Most of us bid tiling by the sq ft. That's great on mid to large sized rooms, but how do most of you bid for all the extra/odd cuts when doing small areas?
Bidding tile
D and D
21 - 39 of 39 Posts
Joined
·
20,832 Posts
If your method works and is profitable for you, there is no arguing. However, I don't agree with that process. It's not your fault there is only 1.5 baths. If you are held to only working 4 hour days that's their restrictions on you. Do you think they'd be happy if you chose to do a job only working 4 hours per day? Heck no. Especially, if one of the HO's has to take time off work...that would not be acceptable.
There is a fine line in honoring a customer's request. I get that being without a bathroom is horribly inconvenient. However, there are ways to work around that. You could finish quicker for a bit more $ in materials. You could sell the job by speed (no inconvenience) and not just your tiling abilities.
No two situations are going to be identical but you get what I'm saying, right? Maybe 1 family will give you free reign to the bath so you don't have to worry about temporary access. Maybe the next HO needs daily access, no questions asked. Would you still bid both jobs the same?
Joined
·
734 Posts
What about tile,prep,sealing,etc. I can lay tile too,but for your price I think your hired. When I do afloor its waaay more than that. Angus is right its got to be based on all your costs, including time. There is just to many factors to have sq ft price. You can ball park sq ft for your time,but that only works for a set of known circumstances.Floormasta78 said:
Joined
·
734 Posts
I've actually rented a porta- john for a customer once while doing his bath.angus242 said:
When was the last time you looked at the exchange rate? :whistling
"Even-steven" amigo...we were actually ahead of you guys a little while back.
Not that it matters to me, but some of our manufacturing sector is not liking it very much. Hard to keep "selling to the south" when your paying the same overhead but your "actual" price has increased by 15 or 20%.
I have a pretty good relationship going on with the folks at Dal, here in Edmonton.
Buy lots of "orange stuff" from them...
Cheers, Ron
Just got the "gist" of your post...of course...our buck goes up and the margin narrows.
Still..I picked up six bags of 253 this morning and the bill came to < $90, GST included.
Joined
·
20,832 Posts
That's what I was referring to.....
Laticrete pricing sucks around me. Well at least compared to Mapei at Dal. I am in the backyard of a Mapei manufacturing facility.
Joined
·
1,637 Posts
No guys , I get 253 at 13.50 a bag . I flip it for 20 to 30 a bag..
I buy my Mapei stuff elsewhere (when I use it). Really only buying levellers and K/K recently. My Kerabond price is bargain basement at Tierra Sol but the additive comes from "elsewhere"...Tierra Sol will not move on my Keralastic price, even though I've put dozens of clients through their showroom in the last couple of years.That's what I was referring to.....
Laticrete pricing sucks around me. Well at least compared to Mapei at Dal. I am in the backyard of a Mapei manufacturing facility.![Image]()
Ah...the joy's of being "yer own dog".:laughing:
Cheers, Ron
Time and place for square foot pricing! In our shop we have "by the hour" labour rates for any levelling , ply , sheet membrane, and tear out. Its not a perfect situation . I like the thought of giving the customer a price and that's it. We have recently ( since I've been on this forum) come up with per job pricing for areas like, backsplash, shower, fire place,etc. Thumbsup!
Joined
·
6,921 Posts
I get what your saying and only use it as a base figure... in the big picture I think it sucks that the general public is looking for that pricing due to large companies and box stores promoting that scale of pricing, much like the "free estimate" epidemic...angus242 said:
I never shout out a price over the phone, I always look and survey and sit down for awhile to figure it all out
Joined
·
1,637 Posts
Backslash min.. Starts at 700 .00 for 2x3, 2x2 , 2 x 3.. Small kitchen.. Up to 1,600.00 .. Any design.. Labor only..
it is very difficult to price it by the sq.ft. every job has different circumstances. Some farther than the others, some difficult access, some elevators, working hour restrictions etc. You can not charge the same for a kitchen near your home in first floor vs 30 mile on 3rd or 30th floor kitchen in highrise. Maybe you can...but it is not smart.
my minimum labor per day is 5 double o"s. But I work strictly referral jobs.
I have to confess;some jobs I have estimated more days than it actually took to finish. Customer already knows what will be coming out his pocket, but when the days were less than 3-4, I just lowered their bill, quite a big surprise for them, but get me more jobs.
