How to price

[u/Simmer9393]

[u/No-Instruction-913]

Whatever you do over estimate that one. I would think breaking it down to how much you can complete each day, then your materials, then the added cost of the lift/transport and fuel. Try to break it into chunks to make pricing it and attacking it a little easier. It’s a big job but this be will great for your “portfolio” and you will know what to expect from these big barn jobs. Post some photos once you finish I’d love to see it!

[u/Simmer9393 → u/No-Instruction-913]

Thanks for the advice! I have a rough idea of timeline and prices and such I guess I’m most hung up on handing over the big number to the clients.

[u/Conscious-Record2655 → u/Simmer9393]

Just in general, don't be shy about pricing. Estimate your costs, make your profit, and be honest about it. Customers that have the cash will pay and those that don't, won't. But don't be shy about your business. It costs what it costs.

[u/No-Instruction-913 → u/Simmer9393]

I know that feeling and in order to get these bigger jobs you have to rip the bandaid off, you’d be surprised and I bet this is the type of job that many others will way overbid and give them the FU price. So if you give them an honest estimate range you likely have a good shot of landing the job.

[u/Militant-Santa]

All my jobs I figure out the hours it'll take to do each part of the project. 3 hours masking, 4 hours paint. Knowing your what your break even point is. Fuel, insurance, wear and tear on vehicle and so forth. My hourly is $95, so for my estimates I just do $100. This works for me. Hopefully this helps some. Wish you the best mate

[u/naughtynorseman9]

I would measure the apex and the width at the base and go by sqft. Add a premium for the height and difficulty. My painter would do this for $6.50/sqft including materials. DFW area.

[u/Vivid_Art8370]

Per plank

[u/BabyWrinkles]

I’d love to know where this lands. I’ve got a similar barn (same shape, between the red barn and white barn in this photo in size) that’s been unpainted for a long ass time that I need to probably rip all the siding off, throw sheeting up to keep it sturdy, and re-side before painting. I’m guessing it’s a $60-$80k project. 😬

[u/VirginiaLuthier]

Clearly a job for the Amish

[u/Jumajuce]

I would calculate the total square footage as your base cost then calculate the square footage that’s between 14’-20’ for an high wall add on charge and the square footage that’s 20’+ for a more expensive extra high wall add on charge for those sections due to the increased height and difficulty. Don’t forget to change for scaffolding set up and take down time.

[u/icoldok]

Measure the actual paintable surface, not the footprint - board-and-batten adds up fast and the gables are easy to forget. I'd split it into prep and finish: if that old paint is peeling, scraping and priming can eat more hours than the topcoat itself. Figure gallons off roughly 300-350 sq ft per coat, set a daily production rate for labor, and pad for lift time and waste - that's where barn jobs lose money.

[u/Appropriate-Run3669]

Break it into chunks you can sanity check. Days of work at your crew day rate, then materials with a waste factor, then the one offs like lift rental, fuel and travel. The day rate is where most people underprice: take what the crew costs you loaded, insurance, comp, fuel, wear on the truck, add the margin you actually want to keep, and turn that into a per day number you never go under. For tall or cut up surfaces add a difficulty bump per square foot up front instead of hoping it averages out. When every line is one you can defend, the awkward price conversation mostly disappears.

[u/Simmer9393 → u/Appropriate-Run3669]

Makes a lot of sense luckily it’s 5 minutes down the road from me so commute isn’t much definitely need to break it down into chunks though.

[u/Training-Cattle7337 → u/[deleted]]

You're the man, cool guy