Work/Supply Lists

BMAN

I am curious of how many of you use work lists for yourself or your crews. I am a growing painting and home improvement contractor and I have decided to start using A list for every jobsite in order to cut down on running to the store for supplies. I am interested in other painters way to keep track of everything needed for every job. Do you have a replenishment system for your truck or trailer? Let me know whats on them.

Brushslingers

I call caulk and putty and rags "truck items"... I still charge for them but that's all I carry really.. as far as stock items go. Every job gets a price for sundries.

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Benn

BMAN

Some houses use more caulk than others, so what I am saying is do you list it or just go get it when you run out. What about scaper blades etc etc

Brushslingers

Ehh.. re-read bother, I charge for all sundries but, only things I actually carry on my truck are caulk, putty and rags.

edit : i'll go further, EVERY job gets a bago'rags, all caulk is charged at one tube per 200 linear feet, all putty is charged at 1000 linear. That help at all?

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Benn

BMAN

I know we all charge for them, what I am asking is how you manage them, how do you make sure they are there when you need them. I am putting a master list of everything we as painters could possibly use in a given day from tools to paint, a check off list of sorts that would be used to make sure the job site is stocked so that I or an employee dont have to leave at all unless something unexpected comes up. I am trying to eliminate the unexpexted by having a list to go to at the begining of the day on my way to a site. does anyone use this type of system?

Paul Burns

BMAN,

With our crews, they are responsible for most everything.

One way to cut down on a LOT of costs, is to have the pant stores DELIVER stuff for you.

Whenever dealing with a new store, it usually takes some time to get them and yourselves on the same page as far as timing and stuff goes, but once you do, it sure is nice to have your paints and sundries dropped off at the job for you instead of having to go get them yourself.

It also is a relationship building and not abusing your priviledge type of thing too. You know, you don't want to make them come out and deliver 2 tubes of caulk for you. BUT, if you are good to them and build a solid and trusting relationship, they WILL bring those 2 tubes of caulk out for you if you are really in a pinch for time. Sometimes they will anyway.

We are all paying for that delivery service with each gallon of paint we buy from the BIG paint stores anyway. So why not use their man hours, instead of ours?

Of course you still need to take inventory and make lists, but if given the opportunity, MOST crews know how to capitalize on this system. After all, they know that they are NOT making any money while in paint store either! At least with our systems they aren't.

Hope this helps.

Paul

Brushslingers

I don't manage them.. that was my point I guess, each job gets thier own sundries included. If one house needs ALMOST a case.. they get charged a case and the leftovers are used for truck emergencies, etc. So I suppose.. no, I have an equipment list but not a sundries list.

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Benn

Mike Finley

Yes.

ProWallGuy

Bman, this is a list of what each painter should carry to a job.
I also have a checklist in the shop by the door for specific types of jobs, like commercial w/c, removal 4 paint, removal 4 w/c, repaint, etc. I don't have those on my pc though.

Attached Files

Tool Checklist.doc (20.5 KB, 91 views)

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

DeanV

Actually, I do make money at the paint store. I like the people that work at the store I go to, and taking the time to shoot the breeze with them while I wait for a couple of gallons to be mixed up I think gets me more referrals.

ProWallGuy

And this form gets filled out when I do the bid so I know any other items (that we don't usually carry) we might need.

Attached Files

Special Equipment List.doc (45.0 KB, 72 views)

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

KellyPainting

My truck has everything small I like to buy in quantity when I find a good price.... I charge for the following...... Caulking on exteriors, if they use phenaseal...$100 per case.....bug spray if they bug me too much...ha...
rollers for some jobs...like today ...they want 6 different colors striped horizontally from celing to floor... lots of rollers, joint compound..if it gets over a five gallon.... Bondo..4 exteriors.... tape if it gets over 3 rolls...
plastic if it gets over a box....

Lately I've been doing this..and you can tell me if I'm nuts... I've been bidding labor and charging for materials at the end.... it seams like I can charge more money that way... and EVERYTHING.. goes on there invoice
my paint store prints me out a nice copy at will and I charge every little thing I use....and keep the left overs...it's been working pretty good... sure i loose the mark up but the customer likes the fact that every item is discounted at least 17% off and I charge a little more for my labor and they don't knotice.... plus every job's materials are nicely catigorized.

BMAN

I agree about scmoozing at the paint store, my SW gives me 4-5 referrals a week. I still dont want to be there though and I am determined to stop going there when I could have gotten something all at once in one trip. I am creating the job lists so that I can save fuel, time, and headaches. If we are missing a flat screwdriver in the trailer I want it noted so that I can replace it before we need it and its not there. It trickles down to everything I do. Paul SW around here doesnt do a lot of delivering to us residential guys bit once in a while they will.
Anyone who clicks on my webstie feel free to call me during work hours 7-6 eastern and we can talk more, I love talking with others and sharing experience.

scottstef

thanks guys.

i am thinking about getting a dedicated crew up and running for doing paint jobs. i have been tinkering with the same thoughts.

Terrence

I keep the following consumables (this does not include tools):

1 case of painters tape (amigos work for me sometimes...)
several rolls of regular masking tape (to tape cables or other stuff out of the way)
2 cases of caulk
1 box o' rags
10 nets for straining paint for airless
1 quart of airless lube
1 airless repair kit
extra RAC Switch tips
1 doz power roller covers
2 quart tubs of spackle
2 tubs of wood putty
1 can mineral sprirts
1 big box of trash bags
2 cleanup sponges (scrubber on one side)
at least 12 roller covers (9 inch) several 18" roller covers
1 box of 6 mil plastic 10'x100'
about 6 new assorted sizes of plastic drops
I use 1 mil for covering furniture, and 6 mil for everything else
1 Folder of various sandpaper
(It usually has about 200 sheets in it ranging from 30 grit to 200 grit)
1 box of sandpaper (various) for the orbital (cut up already)
1 5 gal bucket of Structolite (for plaster repair)
1 18 lb bag of setting plaster
3 100 unit containers of flat razors
3 100 unit containers of razors-knife razors
1 qt laquer thinner (to strip hardware)
1 5-gal of Kilz or Zinzer
1 ADD-2™ PREVENT MILDEW Mildewcide Additive
Some Peel Away 7
3-4 Tyvek suits for spraying or sanding lead
(hoods and elastic wrists and ankles www.galeton.com)
2 box o' TSP
1 bottle Goo Gone
1 Gal PERMA-WHITE® Mold & Mildew-ProofTM* Exterior Paint

To get an inventory of used items, I have one trash bag for trash,and one for empty consumable containers. That "reminds" me when I'm done what was used...

Oh, and I don't carry all this with me all the time, but this is my checklist...