Hello,
I’ve just completed a ceiling tile job for one of my retail clients. The 6′ diameter circle is called a “formations curves panel kit with ultima vector tiles” by Armstrong ceilings.
The box of tiles for ea circle cost $980.00 One tile was damaged during installation. My supplier (Gypsum Products), tells me that I have to buy an entire carton just to replace that one custom cut “D” shaped tile. I called Armstrong directly, and they referred me back to my supplier.
Is there anyone out there in a similar situation? Wanna go halves on a box of replacement tiles.
Any other ideas? Any discussion forums for ceiling installation companies?
Thanks
David
Replies
This is the product that I am referring to.
I can't see the damage from here. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"
The damage is slight, but noticeable when standing under the cloud. I am going back to the job later today, and will get a picture of the tile. I posted this pic just to show that these aren't your average ceiling tiles. They come precut specifically for the 6' diameter circle. The tiles are 1" thick spun insulation based with a profiled edge. Not easy to replicate in the field.
This client is opening a computer repair store, and there will be computer stations underneath the clouds. So any damage will be easy to see from there.
David
What is the damage? Can it be touched up?
Damage is: Last tile of the install, 11pm at night, running up the ladder with tile in hand, dropping tile on it's corner. Tile has noticeable crease and edge is broken, exposing the insulation. Only visible from up close, but my client deserves a 100% clean install.
The formations is a good product and makes the install easy, with all the parts/ pieces ready to go adn pre- cut. The kit you installed with 4" Axiom edge trim and Ultima tile I would have priced out at under $3000.00 for the one cloud. Goes to show you what the competition is making on them. ML
NO real help here other than a bump.
Just wanted to say: Excellent idea to ask here.
Being an Armstrong Inner Circle contractor. What's the product number?ML
The tile alone is item # 1970 and it is not $1000.00 I can sell it to you for much less than that, plus shipping it will be closer to $500.00. That includes all ceiling panels.ML
The box they came in was Part # 1970, and that did include all the tiles. But I paid and charged my client $980.00 for the shipped cost per carton! That was after checking with the only two Armstrong Ceiling dealers in the Denver Area. I don't buy a lot of ceiling products, so I know I wouldn't get premium pricing, but that is a Huge difference.
David
The product number turned out to be the key. After sifting through several people on the Armstrong tech line, I found one who knew what I needed. Part # 1963 as listed on pg 5 of the instructions that came with the cloud kit. After showing that to my supplier, he was able to get pricing of $55.00 for a carton, with two panels per carton. That means I won't lose money on this job!
It just didn't make sense that they would force you to purchase a whole carton, after all, there will be cabinet installers and electricians making holes in those tiles, and then the end user himself has a good chance of breaking them over the life of the store.
As an Armstrong Inner Circle contractor, what would have been a fair price for this install? My client was quoted $8000.00 for an installed cost by the prominent ceiling contractor in this town. The materials are insanely expensive, but the install was very simple.
Thanks
8K for the 6' radius ceiling and Ultima tile? We are a prominent ceiling contractor and with only 1 cloud? I'd put 2 days to it. 1 day fro grid 1 day for tile even though the tile will be installed in 20 minutes. This whole assembly could also be fabricated from scratch but the Formations is the quick and easy way to go with everything included.My cost on the one "D" tile is just under $35.00
what size edge trim was included?
My client told me the other contractor quoted him 8K for the two clouds. Ten foot ceiling height, Concrete ceiling, 2" profile edge. The instructions could have been better, the templates they sent us were way off. The first cloud took me and my partner 3 hours. The second cloud took us 40 mins. I'd be happy to do these all day long, as it is a lot easier than most of the work I do.
Where do I sign up. 2 of them with 2" my cost would be under $3000.00 total. 5K profit for a 1 day job. I need some of that. Material cost is right at $1650.00 for the 2 of them.ML
That contractor did not get the job. So he didn't make anything. Sounds like he does big jobs and didn't want to mess with two little clouds. So he gave it a ridiculous price. I gave him a reasonable price, thinking how hard could this be? Now, my client is thrilled, I made a reasonable profit, and I learned how to install the cloud formations. I did pay exactly $2080.00 for the two cloud kits with tiles. Do you buy direct from Armstrong, or an Armstrong Distributor.
We buy direct. The direct price for the tile is $140.00 and the grid and edge trim is $560.00. We get a semi trailer load of tile of in just about 2 times/ month.ML
Ask the Architect to check with their Architectural Rep. Sometimes those guys have far more pull -- especially if the ARCH is pizzed. Getting blacklisted from the next couple projects can work as leverage from time to time, depending of course on the product and competition out there.
Fortunately, I got this figured out. My supplier was mistaken when he told me that I needed to purchase a whole carton for a $1000.00. But that is what the Armstrong rep had told him. I had to talk to three different people on the Armstrong support line before I found that I could buy two tiles for $55.00
Whew!