Need More Estimates Before I Can Decide.

Dave Mac

I think I always estimate in my favor,

So do actually measure a window, door or shutter? If not I guess you are just guessing. But I actually know from expereince to allow a half hour per window, and 16 windows per gallon, I call this unit pricing, I guess you call that guessing lol

Mr. Mike

I have unit pricing per type of unit I do, if it is one I am not used to doing I may be guessing but as far as the many types of windows I am used to doing I have a set price guide that has my own set prices for each of those windows.

Would this be a 30 minute window unit below:

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Mr. Mike

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The sashes were cream.

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Dave Mac

Boy if you can't answere that question on your own you really need help estimating, must be a heck of time measuring each window lite. lolj/k

I think we both know the answere to the question. Painting alone I allow 3 minutes per lite, does not include prep like glazing....

Mike I just got back from a estimate, and I measured a lot of the stuff with my wheel lol But you cant rally measur how long it takes to remove and put back desighner curtains 20 ft long no can you. Measuring has its place, but their is nothing like experience imo.

How do you measure the siding on a dormer that is on the second story roof????
How do measure soffit that is not straight across, but more like a triangle??

WisePainter

Hey Mr. Mike, do your guys usually paint exterior window trim with empty brushes?

You may be losing 20% of your profit using that guy.

I would bid that window at 1 hour, it needs some real attention if it is to last longer than 2 more years.

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

vandyandsons

I typically utilize my own form of unit pricing.

I know how long it takes me and I know how much material I need in a given situation.


However, I will measure when I need to as well.

THINKPAINTING

Len Fife was a big preacher of production rate estimating and getting your unit price through all your cost's and production rates-- related to labor and material.

I have attended many estimating semminars over the last 30 yrs learned quite a bit.

As Dave Mac says and others on this board, measuring goes a long way, but never forget all the other phases of an estimate.

Setup--Travel-Move Furniture -Take off-Replace-Mask Off---Drop and cover-Clean up--PITA factor--Loss Time........... Multiple Colors .

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capital city

As someone already said if it takes 5 hours then you count it for 8. If your going to kill my day then your going to get charged for it. I know a local painter that measures everything and goes by just that. I make alot more money then he does because he trust his numbers more then his experience. Mike I do most of my work myself. My helper is my wife and she has been painting longer then I have. I think I know how long it takes me and her to do just about anything, how is that guessing. I have no problem with you measuring why do you have to tell me my experience leads me to guess.

Also going by your meaurements to order paint is not the best idea. I have found that most paint goes futher then what is stated on the lable. Plus the house will determine the spread rate. If it has plater or drywall. If it is a newer house with just 2 coats of flat with no primer it will suck your roller dry. If your working outside and using duration and its 95 then it isnt going very far. However if its 60 and it rained the day before then you may get 50% more out of it.

Dave Mac

Yeap I have attended Lynn Fife seminars many years ago, I still have all the notes and hand outs.

George Z

I have his series of books,
almost classics now.

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Mr. Mike

I will measure the front of it from the ground, and I will roll the wheel out while "eyeballing from the ground.

The soffit is easy, if it goes up to a peak I will double the length.

we use that brush to dust the surface after sanding.

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Mr. Mike

Ok you show up at a bid tomorrow and eyeball 12 rooms with over 15,000 in wall space sq. footage and your off by 1300 sq. ft. to your bad and you want me to agree to that being O'k.

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Double-A

Consider the following:

No man willingly accepts change unless it is his idea.

No man willingly accepts help unless it is his idea, and not even then most of the time.

The best advice is the truth. Speak it then leave it alone.

Being right is never as important as being compassionate.

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chris n

I would bid that window at 1 hour, it needs some real attention if it is to last longer than 2 more years.

An hour to set up ladder, replace all glazing,glass,points,sand,prime paint,clean glass, by yourself on a second story window?

Dave Mac

I bet he was talking about painting, not glazing prep.....


Mike I think your guy is scratching the glass with that sandpaper lol j/k

NAV

if it takes you guys 1 hour to just coat that window you better choose a different profession.

I charge $75 per window for prep, glaze, prime and paint. NOTE: glazing includes only loose and missing glazing.

waynec

If this was my job, I wouldn't glaze until I primed the bare wood. The glazing will dry out and crack and break down much quicker with-out priming. But I'm from Mass. and we have weather to contend with.

WisePainter

You're right it should be more because it looks almost like a complete resto job.

Kind of, my first few would be quick but of course after lunch and the dreaded 3 p.m. "sleepy" would slow me down a bit.

Just to coat is 20 minutes.

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vandyandsons

6 panel over 1 panel window....
Excessive scraping, dry stripping....
Full prime coat....
Full caulk and reglaze every panel....
Full finish coat....
Clean up & move to the next window....

an hour seems a little light to me. i would probably bid it closer to 2 hrs.
1 1/2 hours minimum.

maybe i'm slow, but I don't think I could do 8 of those in a workday.

Dorman Painting

I consider myself a master painter, but window glazing is my weak point. The reason is because being a young painter, 34, I haven't had the experience on tons of them like the older guys. I don't use glaze in a can but I buy it in a tube, just like caulk. The few window jobs I've done have turned out decent and I've always been paid.

That above window would probably take me around two hours to scrape, sand, caulk, glaze, primer and paint. I normally raise my rates when painting windows like those, I'll figure my bid using $50/hr as my base rate instead of 40 and hour.

I know this sounds crazy but I never could figure out how to glaze windows like the guy above is doing. What's the secret there??