Pricing For Replacing Top Boards On A Deck

growie

I need help on pricing for a job on replacing the top boards on a deck. I would be tearing off old boards and replacing with new ones. I am new to construction pricing and need some advice on how to go about figuring out how much to charge.

rbsremodeling

I would do something like that for free and time myself and see how long it takes and how much effort it took and be prepared for the next time a job like that comes up.

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SLSTech

heh, heh - you were warned

Time for some popcorn, Paul you got a fresh batch made?

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Five Star

it would help if your post your location, i usually do this type of work by the sq ft..around here we get $1.50 for tear out and a $1.50 for laying down new decking boards! and $0.50 for disposal....so $3.50 sq ft -$4.00 if you want to be safe!

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willworkforbeer

I would charge half of what you would charge to replace the bottom boards.

greg24k

Yes, I agree with RBS, don't charge them anything, see what the total cost will be and how much you think you should have made. That is a general practice for any contractor who don't know how to put a price on something...after this job, you will never ask that question again.

In addition, you can never go wrong with Tree Fitty a SF

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greg24k

Cannot go wrong with that, I agree 100%

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Handymanservice

When I was a young guy, I did a job like this with an old timer. I was trying to rent his place, and we were trading labor for the deposit.

He was an antique himself and only used hand tools, took us about 5 days to do the deck, and I think the deposit was $500.00. So I figure it this way.

$100.00 per day = me agonizing over how slow this fella was, we would have to measure stuff 3-4 times. Then, he would mark it and re-measure. Then he would cut it with a flippin' hand saw. OMG.

When he finally got the deck boards cut, we installed them with nails, and a hammer. I kinda think his skills had diminished, as he really sucked at nailing. He could not hit the nail head to save his life.

Don't get me started on the railing. Oh boy, he had a theory on everything, and who was I to complain.

Did I mention that this was a 80 Sg. Ft. deck?

By now, you may be wondering what the he!! this has to do with your question? Nothing really, but it is about as useful as any other information you can get about pricing here.

You are the only one that can decide what you need to charge for any job, we don't know your expenses, profit goals, area you service, skill level, material cost, labor cost, etc. There is a "sticky" that covers how to price stuff, you may try searching for it. Good luck.

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BirmanBuilders

removed

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mics_54

you should have gone to college.

basswood

Too many variables, deck size, shape, complexity, material type, location, skill level, and on and on...

edit to add: This is a deck I did not build, but was asked to copy for a customer... so I took a roadtrip to see it and figure out how they did it. Priced it for the owner at over 50K... Didn't get the job.

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willworkforbeer

Man that thing has a lot of top boards

WarnerConstInc.

That is a good question!!

greg24k

You gave them a good price Bass, because I know how to do that and what it takes to do that. I also priced out the job about in the same ballpark figure.

Not many customers will spring for so much money, it looks great but parting with such amounts to have a few curves, most can live with out, especially when you get to use the deck 5-6 months a year. Most of the guys who specialize in this type of work, located in warmer climates, where people get the use of the deck all year long.

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basswood

I posted pics of that deck because it illustrates the problem of s.f. pricing... every job is different.

That was a deck I would have liked to have built, but the budget would have just bought the materials... so I would have to donate the labor.

hailey

That deck is sooooo unique,I'd almost want to build it for free just to say I had built it(yeah well maybe not).It sure is a wall hanger though.I completely agree with the sq ft pricing.Not saying you can't do it ,but I'll sit down with a material list and drawing and figure my labor any day over pricing by the sqft.

rotarex

hey thats the one trex got on their website, where is it located? and who did it ?
also what was est sq footage were you quoting on? 50K usd is about 900 sqft with design and curves like that considering that low to the floor

P.S i done curves with trex already, and when it cools it cracks, you get burn, smell is killer, you need 5 guys for a 20 ft board when hot. labour per sq ft should be $20/sq ft minimum

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John Hyatt

Trex = t-junk has a well established record of posting pictures of decks that do not exist. J.

basswood

The Trex leaf deck is at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in the Twin Cities. Trex built it with their own crew as a donation to the Arboretum and the fine people of Minnesota.

The deck is about 1000 s.f.--but the s.f does not matter much. Trex gave me the blueprints and the number of piers and the framing is a mind blower... lots of work before you start heating and bending.

basswood

John,

I assure you this one is real. I'll dig up some more pics later.