Priming New Construction $ Per Square Foot

dwbrooks

I was asked to give a bid on priming a apartment complex. New construction/45 units. All that has to be masked is windows. I live in the Midwest and was wondering if anyone has an idea on the going rate per square foot for priming new construction. Even if your not from the midwest I would much appricitate any input.

I know that everyone needs to decide what they need to get to do a job, but I also figure there must be general price per square.

Thanks Much

charles

its about a buck and change in florida per square

dwbrooks

Thanks for the reply Charles,

Is that just for primer or does that include primer and a coat of paint

Dale

I'm missing something. A buck + sq/ft. to prime new construction?

I wanna work THERE...wherever there is...12x4 sheet of wb = $40.+ to squirt some primer on?

AAPaint

Yeah, seriously....that's some mad money just for priming. I could build a whole business off of just that, lol!! AA Quality Priming!

__________________
-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

dwbrooks

I was figuring around 10 cents a square foot

slickshift

I've never worked that up but it's gotta be at least forty-sumthin cents a square
I can't see a buck and change and I can't see a dime

Time to saddle up the Ole Nat Est

slickshift

Says $ 0.41 sq ft

It goes by city so I couldn't really adjust it for the local rates

Dale

.41 still seem fat for competition in new construction.


WARNING!! VERY LOOSE ESTIMATES..do not try this at home.

1500 sq.ft house...new construction...prime only.

1500 sq.ft. x 3 = 4500 sq.ft surface.
5400 x .41 = $1845.

2 guys mask & spray out in ...what? 4-5 hrs.? Your not going to get the bid.

.14 -.18 is more like it. 2 guys $630.- $810./5 hrs. billed out as 1 full day....way decent $$..prolly not gonna get at that. dwbrooks is in the ballpark IMO.

slickshift

That's why you shouldn't use a book to estimate
lol

slickshift

...it also doesn't differentiate between "primer new const." and "primer"
Just says "primer drywall"

jmgallagher

I hope that isnt the formula you really use?? If so...How do you figure the sq ft of floor space of a home x3 gives you the TRUE sq ft of surface to be painted? I think by using that formula you are cheating yourself out of actual surface to be painted... and losing money... So.. that is not a good example...

What about the ceiling surfaces and are they 8', 10' 12, vaulted, is there a grand foyer? Closets? How much masking is involved? Do you need to bring in an extention ladder, stagging, etc etc. As most of us know there are to many variables involved to use a SET formula...

I think alot of us are to afraid of losing the project so we bid the easiest way and come up with a figure in our head... it may only take 2 painters 6-8 hours to paint a 1500 sq ft home (correctly) BUT we will only charge just enough to get the job and do the work, (with NO profit)... is that the true cost of the project? probably not... same thing with finishes...

Point is... know your numbers and dont allow the GC's to control your numbers... There is a lot of things that painters let slip through the cracks and it is only effecting themselves...We are all in business to make a profit.. Right??

Dale

No..thats not the formula I use. Thats why I injected the...WARNING!!

My point was that formulas don't work very well.

It doesn't.

I agree, Things have to be clear before you start. In writing.

You're not going to make a profit if you don't get the job, and quoteing a buck + a sq.ft. of suface for priming will probably be chuckled at.

A 12x20 room with 8' walls with ceiling included would be about $752.@ $1./ft. to squirt primer in unoccupied new construction.....good luck with those numbers.

jmgallagher

[/QUOTE]A 12x20 room with 8' walls with ceiling included would be about $752.@ $1./ft. to squirt primer in unoccupied new construction.....good luck with those numbers.[/QUOTE]


I think Charles was figuring at sq. ft. "floor" space... but wasnt thinking that it was for priming ONLY not for the whole job...

I use sq ft WALL space costs (per coat basis)...then using unit costs add in doors, windows, built-ins, etc.. using LF costs add in crown, baseboard etc etc... divide my cost by floor space.. thats my sq ft price....

It does take a minute to figure out your numbers but once you get a system down.. you will appreciate taking the time to figure it out...

