Painting through the night - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

outsidethelines · 11-19-2007, 08:47 PM

How would your estimates change if you guys had to paint through the night for two or more nights, rather than during normal business hours? I'm talking from about 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM.

thom · 11-19-2007, 08:57 PM

I've done night work before on commercial projects. Sometimes it's easier and faster, sometimes it's the only way. I just tell my guys we're going to do some night work and price the same as always.

It's not much different than working out of town and living in a hotel. Just add in any additional costs and live with it.

neolitic · 11-19-2007, 09:07 PM

In younger days, it would take me at least a day to readjust to those hours, and 2 days coming back out.
I kind of liked those retail re-dos, no one to bother you at all.
Now it would probably take me a week to get back to normal

outsidethelines · 11-19-2007, 09:27 PM

So you guys don't charge extra for having to work such odd hours?

daArch · 11-19-2007, 10:09 PM

There are guys who do it regularly, and do not charge time and a half. Then there are guys who have to totally readjust their schedule and life to accomodate the situation, they charge "night work" prices.

Do you think the night shift highway pavers charge regular wages ?

Our business is not one that "noramally" involves the graveyard shift, you should expect a customer to be synpathetic to the disruption of your lifestyle and willing to make compensation.

outsidethelines · 11-19-2007, 10:30 PM

[quote=daArch;322354]There are guys who do it regularly, and do not charge time and a half. Then there are guys who have to totally readjust their schedule and life to accomodate the situation, they charge "night work" prices.

So, are the "night work" prices usually time and a half? That would make it worth while for my guys. esp. since the work is almost two hours from home. I would just stay there and add one night hotel cost into the bid. But, they would drive home and back. This business is a HUGE chain. I think they are willing to pay well. Maybe, right?

neolitic · 11-19-2007, 10:38 PM

My point earlier was that you will lose some productivity from the "body clock" thing, and yes, in my experience retailers are ready to pay a price to avoid lost revenue.

daArch · 11-19-2007, 11:02 PM

Hey, give a bid. Make it high enough to assure you make some money. Don't low ball. If it's not accepted, what do you lose? If you low ball and it's accepted, you lose your shirt.

You CAN NOT lose money on bids that are refused.

fordblue_ca · 11-20-2007, 11:15 AM

I just finished a job like that at a clothing store they closed at 9pm so i worked 10hr shifts to get it done faster, not too mention i had to work 8hrs during the day at another site, so a 18hr day kinda sucks but I did charge a little bit more just because you have to be much more prepared because you cant run out to the store to grab somthing and time is limited.

Joe

**Double-A** · 11-20-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outsidethelines

How would your estimates change if you guys had to paint through the night for two or more nights, rather than during normal business hours? I'm talking from about 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM.

Time is money. If someone wants to buy your company's time during your regular off hours, they should expect to pay for it. A 20% premium is not out of the question. I'd start there and negotiate if needed.

Just be sure to compensate your employees for screwing up their family time.

donb1959 · 11-20-2007, 03:21 PM

I've done a ton of daycares over the years that required night work. I typically charge 30-40% more for those jobs. No one likes working through the night, when we do a day care it's usually a week of night work I pay my guys time and one half for the night work.

**Double-A** · 11-20-2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donb1959

I typically charge 30-40% more for those jobs. I pay my guys time and one half for the night work.

I like Don's approach better.

THINKPAINTING · 11-20-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thom

I've done night work before on commercial projects. Sometimes it's easier and faster, sometimes it's the only way. I just tell my guys we're going to do some night work and price the same as always.

It's not much different than working out of town and living in a hotel. Just add in any additional costs and live with it.

Dude are you American?? You must have one hell of a crew to work at night for the same rate.

Is your crew on payroll? Do you hire legal american workers?

We pay extra for night work and weekends, holidays etc.....

outsidethelines · 11-21-2007, 12:25 AM

Thank you for all your advice. I think the time and a half is the best way to go, and I think that my guys will appreciate it. We are all trying to make money where we can this time of year, so low balling does feel tempting to avoid losing the work since it can be hard to come by as the weather gets colder. However, I agree that it can back fire. It is hard. Don't want to lose the work, but need to make money too. Where is the mid ground where everyone is happy?

That is a rhetorical question. No need to respond. Anyway, thanks again.

neolitic · 11-21-2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outsidethelines

Thank you for all your advice. I think the time and a half is the best way to go, and I think that my guys will appreciate it. We are all trying to make money where we can this time of year, so low balling does feel tempting to avoid losing the work since it can be hard to come by as the weather gets colder. However, I agree that it can back fire. It is hard. Don't want to lose the work, but need to make money too. Where is the mid ground where everyone is happy?

That is a rhetorical question. No need to respond. Anyway, thanks again.

One of those "be careful what you wish for" deals.
If you go cheap and get it, they'll always expect you to stay cheap!

Good luck, let us hear when you get it

A W Smith · 11-21-2007, 01:06 AM

I did a job on the side while i was working for another contractor in my twenties. Had to work at night drywall finishing at a Stop & Shop for a high school friend of mine who's dad was a painting contractor (PZ And Sons). I didn't know they locked you in till 5 am. Even the stocking crew was locked in. You could not leave the building without setting off the alarm via a panic bar fire exit out back. Got home at 5:30 am and had to be at work at 8 am. I was shot. I never tried that again

ATH · 11-21-2007, 09:22 AM

At one time, we did a bit of work for Apple Computer Stores. I always figured labor at time and a half for night and weekend work. We nearly always got the job.

We did one painting job on the whole "back of house" starting the moment they locked the front door and continuing until it was light out.

Another time, we did another store's "back of house" on a Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas! We had the sales people crawling through ladders! I still don't understand the logic in that one. Their excuse was that the district manager was visiting and they needed the place "spruced up." They wanted us to paint around all the boxes stacked in the hallway. "You can come back later and touch it up! We politely refused to do that!

plazaman · 11-21-2007, 06:26 PM

We've done quite a bit of night work at medial centers. We did increase our price for night work. I think its only fair.

Brian · 11-21-2007, 07:07 PM

I typically add 20% for weekends or night work.

Brian Phillips