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For all you trim carpenters out there I have a few questions:
#1 what is the going price per square foot excluding cabinets for trimming low end semi-custom new homes?
#2 do you brad nail window trim to the window or just nail to studs?
#3 do you glue any miters and cross nail them. widow casing, crown etc.?
#4 do you return stools and aprons on windows?
# do builders in this price range usually add no wall blocking for trim or cabinets?
I would appriciate any input I’m bidding jobs and don’t know what is normally acceptable in this price range.
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What is semi custom?
#1- $.80-alot
#2- both
#3- yes
#4- aprons yes, stools rout return profile
#5- minimal
And I shim doors. Do whatever it takes to do it right. Or try and defend a shitty job.
Tom
*Tom thanks-round here they are getting $1.00 per foot and do none of what I was questioning and they all bitch they can't make money. I think I will go in higher and give better quality. I cant see why I can't make $.
*Geoff, #1. I price my trim installs by the running foot. #2. I use 15 or 16 gauge trim nails into the studs and into the window jamb. #3. Always glue and cross nail miters. #4. We do mitered returns on stools and aprons. #5. You only get wall blocking around here if you are lucky enough for the architect to specify it and then the framers usually don't get it in the right place. When we have several windows to trim that are the same size, we precut all the trim and jamb extentions, then assemble them on the floor before installing them to the windows. This method also works well when building jambs for bifold doors. Another note on pricing. Don't compete on price. Give customers a fair price and exceptional quality. Once you establish a good reputation, you will be turning down work and getting top dollar for the work you do. Hope this helps. Tim
*Hey Geoff, the "going" trim price doesn't mean a whole lot. It sounds like you want to do better than that, in both the quality of your work and the quantity of your pay. Some of what we do comes out to 5 bucks a sq', whatever the hell that means...you've gotta pick your builders and then fulfill their needs with no call backs. Where are you working?
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For all you trim carpenters out there I have a few questions:
#1 what is the going price per square foot excluding cabinets for trimming low end semi-custom new homes?
#2 do you brad nail window trim to the window or just nail to studs?
#3 do you glue any miters and cross nail them. widow casing, crown etc.?
#4 do you return stools and aprons on windows?
# do builders in this price range usually add no wall blocking for trim or cabinets?
I would appriciate any input I'm bidding jobs and don't know what is normally acceptable in this price range.