No replies yet, so I'll start, and say I don't know what you should have charged, but what did you charge? & how big is it, what kind of paint did you use, and is that a sheet of brown paper inside the glass?
It took me a while to work out the flamey thing was a bike- nice idea! (maybe the front could have been a dark blue, rather than browny?)
Posted by Ralph Kelly (Member # 6087) on :
yes....its a brown paper behind..i projected the image on it..so i didn't have to draw it over...
paint is createx because the sign is temporary i used createx and cleaed it with rattlecan clear...
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
wow . . . that'll be fun for someone to scrape off . . . .
Very festive and colourful, Ralph!
Looks like about'a 3x5 window . . . did'ju get about $225??
Posted by Ralph Kelly (Member # 6087) on :
wow..i need to work on my pricing!!!!!
actually it scrapes off very easy...
only took about 45 min...i charged $50
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
If you spent $45 on buying createx, and $5 on the brown paper (including time & materials markup), then you did it for free (very generous of you, Ralph!)!
45 mins at say $60 + materials means you ought to have charged no less than $100...... does your 45 mins include salesmanship & travel time?
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
I don't do that kinda work..but..I think Sheila is pretty close at $200-$250
I sure wouldn't (even if I could) do it for any less.
Even though you earned $50 for 45 minutes of work, the "value" of the image is worth more than that.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
I got that kind of money for my splashes.... back when I first started in 1969! I haven't done any since the early 80's when I charged a lot more than that... and I suspect prices have gone up a bunch since then.
Don't sweat it though... education always costs money... just learn from the lessons and then charge accordingly.
-grampa dan
Posted by Ralph Kelly (Member # 6087) on :
thats what i need to work on.....my pricing is spartic and unconsistant..i need to set a legtimate price and stick to it...
thanks for the replys
Posted by Jill Marie Welsh (Member # 1912) on :
Ralph, I can't stress the importance of your learning some letterforms. While your inherent talent is obvious, you need to harness it. Get a copy of Mike Steven's Mastering Layout and read it. You already have good color skills. The more you learn, the better you'll be, and the more you can charge! I'm a cheapie and I would have charged at least a Benjamin. Keep on painting....Love.....Jill
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
This is just a question of curiosity . . .
Do y'all charge SOLEY on the amount of on-site time & materials??
Or SOLEY on the 'perceieved value' theory?? (sorry, I still think of this as a theory until more evidence is logically presented)
I try to get $60 an hour in SHOP. I charge more for on-site work, and mark-up all materials.
After I wound up gettin' called back to scrape some windows and discovered how much I hate it, I do not remove window work . . . and also often sell them on hand-painted, hand-cut vinyl.
Posted by Dawud Shaheed (Member # 5719) on :
I do stuff like this all the time and about $175- $275 is what I would have like to have gotten for this. it looks like your new to the window splash game Ralph, I would suggest working on your letter structure a bit and you can get paid more, the better the layout is. also, Use regular latex exterior house paint. its cheaper in the long run.
Here's one of mine.
Posted by Ralph Kelly (Member # 6087) on :
ok....new to this.....
letter structure???
thats a nice window....is the base white latex and airbrushed on top of??
Posted by Dawud Shaheed (Member # 5719) on :
Yeah, I'm sure some letterheads would pick apart my flawed attempt at letter structure and layout. When they gat to critiqing work I just step out of the way and wonder what was really wrong with the original layout, but it always seems to look better at the end of the page. Anyway, yeah, the base is regular $10.99 a gallon semi gloss exterior Lowes paint.(the customer wanted it whited out like that) And the rest is actually foam roller and brush.It's the easiest thing to work with outside (for me anyway). I just roll out the letters and then outline them with a foam brush. (make sure you dont get the ones with the plastic at the end, they fall apart) Again, the outline is just high gloss exterior black from Lowes (nothing special) And it's easy to find. I don't airbrush much at all. When I need an airbrushed fade or something on my window splashes I use spraypaint. It's much easier that having to hook up the whole airbrush entourage. And for tight lines I use lettering brushes. It's a great formula for me, and I make a good living on painting windows.
Posted by Dawud Shaheed (Member # 5719) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sheila Ferrell: This is just a question of curiosity . . .
Do y'all charge SOLEY on the amount of on-site time & materials??
Or SOLEY on the 'perceieved value' theory?? (sorry, I still think of this as a theory until more evidence is logically presented)
I try to get $60 an hour in SHOP. I charge more for on-site work, and mark-up all materials.
After I wound up gettin' called back to scrape some windows and discovered how much I hate it, I do not remove window work . . . and also often sell them on hand-painted, hand-cut vinyl.
Sheila, i have a scraper that I hire to scrape big jobs for me. (just a guy I know who is always willing to do odd jobs) These guys come in very handy to me. Anyway, I charge solely on materials, time and perceived degree of difficulty in the Job. I only resort to 'perceived value' When the customer is trying to talk me down, then I start talking about how much it is worth to him and what kind of return it will bring him.
