Looking For Advice

stinman46

I have just started out on my own as a Trim Carpenter/Painter.I have been a sub contractor for many years for 1 company and have had all the work that I needed,but we know the story of lately,no work.The company I been with has went under for a bit and left us subs to fend for our self. One of the builders we did work for ask me to install 6 vinyl windows and 2 exterior doors. The back door is a double and the front window is a double.It is new construction,he does not like his framers to install these because we all ways had to fix them,they never leveled or shimmed and the company I subbed for would charge extra for this. I do not know what the framers get to install the windows,What is the labor charge for a single pane window install in new construction? This means nailing off,putting the black tape around the out side to seal and level and shimming of course can anyone help me out on this? I have all ready installed the windows,I just have not give him a bill yet. I do not want to be taken advantage of or charge to much.Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Thanks!


Mark
S&S Custom Trim&Paint

dirt diggler

Mark, ... you know ... it saddens me to hear someone say "i don't wanna charge too much" ... or "i don't wanna be taken advantage of"


let me tell you ... you WILL get it in the poop chute with that kind of thinking... where do I begin ? ....


it's a rough time to be starting your own biz .... although, it's a rough time I guess being an employee.



it's tough getting established and getting to the point where you actually have a somewhat decent stream of work. But, I can say this - if you STAY at it - you will get the work. I remember thinking I would NEEEEEVER get a contract signed.


But I can tell you this, and it will save you some time & headache. You MUST turn profit. Sounds elementary ... but it's like guys get this desperation thing ... and end up just working for wages (and less).

You MUST turn a profit.

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Thanks in advance!!!

stinman46

Well thanks bud,I will be ok. I just do not know the average price for putting in windows in new construction. I all ready installed them last tuesday and I must turn in a bill on monday.I just do not want less than what the builder would of paid the framers. I have always trimmed this guys houses out as a sub through someone else and we have had to fix windows and exterior doors after they were installed buy the framers so this time he ask me to do it. What is a fair price per window, 50.00 ,100.00.Anyway thanks for your time.

Mark

Teetorbilt

Dirt may be right or wrong depending on your situation. There's a lot of skilled people in a world of hurt right now and many are taking whatever they can get. Here, in the land of the super-rich, I see guys trying to break into my market with bids that are insane.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

MALCO.New.York

Simple.....How long did the Third window take to install? Why the Third? By then you got a pattern and KNEW the routine of those particular windows. Use this time as your index.

Base your pricing on your time spent (an average of the time on the windows) per window, at YOUR hourly rate x 6.

Same for the doors. (average the time for the front AND the back)

YOUR hourly rate is what YOU need to charge. Plus travel and expenses.

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

Sparks Const

I am sitting at 150.00/door and 100.00-150.00/window (depending on window size and location). I charge the same for install and for interior trim per hole.

neolitic

It has to be based on your time and
what you need to make.
Answers here can be very misleading.
The guy who gives you a price may not
really be as helpful to you as one who
just gives you information.
What a guy charges in New York City
probably won't fly if you're in rural
Arkansas. Conversely the guy in
Chicago would starve charging what
someone would be happy with in northern
Alabama.
Use the search feature, there are tons
of great threads on how to price your work.

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Remodel Bud

.....
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stinman46

Thanks to everybody for your advice.Sparks construction,I am looking for that sort of general range of pricing like you gave me.I am in Louisville,Ky.I was told that around 100 a window buy a guy but I needed to hear it by more than one.I have had many come down on me like I should know because I been in the game so long. I subbed and got what I got and was happy.20.00 a hour for one and 22.00 for another.Both did 1099's on me. So I have never had to price anything,although I can price inside trim pretty much,I just did not know about windows in a new home,a speck house by the way.150 per hole is the same here,but just casing out windows is 75.00 depending on the window it gets more.So it seems to be basically about the same.Thanks again for your advice everyone.

Mark