Bidding Robinson Rock

CJKarl

Things are pretty slow around here and I am bidding on a small Robinson Rock job.
It's all under 3 ft high, so no staging. It's block with a very thin coat of paint on it. I have a guy that will give it a quick sandblast for $250.

Soo, I want this job. There is a lot more work that will be done in the near future.
After crunching the numbers and trying to do the job on paper, I come up with about $60 sq.ft. labor and materials, clean up, everything. I'm afraid that number is going to scare the new customers off.
So I backed it down to $50 a sq.ft....then $45. I think I can still make a little at this number (if the job goes smooth as silk, but that never happens).
Anyone give me a ball park on what they are charging for thin stone in the North East?
The home owners have seen my work and know they are getting the highest quality workmanship.

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naptown CR

Is this a cultured or real stone.

lukachuki

I'd vote for $54.67 although I don't even know what robinson rock is. I do know that paying for a customers job when things are slow is not fun...so guarantee yourself a little profit and hope it leads to other projects. I don't know what what kind of project you are referrring to when you say " more work in the near future" but if it is more robinson rock you are locked in at whatever price you give em now.

Anyway Good Luck.

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"The problem with internet quotes is, you never know if they are authentic." -Abraham Lincoln-

Less with the jaw more with the paw!

neolitic

I know I hate it when I meet
a customer, and it seems there
is a $# tattooed on their forehead.
Somehow the job will come out
to that number, and somehow,
I'll regret it.

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(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Captainsls

CJ, i dont know your operating costs or overheads but it seams like you have ideal conditions for the job. Access to the site is good, the wall is short, the block is already installed, etc. The product is a natural stone thin veneer, not hard to work with. How many sq can your crew lay up per day? One tender and myself can do 35 -40 sq a day depending on jointing size under these conditions. So charging $45-50 per square would cover my costs/profit, but it's best to look at the job on the basis of billable days. Are we talking 200 sq or 600 sq here?

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CJKarl

Robinson Rock is real stone.
The other projects on this job are a granite landing, granite steps, 500 sq.ft. of stone paving (bluestone or granite) and a 50 ft. double sided wall.

Our motto is sometimes "we're not the fastest, but the best" we get carried away with the details once and a while. So we would probably lay a little less than the average crew. (me and one guy)

It's only 100 sq.ft, but it's all inside, outside corners and window jambs.

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CJKarl

Bombs away! I went with $46.85 sq.ft.

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stacker

jesus christ how much is the material cost?ive only laid natural thin veneer one time,but it wasnt any different that fake thin veneer.
35-40 sq ft a day?is that one man or your whole crew?
i laid the attached gable pic friday.i got started at 9 and finished around 2:30.about100 sq ft.

cost of material for 100 sq ft
stone.....$350.00
sand 15.00
cement 20.00
lath 45.00
total 430.00

labor $350.00

Attached Thumbnails

 

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lukachuki

It's a known fact stacker that you work practically for free. You really need to move! I'm sure the illegals would like to see you go as well since you underbid them! Nice work by the way. Here in SC i could get at least 1200.00 for that and maybe more!

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Less with the jaw more with the paw!

Captainsls

Without a doubt Stacker your work is mint. Here in MA a natural sawn cut veneer like that would run between $10 - 15 per square making the stone more expensive than your whole job!

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CJKarl

Robinson Thin Stone is $13.85 a sq.ft. That's plus 6% tax and then getting it to the job. Corners are about $20 a linear ft.
Add mortar, sandblast the foundation and THEN labor to install.

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DJ9222

The sad part about bidding on small jobs like this is that some guy will cdome in about half the price you give and the guy will think you are robbing him, happens all the time here on long Island were every landscaper is now a mason contractor. Good Luck

dakzaag

CJKarl,
I am bidding a store front just like that. 115 ft2 but all inside and outside corners 10 feet tall and huge windows. I came up with around $30 per ft2 with a $10 allowance on the material cause the customer doesn't know what they want yet.

Haven't got the job yet so I don't know if I am high or low, but it sounds like my market is closer to Stacker than to CJKarl.

My biggest concern with a project like this is the high visibility in a really small town. I want to make enough on the job to cover expenses, but have a wow factor for the locals to see. Best advertising you can get in a small town is to do something everyone sees.

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CJKarl

Got the job. Trying to get Mr. sandblast in there all week, but it's been raining. Pays to stick to your guns.

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dakzaag

Good news!


Glad you got the work, post some pic's when you get a minute.

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D K & Sons
The maintenance schedule for brick
1. Stand back and say "man that looks nice!"
2. Repeat as often as needed.