As for painting on vinyl, i've found that painting on Typar material (It's an outdoor weather resistant paper like material with a plastic coating on the back) Then I stick strong double sided tape to the back of it. (most banner supply shops carry it.) If your local place doesn't I can hook you up with one. It's cheap and sooo easy to install that even the customer can do it without messing everything up. Vinyl can be a pain to install with paint on it.
Posted by Adrienne Morgan (Member # 1046) on :
Dawud, you say you use a semi gloss for your base? Why's that?
I found that flat is better for base coat as it has more 'tooth' and is more opaque than semi-gloss.
I have a $150 minimum, most jobs are around $250-$375, all depends on the amount of copy, detail and difficulty. Last year's Christmas window, all done with rollers,acrylics and brush.
Have fun!! A:)
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
i do windows....and minimum is $5.00 a sq ft....so if you stick with that you wont screw yourself on pricing. your window looks to me like a 5 ft tall window and about 7 ft long of graphic. 5x7=35 sq ft x $5 = $175!!!!! and thats cheap......so next time you do a window....make sure you DONT DO IT FOR LESS THEN $5.00 A SQ FT...and remember the more art work....the higher the sq ft pricing.
Posted by Carl Wood (Member # 1223) on :
O.P. - I used to price @ $5 sq. ft. & quickly found out I was under charging for small jobs - say a 18" x 12" panel in white vynul on office door would only be like 15 bucks - my minimum for a door is $35 around here - 5 yrs. ago got $75-125 for same work - basic office door with Name/Logo/Hours . . . Adrienne your snowman rocks . . .makes me cold just looking at it . . . .
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
I love Ms.A's Christmas windows too!!
Dawud, there are a variety of paintable vinyls, matte vinyl, and vinyl masks. (man I gotta get a scanner goin')
In the past I have used adhesion promoter clears, but there are better paintable vinyls and paints as well for this purpose. RT Thomas showed me where you can use Krylon with exceptional adhesion for those 'fades'. Or use the airbrush in the shop), and I can work on other stuff in-house stuff between stages.
For hand-(brush)-painting I usually always scuff a little. I simply lay-out & paint the designs on there just like would a window or panel, and leave them to dry. Then cut & weed, usually leaving about an inch or so of white outline, then mask and go apply.
I primarily do this for less on-site time when it's entirely too cold, or entirely too hot.
Anyway, you can replicate work exactly like Ms.Adrienne's in vinyl, or you're copy and graphic elements . . . and I suppose you could vinyl that entire background white too...lol
You really can't tell unless you get close to it or walk up and touch it to tell it was done on vinyl . . . I find it makes no difference to the customer except knowing removal is not going to be an extra cost or mess for them - they can remove it themselves.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
"minimum is $5.00 a sq ft....so if you stick with that you wont screw yourself on pricing." we was discussin WINDOWS...not 18x24's. NO that $5 sq ft dont apply to small stuff...or things that use up substraights and vinyl. small stuff(under 4x4) i usually quote at $10 a sq ft...easy figurin'. so a 2'x 2' =4 sq ft x $10= $40. and i figure it that way for big stuff just so easy....to add a ZERO to what ever sq ft you got and thats the price.....ex. 4x8=32 sq ft x $10= $320.....and if its a simple design and you want to come down to $7.50 sq ft you take the $320, half it ($160) and half of that is $80 then subtract $80 from $320 or take the $160 and add $80 =$240 either way. i do all these calk-a-ta-shuns in my head while iam talkin to the client.. to me this is easy....and then i usually follow up the price with my "jewish accent" such a deal iam giving you...oye....hhehehehehehehe this also works from $10 and up just take the $320 figure half is $160 now add $320 + $160=$480 or $15 sq ft. simply 8th grade math.......or you can confuse the crap and make it into algebra x + y - z = a which dont make any sence to me....
[ November 03, 2005, 02:14 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
Posted by Adrienne Morgan (Member # 1046) on :
That's so complicated i couldn't even read it OP!!!!
Seriously....with the price of gas, supplies, yada, yada, yada....
It's just not worth my going out and setting up for less than $150.
Plumbers won't do a little job for 50 bucks, either would electricians...have you taken your pet to the vet lately???
I figure talent like mine outta be worth at least that much!!
Too much figgerin' just makes me lose interest in the job...but that's just me.....
A:)
[ November 04, 2005, 06:04 AM: Message edited by: Adrienne Morgan ]
Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
Ralph, All I can say is don't use an "Airbrush" for eveything! Windows are large and cheap. Roll for speed. Layout and design is everything! I would do stuff like your window when I was a teenager in high school. Get the book "How to paint window splashes" from Signcraft. Learn to letter. Even the basics will be a great help to you. I learned a long time ago - only teenyboppers want "Airbrush". Not the best money. The business man has the money. He's not interested in what tool you use. Enjoy this great business - John
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
...From the looks of it, it is worth $125.
Posted by Adrienne Morgan (Member # 1046) on :
Jon's right, too much airbrush just doesn't look right.
Besides you have to haul the compressor to the job, find an outlet, etc.
Rollers are cheap, easy to get, cover a large amt of space quickly.
Outlining with a brush takes practice, but it looks sharp and clean.
Here's one of mine.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)