Help bidding Deck Staining

[jymie]

Got a call from a customer today about staining his deck and doing spring cleanup & plant some flowers etc. I have a question about staining decks, have not done that as yet, but am adding the service this year. The deck appears to be about 20 x 20 from the overhead shot. How do you bid the deck, by the footage and at what price? What should I use to stain the deck? Is staining enough, should a sealant be applied after the staining? Can that be an upsell? http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r3m...a%20pl%2014075

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. http://www.lunchesruslawncare.com

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Last edited by jymie; 03-14-2011 at 03:50 PM.

[Simpkins]

Lawn care business tips

I'm no deck stainer but I would think you would want to put a sealant on no matter what. As far as bidding the job, it depends on how you are applying the stain I guess. Do you have a deck you could experiment on to get an estimated time? This is what sucks about first adding on a new service, the first few you do may not yield very high profits. I've burnt myself several times.

[Hedgemaster]

From doing my own deck, I would never take on a job doing someone else's unless I planned to make that service a regular thing.

It's a pain in the a$$ if you do it right, and depending on the age, current state of the existing stain, etc., there's more to it than just "spraying some stain on there." For example, if there is still a little bit of waterproofing ability left in the current wood treatment, and you try to just stain "over" it, the stain may not absorb into the wood evenly. Not so bad if using a "clear" stain, but if you use a semi-transparent color, you'll see the difference in color where it couldn't "get into" the pores.

I'm far from an expert, but I've done mine about four times now, and it's a pain.

[The Cleaning Doctor]

You can give me a call with any questions 4064659334 and I will help you bid this. I have done quite a few decks and I can help you with what you need.

What you will find is that the first decks that you do, you will seem to take way too long but there is a learning curve. You will get faster the more you do. I love the WOW! you get when it is all cleaned up.

As far as a sealer..... It is all one product. The stain you apply IS the sealer, there is no need for a second product after the staining. As far as the Prep, that will depend on what is on the deck now.

[jymie]

Originally Posted by The Cleaning Doctor

You can give me a call with any questions 4064659334 and I will help you bid this. I have done quite a few decks and I can help you with what you need.

What you will find is that the first decks that you do, you will seem to take way too long but there is a learning curve. You will get faster the more you do. I love the WOW! you get when it is all cleaned up.

As far as a sealer..... It is all one product. The stain you apply IS the sealer, there is no need for a second product after the staining. As far as the Prep, that will depend on what is on the deck now.

Ok, I will give you a call Tuesday evening say 6pm est if that is ok?

[The Cleaning Doctor]

works for me.

[Steve]

You can give me a call with any questions 4064659334 and I will help you bid this. I have done quite a few decks and I can help you with what you need.

What are some of your words of advise on bidding such jobs?

Any help you can share with us on this job will help others on their jobs too.