Deck Restoration current Pricing

[Tbone123 14]

Hello All..

I live in Kansas outside of KC. I have a very large deck job to do and have no clue what the current going rates are. I used to run a pressure cleaning biz back in 01 and do have experience restoring some decks but have been out of it for quite some time now. This job is for a friend "of a family friend" at their private lake house. It is a 2 story deck with the bottom being all cedar siding and trim. It has a screened in porch off the main deck, about 200 feet of hand rail and ballasters, a 30' ramp leading to the deck from the front and a small 6' stair case off the back.The deck it self is in a L shape about 12' wide and goes about 30' then turns and goes another 12' to the screened in porch. all the upper trim around the deck and porch is cedar as well. It is supported by four 6X6 rough cut cedar post and the hand rails are supported by 24 6X6 cedar posts.. This is a complete resto... The floor will need stripper applied and washed then several boards replaced and the rest will need sanded as they are in VERY rough condition, the hand rails will need about 60+ feet repl and the rest also sanded. They have requested that I cut in blocks under the hand rails spaces to keep the wasp from building nests. Everything is to be stained with a semi cedar tinted stain.. I have no idea where to start on this estimate... PLEASE HELP

Thanks

[PressurePros 249]

You listed everything but square footage of the floor.. unless I missed it. I'll give you an idea to get you started.. that 200' of handrail alone is going to be $1800+.

People have mentioned they have two prices.. full price and free. Don't discount for a friend.. you won't win. Unless you are not in the business and just helping him out then you can do it for a case of beer if he buys the Behr (stain).

[Tbone123 14]

Ken.. thanks for the info.. sorry about no SQ info I am throwing out a ballpark number here because I left my notebook with the measurements in my wifes veh. I would guess prob all said and done 1200 sq ft total floor.. 145 Ln ft hand rail with casing, prob 200 ballasters and easily 80 hours of trim work, plus the demo and repl of the bad boards add another 24 hours, and easily 40 hours of sand.. everything must get 2 coats of stain - so I est will need 25 gallons of stain.. I can e-mail you pics of the job if you want to see it and I plan to bill them normal rates.. Thanks ahead for the assistance.. here are some pics..

[PressurePros 249]

Anthony, your best bet is to try and come up with a s/f number and multiple by a factor. For every linear foot of railing multiply that by 7 to get your square footage. That will factor your fascia/band board.

On that size job I would multiply the total square footage (of all the wood) by $1.40. Some companies may go as low as $1.00 others up to $2.00

[bigchaz 157]

Are you are talking about putting a block between each and every spindle??

Thats borderline insane for a homeowner to request. I'd charge well over a thousand just to do that part alone

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

I have said this time and time again...It is not about "the current rates" but it is about what your specific costs will be. This is not limited to the direct costs for materials and labor but must include business overhead and profit as well.

Others have asked this question and while you could take a shot in the dark, it is your businesses future you are taking a shot in the dark with. Do your homework, learn about business management, accounting, payroll and insurances, how they factor into your business costs and get a line on that before you get in front of the customer.

You took the biggest step by taking your future into your own hands, don't take shortcuts and set yourself up for mistakes that can take years to overcome.

You owe it to yourself to do it right.

Rod!~

[Tegrey 121]

Rod is correct. Knowing your cost is the only way to price any job. Probably 95% of the people on the BBS are pricing on what they think they should make. Not knowing your fixed and variable cost is death to your company. The price to do any work needs to be done with a set of figures you are familiar with. Too many to mention here. Some though may consist of fixed as your truck payment, shop rent, etc. Variable cost include supplies, gas and food cost. These are all part of what it cost to run your business. There are organizations available to teach you your business. Private companys do it also. No matter how you do it, as Rod said, learn your actual cost. This is only a friendly reminder and helpful hint my friend. As far as charging for this deck, go as high as possible. Thank you.

[Tbone123 14]

Hello Again Everyone...

First.. Thanks for all the info and advice.. I have been out of the industry loop for a while now but would like to get back into the biz on a part time basis and only do decks-fence-shake roof.. Up till 2001 I had my own full scale mobile wash/detail biz on the side and did pretty good but after 9/11 things seemed to bottom out.. I took a new job and with 4 kids I never really got back in full swing. I really enjoy what I do but you are all correct about the financial end and being savy - not worth doing if your losing money.. Is there a specific program or a web site I can use as a resource to help me establish guide lines and the basic industry pricing? Also can any of you advise on a good insurance provider for our line of business.

BIG CHAZ.. Yes that was placing blocks between "every" single spindle... Yeah, fun.. but if they wanna pay for it I can do it..

Also - what about the pricing for the labor for sanding and replacing the bad boards?? Does the hand rail pricing also cover the spindles and the trim boards running down the spindles??

Finally.. does the SQ ft price include the pressure washing of the project?? Should I define a price to include everything.. cleaning, sanding, demo, construction and finally the stain??

I want to be fair but I also want to be fair to me..

Again, Thanks everyone for your knowledge and assistance.

[bigchaz 157]

For breakdown we do one square foot rate that includes cleaning, sanding, staining. If there is repair/replacement that comes in at a different price

[Tbone123 14]

Great thanks for info..

[Tbone123 14]

Hello Again every one..

I wanted to say thanks for the info and post some pics of the deck.. I now have pretty much everything completed with the exception of a few wood blocks under the hand rails.. It took a little time to knock off the rust but all in all I am very happy with the end product.

Thanks for you valuable support.

Tony

[acegot 14]

Anthony, looks great, what a visual improvement. What product & color did you use?

[PressurePros 249]

Anthony did you stay with a semi-transparent? Its always hard to tell in pictures.

[bigchaz 157]

I'm not a big fan of that color but job looks good. Is that what the customer wanted?

[fullthrottlepower 14]

Anthony,

what was the final amount you wound up charging for this job?

just curious 'cause it looks like a lot of time when into this.

btw, nice pics

Thanks

Ron

[TNRoofCleaner 16]

That deck looks good.

[Tbone123 14]

Hey Everyone..

Damn chaz... it seems you are always disgruntled about something.. First the hand rail blocks and now the color!! You need a island vacation where you can realax for a bit!!! :-)

Anyway.. Thanks everyone - First, Yes it was a semi transparent stain but I had to put on 2 full coats because the deck was in such poor shape that it literally soaked it in.. The color was a California rustic and the make was the new Behr premium with the 4 year warranty.. The Materials they chose and purchased before hand so I only had to supply my tools and equipment..

All in All.. 25 gallons start to finish with prob a pint left over in the bucket..

I have not invoiced it yet because I was finishing placing the hand rail block and then was booked solid all day yesterday so I plan to work on the billing today.. I am leaning towards $1.45 per sq foot and then prob around $25 per hour for the hand rail blocks but not real sure yet on the demo and repl of deck boards?? Do you all feel it should also just be the same $ per hour price and just add it in to the total or is there a sq foot price for the demo and replace??

Hey Chaz!!! Hope you know I was just pullin your chain.. Thanks for all the advice

So total there is over 3000 sq foot in decking... about 24 hours in stain, cut and install the blocking, and about another 24 hours in demo and replace the deck boards and some hand rails..