I'm not saying he's wrong to take so much time to estimate it or talk with the client, I'm just trying to save him some time.
We used to spend quite a bit of time estimating jobs also but after a while we figured out a system to do them faster. I'd try to explain it but it would probably take 90 minutes to do so..lol
But, Now that he's taken that time to measure every square foot of lumber on this job he may be able to use that information to come up with a faster method. In this case he came up with:
floor averages a total of 699 square feet. the railings and spindles avereage 108 linear feet. charging $1.50 per square foot on deck = $1048.50
rails and spindles at 108 linear feet at $2.50 per foot = $270.00
Now using a sliding scale formula and taking those figures and his pricing scale, I would have bid it around $1,398.00 Keep in mind though I can't take the PITA factor into effect from his description and I don't know the elevation of the deck, how dry it is, if it will need extra sealer, plants around it or any lattice either so the price could vary by as much as $200 up or down.. If it was easy access with no lattice or ponds/pools nearby that would probably be close to what others would charge. |