Is there a "standard" for pricing gold leaf work? I'm getting more of it and would like to know if I'm in the right ballpark.. Thanks!!
------------------ Cindy Bennett Verde Valley Signcrafters Camp Verde, Arizona 520-567-3585
Just found out that I have something called Attention Deficiency Syn..Hey! Nice shirt!
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
Cindy, I once knew an old general contractor who told me if my customers complain like crazy about the price but keep coming back..the price is just right!!!!!!When pricing gold jobs...i usually end up at 3 to 4 times the price of a painted one...get all you can..
Good question, Cindy. I too would like to know how to price glass gilding. The process is very time consuming, and I don't know if its me, or just the process. Anyways, I could spend all day on a job. And I'm not talking about computer gold. Although it is alot faster, the ole`fasion way looks way better. I did one for a jewelry store reciently, 6"X18", two words, one in commercial script, with mirror gold outline, and quick size for the centers, along with a black outline, and drop shadow. The other word was strait mirror gold with black outline and drop shadow. I looked satisfactory, and I charged $570.US. Was that a fair price? How should I come up with pricing in the future. For this one I just guessed. It took two, three hour days. (6hrs. total) How much would you have charged? And why?
gold leafing entails several variables.. is this surface gild on a substrate such as metal, wood, etc., or gilding on glass. i claim to be no gold leaf expert. i will refer this question to my goldleaf specialist / friend Chuck Berg.
chuck, what do you have to say? (chuck will respond tomorrow)
"Mark Fair is a Proud Contributor to The Letterhead Site!"
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
I learned to price gold by the upright inch. You measure each letter and multiply the total by the rate. Then add the percentage for any upgrades like outline or shade or matt centers. If you look in the pricing guide, I think they still do it this way. Find a number that works for you in your area. If you add up the one that's in the book and it looks too high, try a lower rate and see if it's still worth your time and effort.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
Like others have said, it depends on the type of work. I do a lot of surface gilding, on flat or carved work, but not a lot of glass. My prices for gold are based on a percentage of the price of the same sign without gold, but even that is touchy - what about a job where gold is only used as an accent on a small portion of the job?
My feeling is, get the highest base price possible, so that your "gold markup" doesn't have to be as dramatic a difference.
For glass gilding, which involves far more complex skills than surface leafing, charge at least double the price for paint, or two and a half more than for vinyl gold substitutes, then add percentages for the "tricks" (matte centers, blended shades, etc.) Remember that your customer is purchasing a much higher "perceived value" when you do leaf work, so charge accordingly. Hope this helped.
------------------ "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)
Cam Finest Kind Signs 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posted by Cindy Bennett (Member # 71) on :
I should have been more specific...I needed a pricing standard for gold leafing on surfaces such as sandblasted signs and painted signs. I have never tried glass gilding (yet), but when I do, I know where I'm going for advice!! I have the small Signwriters Pricing booklet, but gold leaf work is not listed.My ol'tattered booklet is from 1996, so its time to get a new one. My small rural town gags on those prices in the book, but it helps to show them the value that they are getting. Thanks
------------------ Cindy Bennett Verde Valley Signcrafters Camp Verde, Arizona 520-567-3585
Just found out that I have something called Attention Deficiency Syn..Hey! Nice shirt!
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
Cindy, in my 1995 signwriters guide there is a section for gold leaf,and it covers most types of gold work. It's fairly accurate for around here.When compared to tha 1999 book rates most ppl here take tha 1995 prices without question here.All I do is show them both books & let them compare, they get tha picture real quick.If not,....well I offer a suitable substitute for their budget. hope this helps ya!
------------------ fly low...timi/NC is,.....Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC members.xoom.com/Signz
Posted by Bruce Jackson (Member # 45) on :
You can price it to formula to some extent, but dimensional lettering and glass work tend to be so varied that individually pricing each job seems to be more accurate to me.
As far as large flat area gilding. Schlag or copper is priced here at between $160-$230 per square metre. The material cost is $10 (loose leaf in bulk). By comparison gold cost is $125 per square metre (in book) and it's slower to lay - price is around $350-$400+ per square metre. SOme will charge more.
Be aware that gilding dimensional work is much more time consuming. Doing the returns (sides) on those serif letters really adds up the hours. It is slower to gild than it is to paint on the size (don't get ahead of yourself).
Straight forward gilded lettering on a panel is maybe double the price of paint. I do this kind of work based on estimated time, the same as hand-painted and just add on the extra material cost. I figure if I can paint and gild it in a day, then it's that plus the gold. If it is a half day job, then I charge 2/3rds of a day. Am i crazy? probably, but it's only gold, it's not THAT magical to warrant quoting outrageous prices. I'd rather work with gold consistantly, not just occasionally.
As far as glass work, Richard's example sounds about right. I often undercharge (new years resolutions - charge more) but to give you some typical examples that seem correct:
Set of trading hours/phone number on door in plain bright 23ct. - $300
name, one metre wide, maybe 100-150mm high with some standard embellishment - $500. With an additional line of small copy, all in gold - $700 or $800
Large feature sign, 200-300mm high letters with fancy embellishments, decorative treatments and scroll work, 10 letters - $1500-$2000
(all prices Australian dollars, $1 = 0.65 cents US, but straight dollar for dollar comparison seems to work because we earn less here)
[This message has been edited by Bruce Jackson (edited January 20, 2000).]
Posted by Scott Baker (Member # 12) on :
Just to give you a dollar figure, A wholesale shop in NE Pennsylvania is selling completed carved and blasted signs at around $45 a sq. foot. Wholesale to the sign industry. Add your markup and you should be in the right ballpark.
Scott Baker Youngs Signs
------------------ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Sign Shop." Scott Baker, Owner Youngs Signs Binghamton, NY 1-877-723-7905
