Page 17 - March 2024 SRG Flipbook

Slippery Rock Gazette
April 2024 | 17
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Maintenance Corner
Maintenance Corner
Pricing Tips: Don’t Undervalue Your Work
INthis article I would like to cover a few topics that many restoration professionals encounter and deal with on
a routine basis.
First, I wanted to take a moment to cel-
ebrate my 30th Anniversary to my lovely wife, Julie! Also, to brag on the latest addi- tion to my family. I now have a grandson, in addition to my beautiful granddaugh- ter! He is named after me, as is my grand- daughter. His name is Murrell and her name is Bobby. I am such a blessed Bob-O (grandpa)! Life is good.
What is the going rate for restoration ser- vices? I get asked that question all the time. There are many factors to consider when responding to that question. Location is an important factor when considering this. If you’re doing restoration work in New York City, many costs are considerably higher than in Knoxville, Tennessee. Labor costs more, taxes cost more, fuel costs more, local regulations and codes are probably much stricter, which also increases costs.
As an example of this, and at the time of this writing, gas prices in Knoxville were about $2.79 per gallon, and trending up. I would venture to say that gas in New York City is probably on its way to double that. Obviously, the labor rates are much higher in NYC than in Knoxville, too. Codes and regulations? Fuhgeddaboudit...
Back in the day, I used to advise that as an average, restoration contractors should be charging approximately $1 per step, per square foot. Lippage removal would be $2/ step/ square foot. So, for example, on a fairly easy-to-work marble (Crema Marfil, for example) with mild to moderate lippage (which is pretty rare actually, as its usually moderate to severe), you might have 7-8 steps. Starting with lippage removal (40-50 grit LT metal-bonds), you would then prog- ress to 60 grit resin, 120 grit resin, 220 grit resin, 400 grit resin, and maybe 800 grit resin. After the lippage removal and hon- ing phases were satisfactorily completed, polishing with Majestic 5X Gold would be the next step. Finally, the optional step of impregnating/sealing would be last.
Bob Murrell
M3 Technologies
Photos by Bob Murrell
Out celebrating my 30th Anniversary
with Julie. Life is good!
Therefore, in the above scenario, $2 for the lippage removal plus $1 for each of the additional steps (7 steps = $7) would equal to a $9 per square foot price. That is all good, until you factor in how complex the project might be. For example, consider what would be necessary to do the edging. In the above scenario, if the floor is square or similar, the edging would just be part of the $9/square foot price and you should be fine with your quote. However, if you have alcoves, columns, or other added edge- work, that $9/ square foot may be inade- quate. In other words, if the edge work is exceedingly difficult, the $9 per square foot price should probably be increased to make up for the added time required to finish the edges.
The above process is a general overview of a common project for restoration con- tractors. There are always other factors to consider. Factors like: how far away (travel time) is the project? Is the client difficult to do business with? Is the project up 3 flights of stairs? You get the picture. Also, con- sider things like the larger the project, the more efficient you can be. Smaller proj- ects are very often harder and more costly to complete. Do you have to remove your
Notice all of the extra edgework because of the complex alcoves and extra walls.
equipment every day, or can you leave it on site, and can it be safely stored while unattended? Is your water source eas- ily accessible? Do you have to collect all wastewater (slurry, etc.) and dispose of off-site? What about adequate and unin- terrupted electrical service? How hard will surrounding sensitive areas be to mask off or protect?
It gets even more complicated. What about stairs and countertops? Going around toilets in small areas –and you will be doing this at some point – is tedious and takes more time than straight floor work. There are many aspects of a project to con- sider. These must all be calculated in, if you want to turn a profit, that is. It is not easy. If it was, anybody could do it, right?
Nowadays, I am recommending more and more, that charging a straight day rate is easier to calculate and invoice. There is less itemizing involved, at least on paper. You will still have to physically examine the project site and consider the same fac- tors as discussed above. All of the same issues will still be in play. You will have to calculate and estimate the amount of time (days) of work necessary to complete the project.
Please turn to page 18
Typical lippage removal to pre-polish: LT lippage discs and TX Triple Thick
resin diamond discs, from 60 grit to 800 grit.