I think if painters learned the proper way to estimate (WALL space) we could get paid from the builder what it actually costs to paint a new home... but a lot of painters dont take the time and fly by the seat of there pants... thats why the quality on that side of the industry is so low...

The last time I bid for a GC was last April... it was an 1800 sq ft home... I bid it right... the next painter came in and used his sq ft floor price at $1.00 and got the job... tell me how you will make any money painting an 1800 sq ft home for $1,800 bucks..(which by the way was more than half less than me) even if it was one coat... walls, ceiling, doors, windows, etc...

That was the last time for me... I stick with homwowners... Twice as much money...higher quality and more pride in your work, no bull crap... etc...

But there are a couple high end builders that im working on...

Sorry if this got off the subject...

Joe

dwbrooks

I talked to the GC that I was giving the estimate too. He asked what I bid the job per square at, I told him 13 cents a square, thats with him paying for the paint.

He told me the painter he's been using is at 15 cents a square, and thats kind of the going rate for my area(Midwest, large metropolitan area.

Painters Plus

A 12x20 room with 8' walls with ceiling included would be about $752.@ $1./ft. to squirt primer in unoccupied new construction.....good luck with those numbers.[/QUOTE]


I think Charles was figuring at sq. ft. "floor" space... but wasnt thinking that it was for priming ONLY not for the whole job...

I use sq ft WALL space costs (per coat basis)...then using unit costs add in doors, windows, built-ins, etc.. using LF costs add in crown, baseboard etc etc... divide my cost by floor space.. thats my sq ft price....

It does take a minute to figure out your numbers but once you get a system down.. you will appreciate taking the time to figure it out...

I think if painters learned the proper way to estimate (WALL space) we could get paid from the builder what it actually costs to paint a new home... but a lot of painters dont take the time and fly by the seat of there pants... thats why the quality on that side of the industry is so low...

The last time I bid for a GC was last April... it was an 1800 sq ft home... I bid it right... the next painter came in and used his sq ft floor price at $1.00 and got the job... tell me how you will make any money painting an 1800 sq ft home for $1,800 bucks..(which by the way was more than half less than me) even if it was one coat... walls, ceiling, doors, windows, etc...

That was the last time for me... I stick with homwowners... Twice as much money...higher quality and more pride in your work, no bull crap... etc...

But there are a couple high end builders that im working on...

Sorry if this got off the subject...

Joe[/QUOTE]
SO what do you charge per sq ft of wall space? and how much per lin ft of trim?

CarlW

The GC told you the going rate? That's scary isn't it? Just for fun, you should tell him that you heard from some painters that the going rate was 20 cents a square and see what he says.

dwbrooks

Carl its not so scarry to me when the same General has bailed me out of a job I underbid by paying extra money out of his pocket to cover my screwup. You guys act as you can not trust any general contractor, obviously I'm not going to base the way I bid a job completly on what he tells me.

All the Generals I've worked for have been pretty reasonable and good people, I dont know why they all get such a bad rap from everyone on here.

At 15 cents a square thats approx $112.50 for spraying a 15x10 room including ceiling.

15 mins to mask
10 min to spray
2.5 gallons of primer @ 7.50 gal thats Sherwin hide primer

After primer costs you have about 90 dollars for around 30 minutes work. I know theres where and tear on your pump but rent one if your going to shoot 500 gallons or so, save yours for jobs that arent just mass production primer.

gadfly

"At 15 cents a square thats approx $112.50 for spraying a 15x10 room including ceiling.

15 mins to mask
10 min to spray
2.5 gallons of primer @ 7.50 gal thats Sherwin hide primer

After primer costs you have about 90 dollars for around 30 minutes work. I know theres where and tear on your pump but rent one if your going to shoot 500 gallons or so, save yours for jobs that arent just mass production primer."

Dude - does that figure in backrolling?

Traditions2

I'm usually about 500-600 bucks labor to prime a new const. house appx. 1500 square feet. Masked and sprayed in half a day. Material usually around same depending on primer. I'm in illinois