Pricing Decks

[Pete Marentay]

OK, people, let's have some fun. Let's talk price. Let's talk decks.

Every year I post a recommendation to raise prices in January. This year I did not because the economy has people a little edgy about that sort of thing. At the same time, professionals still need to command a fair price for their work, and I want as many people as possible to chime in and talk about it.

We all need to be talking the same language, so let's forget that '$2+ per square foot' stuff because that is meant to apply to the entire job figured by the square footage of the floor alone. I teach the $2+ number as a double-check for a carefully figured bid. Let's instead just talk about real "per square foot" pricing including materials and labor.

When I sold my company in 2005, I was getting about $1.25 to $1.35 per square foot for every square foot of wood on the job. I counted railings as if they were solid "square feet", so every running foot of railing had 6 square feet (three on the inside and three on the outside).

In 2010, that should translate to between $1.45 to $1.75 per square foot.

So, what should an experienced professional in a mid-sized market be charging this year for decks?

 

[joshuabcrutcher]

My 2 cents on decks... Deck are one of our favorite things to do. However, decks can be the most time consuming, too. With that in mind, it is not worth it for us - and I would guess most - to chase decks at cheap prices. We have ONLY focused on quality which includes sanding decks as well. This way when our price is high, the customer doesn't mind because they know what kind of work they will be getting. We may sniff $1.25 on a flat deck barely off the ground... Other than that, we are much higher.

 

[kcpowerclean]

I wish we had more decks out here. I've only done two decks in my almost 4 years of business.

 

[Greg Rentschler]

I'll say a average for a unsealed or simple strip falls in the 1.70 mark based on what you stated above. Since everyone measures everything up a little different it's hard to compare numbers. I for instance bill my sealer as a seperate number apart from the per sq ft price where as many other price it in. We've had jobs go for as much as $6 a sq ft too .... so many variables.

I'm hoping to knock out 500 or more this season - have some good condo jobs lining up plus all the resi's and maint recoats.

 

[offdutyfireman]

I have never measured a deck or priced one by the square foot, but average a few hundred a year. Most are priced over the phone, based on the details the customer provides.

 

[Pete Marentay]

The most important thing about posting this kind of info is to inform new contractors. Maybe we can keep a few from becoming low-ballers because of a lack of information. Even the guys who voted with a low figure in this poll are probably going to re-look at what they are doing and what they are leaving on the table.

My vote would be to have an active ongoing pricing survey online - for the good of the industry. My only concern would be charges of "price fixing".

 

[junker1]

I have never measured a deck or priced one by the square foot, but average a few hundred a year. Most are priced over the phone, based on the details the customer provides.

you must give an guesstamit over the phone right, and the actual price when you see it?

 

[Ed Thompson]

Decks give us the biggest headache. Its tough to teach salesman all the variables as to not get caught in a snafu. We outsource the staining. We charge by estimated time. Roughly $175/hr

 

[junker1]

If I was to charge 175 an hour at this stage of my game I would never get a job

 

[KGILL]

Pete, I know the thread is old and the poll is closed but when you put these prices up did you mean price for the whole process (stripping, cleaning, neutralizing and staining) or are you talking about only getting it prepaired for staining?

 

[junker1]

when i price it out I include everything, which from what i have read is how most do it also. Every deck is different so all the prices are different.

 

[Seymore_BlEaCh]

View attachment 21309View attachment 21310

when i price it out I include everything, which from what i have read is how most do it also. Every deck is different so all the prices are different.

Cleaning cost vary depending on what needs to be done IE: stripping or just a light cleaning then stain.So cleaning cost I'll estimate my hours and materials and it's a set price. I'll break down the cleaning separate from staining /sqft for decks and Lft. for fences. Staining prices normally stay the same unless it's a 10 yr old deck/fence that soaks up lots of stain.

 

[bigchaz]

Nice job Steven, thats some good looking wood

 

[junker1]

thanks Charlie, I am glad you like it, comeing from the deck master that means a lot. Not where i want to be yet, gonna get there though.

 

[Ron Musgraves]

OK, people, let's have some fun. Let's talk price. Let's talk decks.

Every year I post a recommendation to raise prices in January. This year I did not because the economy has people a little edgy about that sort of thing. At the same time, professionals still need to command a fair price for their work, and I want as many people as possible to chime in and talk about it.

We all need to be talking the same language, so let's forget that '$2+ per square foot' stuff because that is meant to apply to the entire job figured by the square footage of the floor alone. I teach the $2+ number as a double-check for a carefully figured bid. Let's instead just talk about real "per square foot" pricing including materials and labor.

When I sold my company in 2005, I was getting about $1.25 to $1.35 per square foot for every square foot of wood on the job. I counted railings as if they were solid "square feet", so every running foot of railing had 6 square feet (three on the inside and three on the outside).

In 2010, that should translate to between $1.45 to $1.75 per square foot.

So, what should an experienced professional in a mid-sized market be charging this year for decks?

This was a Huge Poll