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price of stain included?
- Thread starter CCS
- Start date
CaroliProWash
New Member
Personal preference - we include all of our materials in the sq ft rate. Many other separate it out. Check to make sure you don't have to charge sales tax if you do not include the stain in your rate since technically you would be reselling the stain to the homeowner.
Celeste
Celeste
tracy handl
New Member
Everyone has a way
All contractors charge in slightly different ways. Some by sq footage, some by time and material, some pick a number out of thin air. When we were contractors, we gave an all-inclusive price. The customer never got changed costs unless something really strange was discovered and the customer was informed of the changes and why. So stripping, or cleaning, or cleaning and sealing, was quoted as one price. National average for cleaning/stripping and sealing a deck is about $2 to $2.25 a sq ft. There are many ways to use this average. Some calculate ALL the sq footage. (rails, steps, floors) and charge based on these numbers. Some use just the floor area as sq. footage, then linear footage for the rails, and the amount of steps with/or without rails....Point is, a system to calculate your price, should be consistant and take into account your material, and labor costs. Are you shooting for about $100 per man hour? You should be. You can charge based on any system you like. Many of your dealers have training materials available specifically on that topic. Ask them for the info, ask your fellow contractors, keep yourself informed as to what your area will bear, and don't be afraid to raise your price every year by about 5%.
All contractors charge in slightly different ways. Some by sq footage, some by time and material, some pick a number out of thin air. When we were contractors, we gave an all-inclusive price. The customer never got changed costs unless something really strange was discovered and the customer was informed of the changes and why. So stripping, or cleaning, or cleaning and sealing, was quoted as one price. National average for cleaning/stripping and sealing a deck is about $2 to $2.25 a sq ft. There are many ways to use this average. Some calculate ALL the sq footage. (rails, steps, floors) and charge based on these numbers. Some use just the floor area as sq. footage, then linear footage for the rails, and the amount of steps with/or without rails....Point is, a system to calculate your price, should be consistant and take into account your material, and labor costs. Are you shooting for about $100 per man hour? You should be. You can charge based on any system you like. Many of your dealers have training materials available specifically on that topic. Ask them for the info, ask your fellow contractors, keep yourself informed as to what your area will bear, and don't be afraid to raise your price every year by about 5%.
5 Star Johnny
New Member
We include all our materials in our total price. I designed a spreadsheet that takes the sq. ft. totals and calculates the amount of materials needed for the job, the cost of materials with a markup for materials built in for slush. The end result is always very close to actual materials used for a particular job. Sometimes we use less than estimated, sometimes more.
Although rare, we will pick up jobs that require finish materials we don't normally use, and are difficult for us to calculate in the estimate. In this case we write into the contract to bill the customer for materials purchased plus a 5% carrying cost. Never a problem this way, and I don't end up with excess material I'll never use.
Keep materials in the overall price of the job. This gives the customer an actual price with no hidden costs, making them more comfortable to make a decision. The more variables a customer has to face in choosing a contractor lengthens the sales and decision making process.
Although rare, we will pick up jobs that require finish materials we don't normally use, and are difficult for us to calculate in the estimate. In this case we write into the contract to bill the customer for materials purchased plus a 5% carrying cost. Never a problem this way, and I don't end up with excess material I'll never use.
Keep materials in the overall price of the job. This gives the customer an actual price with no hidden costs, making them more comfortable to make a decision. The more variables a customer has to face in choosing a contractor lengthens the sales and decision making process.
Greg Rentschler
New Member
We bill the material seperately at a mark up. Around here it seems help in closing the job when the customer knows that $x.xx dollars are going to go toward the finish that they would have to purchase anyway.
I also noticed alot of people have the impression that the sealers average $12 to $15 a gallon.... brainwashing via Thompsons I suppose. So I guess you could say the higher cost per gallon implies a better product.
I also noticed alot of people have the impression that the sealers average $12 to $15 a gallon.... brainwashing via Thompsons I suppose. So I guess you could say the higher cost per gallon implies a better product.
Mathew Johnson
New Member
CCS - We offer a course curriculum and OJT for power washing and wood restoration. You re welcome to come on down, I am 8 miles south of the Baseball Hall of Fame, about 8 hours from Bar Harbor. We will be in Maine on August 1 on vacation, call or email if you want to try to hook up for coffee.
Also, by all means call wth any questions
Also, by all means call wth any questions
PressurePros
New Member
I agree with Greg's thoughts and do the same thing.