BTW I've just seen today a big sign in front of HD: 99 cents ceramic tile installations:laughing:good luck:whistling
my minimum labor per day is 5 double o"s. But I work strictly referral jobs.
I have to confess;some jobs I have estimated more days than it actually took to finish. Customer already knows what will be coming out his pocket, but when the days were less than 3-4, I just lowered their bill, quite a big surprise for them, but get me more jobs.
BTW I've just seen today a big sign in front of HD: 99 cents ceramic tile installations:laughing:good luck:whistling
Thanks everyone for the replies. I guess my problem with the bidding is everybody is starting to see the pricing from the big box stores @ $2.99 sq ft (like Tech Dawg said) or whatever they charge. They think they can get away with paying that for smaller bathrooms with toilets set in seperate rooms (= more cuts). 
Then you have to figure prep time, I just don't see how they can quote such a low price?!?
Just curious what everyone's thoughts were. Thanks again. :thumbup:
Then you have to figure prep time, I just don't see how they can quote such a low price?!?Just curious what everyone's thoughts were. Thanks again. :thumbup:
Joined
·
2,962 Posts
On anything for under 100 sq ft I bid by hour at 45-60 an hour for minimum of 350 for me to come out and unpack my tools.
Over 100 I bid 3 to 4 a sq ft on ceramic,porcelain and slate or 5 a sq ft for marble,granite.
Remember thats JUST TILE...subtrade extra...removal of old is extra.
In commercial I base my rate on 4 a sq ft for 500 and up or 5 a sq ft for under 500 sq ft.
I find tiling being way too tedious to be lowballed.
Edit: get in touch with your tile suppliers..I am lucky enough to be supplied my marble,slate and granite from place called Mario's Stone and Tile...I just measure everything and stuff comes precut
Over 100 I bid 3 to 4 a sq ft on ceramic,porcelain and slate or 5 a sq ft for marble,granite.
Remember thats JUST TILE...subtrade extra...removal of old is extra.
In commercial I base my rate on 4 a sq ft for 500 and up or 5 a sq ft for under 500 sq ft.
I find tiling being way too tedious to be lowballed.
Edit: get in touch with your tile suppliers..I am lucky enough to be supplied my marble,slate and granite from place called Mario's Stone and Tile...I just measure everything and stuff comes precut
Joined
·
6,921 Posts
Square footage pricing does not do justice for guys like us although, you can screw yourself either way :laughing:
Around here, box stores promote $4.00 per sq but you have to buy their tile... as a comparison, I could match their install price but they would make 4x more than me, so I just don't match their price or openly charge that way. The only thing you can do is promote a more custom job and charge what your worth :clap:
Around here, box stores promote $4.00 per sq but you have to buy their tile... as a comparison, I could match their install price but they would make 4x more than me, so I just don't match their price or openly charge that way. The only thing you can do is promote a more custom job and charge what your worth :clap:
Joined
·
2,962 Posts
4 a sq ft just labor..i cant be responsible for customers taste...they pick tile i add it to price
Joined
·
2,307 Posts
What I have been adhering to lately is the minimum, currently at a half day. I may soon make it a full day on all but the smallest item.Thanks everyone for the replies. I guess my problem with the bidding is everybody is starting to see the pricing from the big box stores @ $2.99 sq ft (like Tech Dawg said) or whatever they charge. They think they can get away with paying that for smaller bathrooms with toilets set in seperate rooms (= more cuts).
Just curious what everyone's thoughts were. Thanks again. :thumbup:
Somebody wants you to come do a small job, what if it takes an hour or two but blows out the next full day+ of work to tomorrow. or even takes all of a half day but shoots sandwiching a second small job due to travel and set up?
Essentially I am going to bid the job not just at my actual cost but also factor in my lost opportunity cost.
Definitely minimums.
Joined
·
2,595 Posts
Charge by the time you think it will take. Too many variables to go by the sq/ft.
Reminds me of a GC that asked me to estimate a tile job "for stone". Which type of stone ???.... slate, polished marble, tumbled marble, mosaic,large size, diagonal,.......... Could you be a little more specific?
Reminds me of a GC that asked me to estimate a tile job "for stone". Which type of stone ???.... slate, polished marble, tumbled marble, mosaic,large size, diagonal,.......... Could you be a little more specific?
Now that makes sense...:jester:
Guess I just didn't follow the "value added" part of your process...
Cheers, Ron
21 - 39 of 39 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
