Deck Pricing

[acaudill]

Just wondering what would be the lowest that you would charge a square foot on decks.

The reason that I ask is that the other day I bid on a deck 388 square feet. 12 steps and about 30 spindles. When I called them back I told them I think 400.00. They said no cause someone had underbid me with 150.00.

thanks

 

[PressureForce]

Man I posted a similar question in another thread - and am very wary of the pricing. Some say good money is to be made, but when 90% of your billed time seems to be competing with any julio and a paint brush - how can you not run into that?

Maybe I am missing something, but I could not imagine doing even a tiny deck in less than 4 - 5 hours. To clean and seal that is.

 

[5 Star Johnny]

Pricing-Pricing-Pricing

The question "what should I charge for deck work" is only a portion of the matter at hand. "How do I compete against the lowballer?" is more the question to be answered.

acaudill - You were bidding roughly $1.00 sq. ft. If this is a clean & seal, it's not enough. I don't know what the condition of the deck is (existing failed finish, fungus, elevated deck, obstructions, surrounding foliage, etc.) so it's difficult to determine how much work will go into restoring it. Also, unless you're using a sealer that can be applied to wet wood, you have another trip, set-up & tear down. So Larry Low-Baller is going to get the job for $150.00. Let him have at it and let the customer get what they paid for. I suggest following up with that customer after the work to see if they were happy. Sometimes they realize before the work's done that they hired the wrong guy and your persistence could pay off.

I realize that for those of you that either don't do decks now, or are considering starting, are simply trying to make an intelligent decision without wasting your time. I assume you have at least practiced on your deck, or a family or friends. Check into available certification programs for exterior wood restoration. Once you have a handle on the proper process & products, you have a fighting chance to add a profitable service.

I'll say it again - DIFFERENTIATION. PressureForce - You obviously have a handle on the other services you offer, and no doubt you compete against low price competitors. So how do you get work? By being the cheapest or by your reputation and work quality? Yes, I know we all have to "tweek" our pricing once in a while to get the work if we perceive it's a good business decision. It's no different with deck work. Once you can approach a deck job with the confidence that your work is as good or better than the other guy's, you take away the pricing element. Of course you have to remain competitive and within market acceptance for pricing, but with proper marketing, better service/quality, you have a fighting chance to demand more $$ and make more profit.

Good Luck

 

[Mathew Johnson]

The question "what should I charge for deck work" is only a portion of the matter at hand. "How do I compete against the lowballer?" is more the question to be answered.

acaudill - You were bidding roughly $1.00 sq. ft. If this is a clean & seal, it's not enough. I don't know what the condition of the deck is (existing failed finish, fungus, elevated deck, obstructions, surrounding foliage, etc.) so it's difficult to determine how much work will go into restoring it. Also, unless you're using a sealer that can be applied to wet wood, you have another trip, set-up & tear down. So Larry Low-Baller is going to get the job for $150.00. Let him have at it and let the customer get what they paid for. I suggest following up with that customer after the work to see if they were happy. Sometimes they realize before the work's done that they hired the wrong guy and your persistence could pay off.

I realize that for those of you that either don't do decks now, or are considering starting, are simply trying to make an intelligent decision without wasting your time. I assume you have at least practiced on your deck, or a family or friends. Check into available certification programs for exterior wood restoration. Once you have a handle on the proper process & products, you have a fighting chance to add a profitable service.

I'll say it again - DIFFERENTIATION. PressureForce - You obviously have a handle on the other services you offer, and no doubt you compete against low price competitors. So how do you get work? By being the cheapest or by your reputation and work quality? Yes, I know we all have to "tweek" our pricing once in a while to get the work if we perceive it's a good business decision. It's no different with deck work. Once you can approach a deck job with the confidence that your work is as good or better than the other guy's, you take away the pricing element. Of course you have to remain competitive and within market acceptance for pricing, but with proper marketing, better service/quality, you have a fighting chance to demand more $$ and make more profit.

Good Luck

I agree... Our price for decks are high 1.25-1.50 per sq foot plus 4$ per step Plus sealer of clients choice - We use and stock ready seal when we can. I took a wood cert class and it cut my deck time 60 percent. My lowest deck job this year is 119.00 (Cleaning only) and my highest is 2165.00 plus sealer... I tell the customer that I am not the cheapest and If you are not happy... the labor is on me... I haven't got stuck yet.

Tips to help with your marketing and selling the service:

1) show up to do the bid with a moisture meter and a test kit in hand (a Spray bottle of Stripper, one of neutralizer and one of H20, and a small scrub brush)

2) Ask permission to do a moisture check and permission to do a test area; then lay down the stripper to a small area . (explain to them that you like to get a baseline reading for moisture so that you can insure a quality product and retest the area prior to sealing)

3) While the stripper is working... Hand them your portfollio with before and after pics to look at while you evaluate the job and do the bid.

4) Look the area over well and plan the job... Work up the quote

5) Have them present when you rinse off the stripper and apply the neutralizer... let them see the brightening first hand... you will close the job.


As far as speed.... We lay the stripper and neutralizer down with a power sprayer. We seal with the same. Average time to strip med size deck = 1 hour, time to seal = 1.5 hours maybe 2 if a lot of spindles / plants and so on.

See before and after pics on our website www.pwscleaning.com

Hope this helps

 

[acaudill]

They are just wanting it stripped down. I tried to get them to seal it but they said it really didn't make that big of a difference. And it looks like thats what was done last year.


Thank for the help.

 

[CaroliProWash]

Well now I am getting a bit confused here. First post was looking for pricing on a strip and stain and questioned $150 bid. End of this thread you have indicated that the deck was stripped last year and nothing was put back....therefore you aren't looking at a stain but simply a wash and no sealant. The $150 guy was right about on target for that service. What you need to explain is that your bid included the prep for staining and application of the stain/sealant, which is why you were over 2 times higher than the poor guy that has been labeled a lowballer. Or did I miss something?

Celeste

 

[TheHoodGuy]

I wouldn't touch that deck for under $800.

 

[CaroliProWash]

$800 for a wash or for a strip and stain?

 

[TheHoodGuy]

$800 would be for the whole ball of wax, strip, brighten seal. I wasn't sure what he was asking for. Just cleaning would be about $200.00

 

[acaudill]

so how much do you all charge a square foot just clean a deck?

 

[Mathew Johnson]

.50 horizontal railing - 125.00 minimum

.75 Spindle railing - 125.00 minimum