Questions on wood staining prices?

[jahill]

I plan on starting a powerwashing business this coming summer and was wondering how to price wood fences when powerwashing and restaining. I have a decent amount of experience powerwashing and staining fences but mostly by hand. I have two powerwashing units one with hot water and one just cold. I was wondering...

1. What type of airless sprayer should I buy to use on the fences?(I plan to roll out any decks to prevent spraying the house)

2. What is the best way to price fences and decks? (I was told by one company 1.25 per square foot to powerwash and restain plus the cost of stain) Is this seem reasonable?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Cat Powerwash]

Pricing on wood decks

I live in new jersey and I have been charging $1.00 per square foot. that includes the stain. I use a graco airless sprayer and back brush after. It takes a little time to prep up the job but it is well worth it because you can complete the job quickly.

 

[tlhfirelion]

Hey Cat....

I am kinda new to this business and wondering what kind of prep work is there for spraying fences? I was at a loss as to what else is there is to do but spray? This may seem like a dumb question but remember I don't have a lot of experience yet. Thanks for the help.

Tim

 

[jahill]

Thanks

Thanks for the info cat. I'm not sure that there is all that much prep that goes into a fence. After powerwashing a fence it should be ready to go. I guess it would depend on the type of wood also.

Another question: If I'm am going to stain a deck do i need to sand it and do I charge for that? Also if i do sand it do i have to rinse it off again and let it dry before staining it or can I just brush it clean again?

Again thanks for any information that can help!

 

[Henry Bockman]

I think I answered this on another bbs. On all wood we use sodium hydroxide, clean it, then nuetrilize with oxalic. Then after it's dry seal it.

 

[Cat Powerwash]

No prep work is necessary for wood fences. Yes I do charge extra for sanding, (usually the rails) All done with electric sanders. For decks what I do is I start off with clear plastic that is three feet in height (or what ever the rail height is usually three feet standard) Start stapeling the inside of the rails first, all around the deck. (Make sure its nice and tight!) Cover areas where the house is exposed with tape or plastic. Then tape plastic to the house for accidental overspray with tape along the bottom ledger. Start spraying the outside spidles and rails with the narrow tip of your airless doing one side, then the other. Have your helper back brush. Remove the plastic and all staples, Lay the plastic down on the ground so it will dry and you can fold it up and use it on another job. Then start spraying the inside rails. I know it sounds like alot of work but it really isn't Once you get the hang of it, the time is cut in half as opposed to brushing everything by hand. The rest is cake. You put the wide tip on with an extension on the gun and walk down the floor of the deck with your helper back brushing. I usually screw on a broom handle to a 6" brush and back brush in a sweeping motion. The only thing you have to worry about is the damned drips. You have to keep going back and brush any drip marks on the rails that you see before they dry. Thats how I have been doing it for years and believe me, Its very fast and you will definetly bang out your deck jobs quicker and make more profit. I hope this was helpful!

 

[Henry Bockman]

Hey Cat,

Give me a call sometime and I'll explain how to build something that will cut your sealing time in half.

Henry 301 353 9234

 

[CaroliProWash]

Asking for pricing on decks can get you some wild answers - so many factors.

(1) Depends on where you live - I've seen $1.00/sq ft - $4.50/sq ft
(2) Depends on how many others like you are out there
(3) Depends on the product you use

Measuring decks - it's not just measuring the floor space. All those blasted spindles need to be added in, risers, hand rails, steps - underneath if it's a raised deck.

Fences - most we do are by the linear foot - but are you doing both sides? Is it a 6 ft or an 8 ft? Is it a regular privacy fence or the shadow box type?

Just some stuff to think about [wsmile]

Celeste

 

[CaroliProWash]

Hey Cat,

Give me a call sometime and I'll explain how to build something that will cut your sealing time in half.

Henry 301 353 9234

C'mon Henry - spill it! Whatcha got?

Celeste [t2]

 

[reedsterstl]

Yeah Henry, come on show us a picture [green]

Hey Cat,

Give me a call sometime and I'll explain how to build something that will cut your sealing time in half.

Henry 301 353 9234

 

[Henry Bockman]

Well that's the problem, I've never taken a picture of it before..lol I'll tell you what, I'll see if I have the parts laying around to make another one and if I do, I'll bring it to the roundtable tomorrow. My current one is covered in ready seal..lol

If not, I'll make one at the roundtable so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

[Mathew Johnson]

I live in new jersey and I have been charging $1.00 per square foot. that includes the stain. I use a graco airless sprayer and back brush after. It takes a little time to prep up the job but it is well worth it because you can complete the job quickly.

I think you can charge more... I live in upstate NY - Hillbilly Land and I get quite a bit more... Save yourself the aggravation of Back Brushing... Call me an I will tell you about Readyseal. Spray it on... Collevt the check and O think you have a distributoir not very far from NJ and who frequently delivers out that way from PA.

 

[erovegno]

Some steps

Hey everyone, I'm new to the PWN and saw your Q. I've been pressure washing now for five years and always used Wolman Products. They have a product that not only strips any old stain off the fence but will also bring the life back into it. After allowing it to dry I then use a pump sprayer to seal it again. Which the sealer I use is also supplied by wolman. It's guaranteed for three years not to gray or weather. You can then schedule a cleaning date within the next year using just a liquid soap(i.e. dich soap in wrm water, use a pump sprayer then reinse off.) This will allow for repeat business from that customer!!
Oh yeah and to answer your Q about pricing. Giving an estimate on a fence I would use a linear foot pricing method which is, the length. So your would use the length to price. A low end price would be $3.00 per linear foot, A high price would be $6.00. This price would include materials and your time. If you are estimating a job that is going to be using insurance to pay, this is the best method.
___________________
Eric Rovegno
A.D.E Residential Pressure Washing
www.wolman.com