Business Marketing: Estimating Decorative Concrete Jobs
Whether your next job involves stamping, texturing, staining or sealing (or all of the above), working up an estimate requires lots of advance planning. Seasoned contractors agree that if you want to make a profit, you have to take time to consider every factor of the project.
by Christianna McCausland
on decorative concrete than on plain old flatwork. Prices can increase by anywhere from $2 per square foot to as much as $13 per square foot in some states. Your crew will need to be better trained, so you will need to pay them more, but of course you can charge them out at a higher rate as well.
Here are some estimating tips from industry veterans:
A large staining project is generally bid at a lower price per square foot than a single room, says Wes Vollmer, owner of Alternative Finishes in San Antonio, Texas. Other factors to consider: What is the layout of the area? How elaborate is the design? How many colors will you use? Will there be a logo?
Don't bid too low, he says, or you will compromise quality. "It hurts the industry as a whole when guys are staining concrete for $1 or $1.20 per square foot. They have to do it in too much of a hurry."
For stamping, what pattern you are using makes a big difference in how much time you need to allow. The stamps may be difficult to line up and difficult to move. If it's complicated, be sure to allow more time, Vollmer says. Spend time troubleshooting potential problems. Is everything going to line up so it looks good? Also, think in advance about working your control joints into your pattern.
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