400 Apartment Doors

RCPainting

I got a referral call from an apartment manager. He wants a bid on painting 400 metal doors in a nice apartment complex. I would spray oil based paint, masking off. I usually do custom and new construction. Using my usual estimating methods I come up with 14,000 dollars. They also may want a bid on the shutters and handrails.
I am wondering if I should reduce my price because of the volume?
What is the PITA factor of acess to apts?
Any other issues I should thinking of?
This would be scheduled in the spring, I have enough work lined up so I am not too worried about getting more.
What do you think?

slickshift

I stopped giving the "volume" discounts
Usually there's no or very little savings for me in some condo or apt. complex wanting a lot of work

Now usually they are occupied (for me), so I still have to deal with owners/renters...and not all are co-operative

It's just that I might be able to walk to the next job rather than drive
I still have to break down, clean up, lock up, every night...there's no real savings on my part unless I can leave stuff right in the apt.
And frankly, that doesn't save much

Also, never let the dangling of "more work" make you lower your price for a job
If I had gotten even 10% of that fictitious "more work" I'd be booked until 2020

No discount for you!

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Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

HUDSONVALLEYEXT

$35 for a door seems high.

Workaholic

35 a door seems to cheap to me. With that price that would be a high volume discount.

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welovepainting

Roger that!

RC are you sure it wouldnt be just as fast to brush and roll them out? You can still can achieve the spray look...

I would sand them really well and top coat with a waterborne so the people can close their doors asap (with in an hour.) Latex doesnt fade as fast as oil and latex doesnt chalk like oil. Devoe / Devflex is a great product for that situation.

How many doors can you paint an hour? Are they six panel? smooth? sidelights?

If you look at it that way $35.00 seems low, or at a good price. Im sure it wouldnt hurt to be at $50.00. This is not for a GC so you should be able to get a better price verses new construction.

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THINKPAINTING

Your joking right??

KentWhitten

I would think that price always depends on certain site factors. Even though I'm not into painting and pricing much, I would hazard to guess that if you had all the doors in front of you and a nice Graco, then $35 a door would kick some butt. But if it's one door a day, then it's a PITA.

And yes, usually apts and condos can be a PITA. Most GC's I run into on jobs like this always figure "how much per unit, or door, or...." If a guy comes in $5 cheaper per door times 400 doors, there's $2,000. That's what they see. Not your quality, or value.

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Mike Heritage

your price seems low to me. i get 40.00 per door & trim one side & use latex for the drying factor. got to remember your dealing with renters here you will want to dry as fast as possible

KellyPainting

1st off ... if they are occupied... then spraying would be a pain in the ass.
They will have a notice to everyone when you will be there... some people won't even be home... others will have company.... so on and so forth.... they will want to shut the door right away.... is there pets?.... keeping a door open will be a problem.....are they elderly?... they won't like the smell...
your also bidding too low.... just cut and roll... start at -
at least $50 per door.

RCPainting

All good points, to clarify, these are occupied apts, only the front door. I could probaby do 30 a day if acess is not a problem. About 2/3 are 6 panel, rest are slab. No trim to paint. They already have a smooth oil finish that owner wants to keep. I am not considering reducing in hopes of further work, not really sure I want this!
Thanks!

welovepainting

I think it would be in your best interest to explain to them how great a high quaily latex paint really is. Good Luck!

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HUDSONVALLEYEXT

I bid on 600 condo doors and water heater doors at $20 each and lost the bid.

I don't think they would shell out $14,000 for you to paint 400 doors.

Bid to land the job and if you have something paying more put the door painting on the back burner.

JMGP

I don't think it would be a wise choice to "spray" the doors in an occupied space... not only is it a liability... I dont see how it would be cost effective...

welovepainting

Speaking of doors i submitted a bid for 33 doors taday at $300 each... They are glass with brown metal frames and sideliights for a commercial building all offices are occupied. We propose to sand, etch, spray devflex / devoe latex primer and latex simi gloss finish. The metal has factory brown oil finish on there now from the 80's.. They want the building painted as well 42,000 sf of pre cast tilt up siding. and 260 windows ... Im crossing my fingers this would be a nice one to finish up the season.

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HUDSONVALLEYEXT

YOUR WEBSITE '"IS OFF THE CHAIN" WHO MADE IT?

kanadaeh

A good painter friend of mine just did really well on a door job. 300 flat doors @ $35.00 each. No trim. One coat of latex. He is a fast painter. 2 painters for 2 twelve hour days. That's right, 48 man hours! He gave his helper a nice bonus!

welovepainting

Thank you. Its actually getting redone by mike at www.rhinosites.com If you think the current site is nice wait till the new one is done. Mike is a great guy to work with he really goes the extra mile, qulity minded, great prices, very creative and infomative.

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plazaman

sorry for not knowing this, but what exactly is precast tilt up siding? any pics?

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Mandrake

I would want to know more from the apartment manager about scheduling the work IF you were to get it. They will give you the job then say " Now, we can only have access to 12 doors each day" or something like that. One outfit I work with will "offer" a discount if the property can provide x amount of doors per day - that means tenants are notified and security is provided in the event the doors are opened to paint the edges. This way the contractor can plan his manpower accordingly and move through the work quickly. This can be great work if its managed well - don't turn it away unless the PITA factor is too high to make it worthwhile.

PS - Does it have to be oil?

RCPainting

Mandrake, I was concerned about the access issue. I did bid it original price, stipulating that I have access to 30 doors a day, each apartment has 3 doors, a front, back and storage.
They do want oil, that may change tho.
Thanks to all!