house staining - any exterior painters here ?

07/08/2009 03:23:08 PM · #1

i've been painting for a woman ( interior ) and just about finished with what she needs done. although she's now asked that i stain the outside of the house. happy customer :)

it's a good sized colonial style house - three stories on one end/corner - two the rest of it.

someone quoted her $3000 materials and labor - and i'm thinking that's pretty low. prep for the product she wants to use is sand with 100g paper, wash with sodium hydroxide, then neutralize the cleaner with another product. ( she also has flower gardens all around the house - against the house ). the product she wants for stain is around $40/gallon.

oh the finish is penetrating stain. not sure what was applied previously.

i charged her $15/hour for the interior ( pretty cheap IMO, i'm neat, quick, and good ), and figured 100 hrs plus for the exterior, but that was w/o seeing the prep involved.

can anyone throw out a ballpark figure for say a 2500-3000 sq/ft house ( i'm guessing at that based on the size of our house... i'll measure it when the rain stops )?

i know it's a long shot here - but i trust most that hang around here...

thanks

Message edited by author 2009-07-08 15:30:26.

Ivo

07/08/2009 03:37:27 PM · #2

I used to have a construction company and we refinished a heap of century homes looking to get painting /staining done. Its a tough one to quote and do properly on a tight budget.

That is the key point here and should be emphasized.

I'd approach the project in such a manner where you help her select and create a material list, define the scope of the project detailing aspects like her plants, etc. Let her be responsible for the materials and you provide the work based upon a reasonable estimation of hours, with flexibility of course.

This will demonstrate your eagerness to do the best job and be as fair as possible. If you are satisfied with your hourly rate, it should be a good deal for her and one heck of a relief for you! Too many variables with exteriors and unless you are anxious to hit her with extra charges, I'd say to stick with the route I suggest.

Hope that helps.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/08/2009 05:34:01 PM · #3

Originally posted by Ivo:

I'd approach the project in such a manner where you help her select and create a material list, define the scope of the project detailing aspects like her plants, etc. Let her be responsible for the materials and you provide the work based upon a reasonable estimation of hours, with flexibility of course.

Ivo

07/08/2009 05:41:53 PM · #4

Originally posted by soup:

this is exactly what i am doing - and how i've handled exterior paint/stain jobs in the past ( long time ago ).

she figured $1500 for labor, and i think that - given the prep - is low - so i explained that to her this afternoon ( via email ).

we'll see how it goes i guess - she respects my work, and me personally - so i feel it will work out in the end.

i was hoping to bring her some light to the situation - based on others quotes/experiences.

Originally posted by Ivo:
I'd approach the project in such a manner where you help her select and create a material list, define the scope of the project detailing aspects like her plants, etc. Let her be responsible for the materials and you provide the work based upon a reasonable estimation of hours, with flexibility of course.

If she quoted you $1500 in labor. Give $1500 worth of labor. This way you wont be stuck for the materials if she values things differently than you. Her price sensitivity may be an indication of potential dificulites going forward.

If you scrape, you fill and then repair and replace boards and encounter rot and critters and ... and .... and... It was a long time ago but the last similar sized home we did came in close to $8000 CDN about 15 years ago. Originally quoted at half that.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

07/08/2009 06:02:57 PM · #5

I assume you are talking about an opaque stain? Semi trans on old materials with varying absorption rates is going to make a blotchy finished product and cost over runs. What is the total footage involved, and the linear feet of boundary conditions? Given a biggish sized colonial with shingle or clapboard, I would estimate the prep work and clean up labor at more than the 100 man hours you are looking at. At $15 per hour you don't have a lot of cushion to make nice if she isn't happy at the end of the day.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

07/09/2009 04:09:11 PM · #6

i appreciate the feed back. she's a friend of the family. wants things done right, and is willing to pay to have it done right. no arguements to ensue there. not price sensitive - she was just working off another quote from a carpenter ( not a painter ).

she is looking to use a transparent penetrating stain. natural tone - no pigment. last time it was done - too long ago - was with CWF ( made by flood ).

roughly 2500-3000sq/ft - i measured the perimeter this afternoon - and based a story at 10' - then estimated up a bit ( 10% ).

prep shouldn't be too bad. likely answer is pressure wash the place.

siding is rough milled cedar. pretty dry at the moment...

she's buying the materials, or buying what i tell her to, or i'll buy them with a check of hers.

the rot and the critters - well i don't know about that. the carpenter i mentioned is replacing the rot, and has scoped the whole house - so that doesn't fall in my court... nor does it fall in the cost of staining the place.

we're still talking about the different options for product, and cost. she is willing to negotiate cost - because she trusts me.

undieyatch

Olympus E-10

07/09/2009 09:31:07 PM · #7

I think the exterior prep may possibly require a few more steps than you have noted.
Flood's CWF - a penetrating coating, contains quite a bit of paraffin, which may darken and yellow w/age, and often is difficult to clean off.
Pressure washing alone may not achieve the optimum result - an exterior house cleaner may also be required. I would use one anyway to more easily remove mildew and also brighten the wood.
Make sure after the wood is pressure washed and cleaned that your surface is completely dry before applying your transparent penetrating stain.
I personally like the relatively expensive Cabot siding & deck stains - especially Australian Timber Oil That product seems to have very good longevity, and contains linseed oil and also tung oil.

07/09/2009 11:52:02 PM · #8

the cabot dealer i spoke to today - didn't recommend the timber oil for the cedar siding.
but did suggest another cabot product. both products suggest recoating after a season or two. so i question your longevity theory.

can you be more specific ?

the biggest issue with washing the place down is the flower gardens she has against the whole perimeter of the house.

Originally posted by undieyatch:

I personally like the relatively expensive Cabot siding & deck stains - especially Australian Timber Oil That product seems to have very good longevity, and contains linseed oil and also tung oil.

Message edited by author 2009-07-09 23:53:05.