you in the Automation Hall of Fame.
Oh, you were kidding? That is exactly how I estimate painting.
Then nice thing about painting is it's really, really hard to underestimate the materials.
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
Edited 4/13/2009 12:49 pm by Ted W.
Chief
I just checked with my National Estimator program. It only gives a SF price and a price for minumum charge.
I did this in the insurance book because I find the cost book for painting only to be too hard to use.
With all these cost books I mark up labor and materials 10% overhead, 10% for profit and 10% for contingency.
With NE you can increase the the labor or the materials by a percentage before markup if you feel there is alot of PITA.
I would double my time if there was alot of cutting in or alot of corners.
BTW a 12 x 12 room (528 SF) at $40/hour was $503 for L&M, before markup or adding for PITA.
Rich
Edited 4/10/2009 8:33 am ET by cargin
In RS Means the job is usually priced with a given crew (table in the back of the book) at standard prices. (also on table)If the wage and overhead are what you will work for they are usually really close. If not use the estimated time and add in your rates.Some sf calculation also give a range from simple to complex...just use them as a guide line.I take the RSM # and break it down into hours at my rate and cost. If that number works I use it if not, back to the calculator.Garett
Those estimating books are great.........for whipping at your kids when you're on the phone with a client and they're screaming in the background.
I never found any use for them otherwise though. As some one else here said, I start at $500/ room. That usually takes care of everything.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
Totally agree aboutthose books. I tried one when I first started out ions ag. Found them to be a real waste of my money.
On smallish/simple jobs especially. Figure your time then your material. No book is goingto tell you how long somethings going to take you. Might work if yer union and everyone is paid by the lin. or sq foot for tile ot installing trim, or roofing....but in remodeling it's a whole other ballgame. Too many variables to consider.
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Does your $500 account for:1. Mobilization?
2. Moving furniture away from walls and replace when done?
3. Drop cloths and plastic over furniture?
4. Spackle cracks/nail holes & spot prime?
5. Priming entire room?
6. 2-coats of paint?
7. Demobilize, clean-up and job close out?
8. Material costs for all the above?
9. Company O&P?Chief of all sinners.
Don't forget to note that closets are separate rooms.
The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.- Fyodor Dostoyevski
Does your $500 account for:1. Mobilization?2. Moving furniture away from walls and replace when done?3. Drop cloths and plastic over furniture?4. Spackle cracks/nail holes & spot prime?5. Priming entire room?6. 2-coats of paint?7. Demobilize, clean-up and job close out?8. Material costs for all the above?9. Company O&P?
Since he said he starts at $500/room, you can assume it doesn't. A list like that is probably closer to $1500
What are Mobilization and Company O&P?
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
Edited 4/13/2009 12:53 pm by Ted W.
Thanks for the clearer price.Mobilize - Client lives in a condo that requires coordination with building management and access through service elevator. PITA fee ;-)O&P - I can hope...can I?Chief of all sinners.
Just 5 & 6.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
With paint jobs, look closely for existing drips and defects (say from prior homeowner work)
They didn't see them then, but they're sure to see them after you've painted over them!
"Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman