I have a client that wants oak treads and risers over an existing set of stairs. I need to remove the carpet , padding and tack strips cut off the existing nosing, install new oak risers and treads, stain and urethane. The new treads are 1″ we are removing carpet so tread thickness should not be a concern. My question is how do you think I can or should charge? 13 treads 14 risers
Thanks
Tim
Edited 11/9/2008 5:14 pm ET by tkiser
Replies
Charge by the hour, that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. It's probably faster to build a new set of stairs.
Rich
It's not as simple as it sounds. By adding an inch to the treads, you'll effectively be increasing the height of the first (lowest) riser by an inch, while decreasing the height of the top riser by an inch. It may not sound like much but you'll be creating a significant trip hazard (unless you are also raising the surface of the floor at both the top and bottom of the stairs), and of course a code violation.
I doubt anyone here would even begin to suggest how much you should charge for such a project. There are way to many variables that you haven't mentioned.
About 15 years ago I did a job like what you are doing I gave them a flat price on the treads and risers, and charged them by the hour for the labor to install the treads and risers. It took me about two days to do the work. They had an incentive to do what they could to speed things along. They applied all of the finishes.