Coffer ceiling estimate – suggestions?
I’m pitching for any suggestions as to how I should quote for installing coffer ceilings – sq/ft, linear or by pieces? I’ve finished 3 different ceilings in one house; all of them with a ‘beam and cross-member’ design. One was a simple flat lay install with 2 different thickness, another was a flat lay with a small trim lining each box and the other was a 8″ box beam and 6″ box cross members with 3/8 reveal at bottom. It is hard to judge how much time I had spent on it since I was constantly interrupted by other tradesmen.
Veterans, your input is valued. Thanks!
glen
Replies
Greetings Glen,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. ~ Drinking Rum
I appreciate your thoughtfulness!
Take care!
glen
Glen
Can you guestimate your time spent on the ceilings that you did do? And can you try to come up with some time frame that you think it will take to do the one your biding?
Nobody on here is going to be able to properly guess your time for you.
Doug
Nobody on here is going to be able to properly guess your time for you.
Thanks for replying Doug, but to answer your questions please reread my post:
"I'm pitching for any suggestions as to how I should quote for installing coffer ceilings - sq/ft, linear or by pieces? I've finished 3 different ceilings in one house; all of them with a 'beam and cross-member' design. One was a simple flat lay install with 2 different thickness, another was a flat lay with a small trim lining each box and the other was a 8" box beam and 6" box cross members with 3/8 reveal at bottom. It is hard to judge how much time I had spent on it since I was constantly interrupted by other tradesmen."
I was hoping that some veterans could give me some advise as to how they would normally price coffers - whether it be by square footage, linear feet, piece work, etc.
glen
I'm just a DIYer, but seems to me that there are so many variables it's hard to come up with a formula. If the "coffers" are just strips of wood nailed to the ceiling then pricing by the foot would seem reasonable. For more complex situations pricing by the number of crosses (which approximately ratios with the number of pieces you'll cut/fasten) would probably come closer.
I doubt that Doug@es has any reading comprehension problems, Glen. Ease up on the read my lips crap. You didn't say whether the interruptions were a few minutes or a few days. If minutes, couldn't you have found something else to do that was job related. If days, your time sheets should show that. You already stated that each ceiling was different. Different details take different time. This work would fall under the heading of custom work for me. I would do my best to detail out my time based on the type of coffer and how many parts and pieces were involved. As with any job, I would look at all my expenses, scaffolding, travel, where I could set up my tools, etc. I often look at such jobs based on what I think I can accomplish in a day. If you have already done several styles, you should have a pretty good idea what each component takes. I don't see a square foot price making sense across a variety of types of installation. Keep better records and you will have some information for the next similar job.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match