Replies

1. 
   Mongo_ | Dec 06, 2001 08:41am | #1

   *
   I won't get into productivity estimates, but I will offer that $2 a square foot for installation is a fairly common rate around here for a fairly common job.

1. 
   Rich_Watkins | Dec 06, 2001 02:03pm | #2

   *In my area, N. Western Pa. the market rate for standard installation is $3.00 per sq. ft. plus $2.25 for sand and finish not including flooring material. This includes 15# felt over the subfloor. I install a lot of floors and have noticed recently that the box stores are charging up to $3.50 per sq. ft. for installation. I'm getting little older now but in a wide open room I can bang in 300 ft. a day easy. Picture frames around hearths, door thresholds and closets steal time and are included in my price. Note: check moisture content before installation and let flooring acclimate inside for at least a week.

1. 
   Jimbo | Dec 06, 2001 10:43pm | #3

   *Thanks for the input. I'm not sure if I can hit 300' per day, but the sq. ft. charge rates sound reasonable.

1. 
   piffin_ | Dec 07, 2001 04:20am | #4

   *I do about 25 feet or so per hour with 2-1/2". The 3-1/4" should go a little quicker.

1. 
   Luka_ | Dec 07, 2001 04:45am | #5

   *i I want to be fair to both the neighbor and myself.Do you have a good relationship with the neighbor ? What is it worth to you, to retain a good relationship with him ? Remember, when the job is done, he'll still be your neighbor.With all the things that can go wrong, the misconceptions, the wrong assumptions, the advantages to be taken.... It would almost seem that the best way to be fair to both the neighbor and yourself, is to direct him to a good flooring contractor.

2. 
   Crusty_ | Dec 07, 2001 08:40am | #6

   *Rich, I'm just curious as to how you justify charging $900 a day for your work. And piffin, is $75/hr a typical rate for crafts in your area?

3. 
   Rich_Watkins | Dec 07, 2001 01:57pm | #7

   *Crusty: If you read my post I wrote that is market rate in my area and that is what I charge. As far as $900.00 a day; well I am self employed, my average work day is 11 or 12 hours and I eat lunch at the saw. Factor out additional employees, insurance (both medical and liability), truck payment, workers comp., equipment, a place to keep everything and $900.00 starts to shrink quickly.

4. 
   Rich_Beckman | Dec 07, 2001 04:56pm | #8

   *> I'm just curious as to how you justify charging $900 a day for your workRich has already answered, but the best justification for his charging $900 a day is that he still gets work at that rate, he must be worth it.Charge what the market will bear.Rich Beckman

5. 
   Cloud_Hidden | Dec 07, 2001 05:23pm | #9

   *And remember, he said that was for a wide open room. That's like saying a Nascar car can go 220mph, so a 500 mi race should be over in about 2 hrs. Gotta average the hard parts and pit stops into it! A room with an island, or angles, or god forbid, curves, will drop the productivity dramatically. Thresholds will slow ya down. Closets, ugh. Remember, it's 3/ft, not 900 a day. All depends on his productivity, so more power to him!

6. 
   piffin_ | Dec 08, 2001 02:47am | #10

   *25 ft times $2.50/ft is only 62.50When I'm hourly, it's $38/hr from time I leave the door 'till I leave the job and charge time for figuring and ordering, but I'm not doing flooring by the hour.And I've got enough work to pick my customers.

7. 
   Crusty_ | Dec 11, 2001 08:32am | #11

   *Just yankin' your chain a little, guys. I just figured that 300 ft/day was an "average" day which at $3/ft would be $900/day. But of course it's not an average day (my point, sort of) and 12 hours is certainly not average around here (more like 6 hrs, on a good day).You're exactly right -- if you have plenty of work, then you are not charging too much. Too little, maybe. Helps to plot out "break even" curves for various rates vs. hours worked.

2. 
   Jimbo | Dec 11, 2001 08:32am | #12

   *
   I have a neighbor that's asked for a bid to install 3 1/4 in. Maple hardwood flooring. I've done this type of flooring once in my home a couple of years ago. My question to you all is an estimation of a fair rate of speed i.e. how many sq. feet a day for one guy, using a pneumatic nailer, sub floor is in, no big problems, rooms fairly good size, couple of closets, etc? Give me a workable number, not your best day when the wind was at your back! I want to be fair to both the neighbor and myself. Thanks.