How much to charge for new stairs - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

skarrlette · 09-03-2008, 05:40 PM

I have a new construction job and need to finish the stairs i.e. treads, risers, ballisters, railing, finish. The stairs will stained. The stairs are 13 treads leading to a loft room that needs the railing to continue from the stairs to protect people from falling from the loft the lengthof this is another 16' of raling and ballisters. There will be two posts one at top and one at bottom.

How much should I charge for this? I have heard some price of 5k?

dkillianjr · 09-03-2008, 05:49 PM

**genecarp** · 09-03-2008, 06:10 PM

MALCO.New.York · 09-03-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skarrlette

I have a new construction job and need to finish the stairs i.e. treads, risers, ballisters, railing, finish. The stairs will stained. The stairs are 13 treads leading to a loft room that needs the railing to continue from the stairs to protect people from falling from the loft the lengthof this is another 16' of raling and ballisters. There will be two posts one at top and one at bottom.

How much should I charge for this? I have heard some price of 5k?

Be a sport and do it for free!

swantucky · 09-03-2008, 07:35 PM

I would get one decent horse(check his teeth), two milk goats, half a dozen chickens, two bushels of tomatoes, four jars of pickles, 5 salt cured hams, and a decent hunting spot. If there are extras I would try and get a small cow or a pony.

There is no way someone can give you even a ballpark price with the information you have provided. Occupied residence, species of wood, your labor costs, etc.

WarnerConstInc. · 09-03-2008, 08:34 PM

One thing is for sure, I dont want to have to use those stairs ever.

naildriver · 09-03-2008, 09:01 PM

I'll try to help Skarlette. The info is lacking for anyone to give you an idea of pricing. The area you live in determines alot when your pricing these types of jobs. The best advice I can give you is to price the materials then give an hourly rate for the labor. Although if you are inexperienced at this type of finish carpentry I would consider maybe letting someone with knowledge of stair and handrail work to price the job. Watch close or even maybe help to gain experience. This is altogether different from baseboard, door and window casing, etc...

john5mt · 09-03-2008, 11:52 PM

Isnt there some way that before people get an account on here they can be told to not come here to go price shopping?

KMac · 09-04-2008, 07:47 AM

If you don't know how to BID stairs and handrails then you really shouldn't be INSTALLING them in my opinion.

I was at a prospective customers house last night. He mentions he had a finish carp out a few months before to install a handrail - says he doesn't really like it. The handrail - brand new - you can shake from side to side - about an inch of play I'm guessing. Upon closer inspection I find the newel post attached with SHEETROCK SCREWS!! Spindles not even close to spaced right for code ect. ect.. Guy says they were in and out in 4 hours! I don't understand how guys will take on work without a clue how to do it. Makes me angry.

skarrlette · 09-04-2008, 08:15 AM

Acutally I do know how to do stairs and the question is just that how would you price them? If someone has just started out in the buisness and needs help learning how to price I personally don't see the problem, as far as materials go what difference does it make? Whether is cherry, or Oak for the record its Oak. My questions is strictly LABOR for the exact description I described now I know that its about $80 to $100 per tread however I was looking for HELP !!! on the finer details the railing, the ballisters etc etc. Why would residence or species of wood really have anything to do with the labor price?

Thanks

rusty1986 · 09-04-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skarrlette

Acutally I do know how to do stairs and the question is just that how would you price them? If someone has just started out in the buisness and needs help learning how to price I personally don't see the problem, as far as materials go what difference does it make? Whether is cherry, or Oak for the record its Oak. My questions is strictly LABOR for the exact description I described now I know that its about $80 to $100 per tread however I was looking for HELP !!! on the finer details the railing, the ballisters etc etc. Why would residence or species of wood really have anything to do with the labor price?

Thanks

How much you want to make + [(how much you pay anybody working for you X the amount of people working for you) X how many hours you estimate it will take] = how much to charge for labour

BKFranks · 09-04-2008, 01:02 PM

mickeyco · 09-04-2008, 01:09 PM

All stairs, any size, any color, $99.95, I'm the Earl Scheib of stairs.

.

swantucky · 09-04-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skarrlette

Acutally I do know how to do stairs and the question is just that how would you price them? If someone has just started out in the buisness and needs help learning how to price I personally don't see the problem, as far as materials go what difference does it make? Whether is cherry, or Oak for the record its Oak. My questions is strictly LABOR for the exact description I described now I know that its about $80 to $100 per tread however I was looking for HELP !!! on the finer details the railing, the ballisters etc etc. Why would residence or species of wood really have anything to do with the labor price?

Thanks

You did did not say you were looking for a labor only price. The reason species of wood matters is the difference in cost. When we bid a job we like to know will the job be cleaned up daily?? Is there furnature to move?? Where will our cut station be set up?? I am not trying to bust your balls but it is really tough to give someone in another area of the country what to charge. We charge our guys out at $60 per hour, we have no idea what your labor rates are. I guess if you or anyone has pricing questions try and give as much info as possible and maybe someone can help.

TempestV · 09-04-2008, 02:06 PM

figure out how long it will take you to complete the stairs. Then figure out how much you need to make over that time in order to make a decent living in your area, including taxes, insurance, and other business related expenses that you will have to pay. Then add in the cost of wear and tear on tools. That will be your labor cost.

skarrlette · 09-04-2008, 07:31 PM

Ok thanks I am new to the pricing and I want the jobs I am trying to build word of mouth which makes me think I have to give good prices to get the jobs. I don't have all these jobs lined up. The material for red oak came to $2.000.00. I will probably take about 4 days. I just thought there was a set rate that most people based there prices off of.

Bill · 09-04-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkillianjr

Quote:

Originally Posted by genecarp

My exact thought too! Thanks for saving me some time!

Brock · 09-04-2008, 07:43 PM

Bid it really low like $400.00. That way not only will you get the job, you will be robbing the competant guy from getting it. In the end the H/O will have a shoddy job, the good carpenter will be closer to bancruptcy, and you will have 400 bucks. You got to love America.

Go Cowboys.

KMac · 09-05-2008, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skarrlette

Ok thanks I am new to the pricing and I want the jobs I am trying to build word of mouth which makes me think I have to give good prices to get the jobs. I don't have all these jobs lined up. The material for red oak came to $2.000.00. I will probably take about 4 days. I just thought there was a set rate that most people based there prices off of.

I'm a young guy new to business and still trying to figure things out myself. For what it's worth my advice would be to forget "going rate" and giving "good prices" to get jobs. Figure out what YOU need to make and stick to it. At the end of the day there is always going to be someone willing to do the job for less than you. Instead learn about sales, build value and set yourself apart from your competition. Word of mouth and referrals comes from being honest and doing good work - not from how much you charge.

But what do I know - there are guys on here that have been in this game since before i was born.

**genecarp** · 09-05-2008, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMac

I'm a young guy new to business and still trying to figure things out myself. For what it's worth my advice would be to forget "going rate" and giving "good prices" to get jobs. Figure out what YOU need to make and stick to it. At the end of the day there is always going to be someone willing to do the job for less than you. Instead learn about sales, build value and set yourself apart from your competition. Word of mouth and referrals comes from being honest and doing good work - not from how much you charge.

But what do I know - there are guys on here that have been in this game since before i was born.

very well said grasshopper