Fencing - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

A.J.C. · 09-24-2009, 03:27 PM

I have a past customer who wants me to give them a price on installing a vinyl privacy fence. I don't want to turn them down because I have never priced fencing, but really want the job. I don't want to over bid and not get the job, but I don't want to under bid and lose out on money. It's 360ft of chain link that has to come down, then install vinyl fence with a standard gate plus a double wide gate for lawn mower. I would appreciate any help, thank you. I'm running a bid out right now, so i'll be off line for a few hours.

IHI · 09-24-2009, 03:54 PM

Fencing goes up faster with more help, ESSPECIALLY vinyl, so factor in help if you dont have it.

Chain link terminal and line posts come out MUCH easier with equipment, I always factor in a mini skidder (stand on machine) when specing fences/decks for any lifting/boring needs such as what you describe...big skidders are much better at tugging them out, but also leave a much more defined footprint as you know when they leave unless you plywood a trail, regardless, another case of it's goes faster/easier with another set of hands.

Two of us installed my vinyl fence around my backyard in a combined 1 day time frame, 210' worth with a gate. 1 day to mark/bore holes 6' o.c. and seet posts in cement. let it sit a few days, came back and installed the panels which go SUPER FAST if you have your spacing spot on, we're talking less than 2-4 minutes max per panel fully screwed through all the brakcets and points needing screwed through....you time will be most spent on the layout and post setting since that is critical, and IF you have to err, err on the small side, it's much better to have to cut a little off each side of the panel to make it symetrical and fit, vs having an opening larger than the panel will span.

I'll take doing vinyl over wood anyday just because it's 3x's as fast, not near as much screwing around...but post layout is the critcial factor. The ones we used speced 6' o.c. post spacing, i measure the panels with brackets and they were 67" overall, i cut a 2x4 @ 67 1/2" to use as my spacer, so once we set 1 "master post" we used the 67 1/2" template to space all the other posts off of so they came out perfect.

Price wise will depend on how much you need per day to cover machinery, all labor wages, profits...but just rest assured it goes up very fast, you'll like it once you get the first few panel set and see what's involved.

A.J.C. · 09-24-2009, 05:36 PM

okay. but what is a fair price to bid the complete job at.

neolitic · 09-24-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angus242

http://www.contractortalk.com/f11/an...-instructions/
Pay close attention to #6

http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/pr...success-27899/

Please go here and post an introduction and fill out your profile.
http://www.contractortalk.com/f44/

Thanks and welcome

This is the second nicest reply you will receive.
IHI was incredibly generous.

WarnerConstInc. · 09-24-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.J.C.

okay. but what is a fair price to bid the complete job at.

I am pretty sure it was almost spoon fed to you earlier.

A.J.C. · 09-24-2009, 06:57 PM

I guess I should of asked a different way. is $3000.00 to much to pay for labor, or is that a fair price. Again, I don't want to take advantage of the homeowner, but I also don't want the sub to take advantage of me.

CookeCarpentry · 09-24-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.J.C.

I guess I should of asked a different way. is $3000.00 to much to pay for labor, or is that a fair price. Again, I don't want to take advantage of the homeowner, but I also don't want the sub to take advantage of me.

You are asking the same thing essentially. Is your next question what is a fair price for materials?

A.J.C. · 09-24-2009, 07:27 PM

no, I know the price of materials, I also know the price of the permits, and every other misc. price, except what a fair price for labor is.

CookeCarpentry · 09-24-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.J.C.

no, I know the price of materials, I also know the price of the permits, and every other misc. price, except what a fair price for labor is.

How can you not know what a fair price for labor is? You are a GC. How much does it cost you to pay and insure your guys? How many guys are on the job? How long will the job take?

This is simple math (and business).

neolitic · 09-25-2009, 08:49 AM

I'm going to go out on a limb here.
Labor in NYC might be higher
than in rural Arkansas.
Labor might be higher if the job
requires hand carrying materials
a hundred yards down a 60º slope
than if it is on flat ground with material
off loaded in place and readily at hand.
Just saying....

CScalf · 09-25-2009, 10:16 AM

seems to me somebody failed gradeschool math...

ESTIMATED LENGTH OF JOB X HOURLY RATE = ? gee i just can't figure it out...

A.J.C. · 09-25-2009, 11:14 AM

I'm not paying someone by the hour, I got a price from a sub and I just want to know if it's a fair price, as like I said before,I've never bid a fence job, but it's for a good customer of mine, and I just wanted to be fair. If you guys don't know, just say so, but I did not join this forum to be berated, I joined it to learn from others, help others, and be fair to customers. p.s., I have excellent math skills, and run a successful company.

wizendwizard · 09-25-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.J.C.

I'm not paying someone by the hour, I got a price from a sub and I just want to know if it's a fair price, as like I said before,I've never bid a fence job, but it's for a good customer of mine, and I just wanted to be fair. If you guys don't know, just say so, but I did not join this forum to be berated, I joined it to learn from others, help others, and be fair to customers. p.s., I have excellent math skills, and run a successful company.

A.J.C, If you had done anything to study posting on CT you would know that we DO NOT answer pricing questions here.

Let take a moment to figure out why we don't.

1) We have no idea what the ground conditions are for the yard you are fencing.

2) We have no idea what your profit margin is for your company.

3) You are in business, we assume, you should know your pricing to do a job.

4) Why should we share our pricing with you or anyone else?

Figure out your own pricing.

A.J.C. · 09-25-2009, 11:47 AM

I was not asking you to bid the job for me, the labor was the only question I needed. I thought that 3000.00 seamed a little high for 360ft flat level sandy soil, and did not want to overcharge my customer. I guess that's a no-no here also. I'll run with the numbers I have, thanks anyhow.

neolitic · 09-25-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.J.C.

I was not asking you to bid the job for me, the labor was the only question I needed. I thought that 3000.00 seamed a little high for 360ft flat level sandy soil, and did not want to overcharge my customer. I guess that's a no-no here also. I'll run with the numbers I have, thanks anyhow.

#1) It really is impossible for
someone hundreds or thousands of miles
away to know what is right for you.
#2) The site is public, HOs come here a lot
looking for info to use in beating a guy down.
The more $ figures given here, the more
ammo they get, and they won't discriminate
between prices for the least expensive areas
of the country and the highest COL areas.

Just take a look at the number of views on
some of the threads.
It ain't just us chickens...your own customer
might just be reading this thread.