"I Need This, Give Me A Price"

Johny IA

This is on a newly framed house, the general wants to pull the grill deck off the screen porch and make a new deck about 12 x 14. My bids are for the the project and figured on by the sq. seems to work pretty good for me but when ever I do these "I need this give me a price" it seems I hardly make enough to pay the guys, if that. I know charge more, what would you charge, per sq. or time, if so what per sq. or per hour?

thanks

deckman22

Charge him what you need or tell him to call a real deck builder. Don't take offense, but most framers don't built that great decks anyway. It takes a guy that will work like a framer, but thinks like a trim man.

al

Johny IA

I am totally and thoroughly offended framers in this area all do the decks handrails and steps, and mine are the best

RobertCDF

I tear down framer decks all the time. I just skinned a deck built a framer that I wanted to tear it down and start over. I charge by whatever I want. how I come up with my pricing varies based upon many things.

__________________
Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

Ed the Roofer

Well then, it sounds as if you have plenty of experience with this type of work, so why are you asking somebody else to do your homework for you.

If you know how to do this from your past experience and your jobs are the best, you should charge accordingly.

If you can barely afford to pay your workers, it seems as though you do not charge enough.

So the answer is, charge more than you have been. How much more? You need to figure that out.

Ed

Bone Saw

did you use to work on race cars?

wallmaxx

"I'll rap yo ****** head in wit a rachet!"

"18 years"

"bench 50 pieces...what the...naw..POUNDS BABY POUNDS!!!!!!!!"

Bone Saw

mabey he's steppin on piss clams and scratchin his assneck

Johny IA

thanks Ed I was just kidding you know ha ha
why don't you just beat me about the head, neck and brest

Johny IA

post, beam, joist, deckboards, not much to screw up on that framer must have sucked. so a 12 x 14 is pretty straight forward what would you charge.

Bone Saw

most "framers" come from a framing backround (no offence to framers)and "frame" as per the plans put in front of them.

most "deck builders" come from a framing backround and design what they "build"

since there isn't much to screw up, and your decks are the best, let us see your work, then mabey just mabey we'll tell you what to charge

Ed the Roofer

So you were kidding about having experience doing this type of work or about providing the best work or about barely making enough money to pay your workers?

Please fill in the blanks so I can understand what you really mean.

Do you have any pictures you can attach to show what you are capable of. That might make a difference.

Ed

LNG24

I can't agree with you more. I remember when a deck was simply a box with joists sitting on some post system and either 2x6 or even 5/4 x 6 boards on top.

Today, A deck is a Work of Art. Detail that would impress a Fine Cabinet Maker, using wood that is neither Wood, Straight or Uniform. Sitting on Piers capable of supporting major loads.

I can build it like the best of them, but it takes me a long time. I can make a fine piece of furniture quicker than a deck.

(to Johnny IA)
It take me a while to estimate out a deck due to all the architectural details now involved, but if you do this all the time, you would already know there is no way to just price out a Deck X by Y. You would already know there are over 100 design options that will affect the price drastically.

nywoodwizard

Ask any question other than "how much should i charge" Unless you enjoy verbal beatings. You may get more info browsing than asking. If you choose the first ,I'll supply you with the cigarette and blind fold.

__________________
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

Johny IA

no kidding.

Ahren

I just hooked up with a builder who is more than willing to pay extra to have me do his decks, because he is so sick of the way his framers' jobs turn out. He's made up his mind that it's cheaper in the long run to pay me to do it right the first time. No offense, but deck building is a whole different discipline. There is no trim guy that comes after you to clean up mistakes.

Ahren

You need to at least supply us w/some more info. For instance, what type of decking material are you using? What type of fastening system? Hidden, nails, screws? Is it a perpendicular decking pattern, diagonal, herringbone, chevron?

mickeyco

Time to wrap it up and throw in the towel, this guys the best, you can't compete, same goes for RobertCDF, BuiltByMAC and the rest of you deck guys, but before you do see if you can help him price a deck.

__________________
Some people climb mountains. I take out the trash. But we both do it for the same reason.

Johny IA

yes time to wrap this up. Thanks to all who chimed in. I was really just trying to get a chuckle out of deckman22. I didn't mean to offend any one. It just a deck, about 10 ft. off the ground, hangared one end into the house with 2x10 joist over 3 6 x 6 post and a 2 x 12 beam. cedar deck boards running perpendicular and the hand rail is just as simple.
I am surprise that you guys (deck builders and ed) were having so much trouble with decks. the framers in our area do all the decks, stair off them, screened porches etc. anyway I did enjoy the jerky boy quotes. go ahead mickeyco you can be the king of decks.

Bone Saw

You hung in there like a champ Johnywelcome to the club, you should charge $11/sq' or $15/man hour and you'll do pretty well