posted
As a new member I'd like to say hello to everyone and learn from all of you. From my two days as a member I can see how much I have to learn.
Today I went to look at a hand carved sign. It was about 6' x 6' on wooden posts. It had already been through one repainting job. I noticed that the posts were rotted at ground level and splitting and cracking throughout. The sign itself, although it had not warped, was starting to chip. It had a hand-painted graphic in the middle (that I couldn't discern because of its condition), black trim along the edges, metallic gold painted lettering, and the remainder of the sign was some funky blue color.
The question is: at what price would you repaint this sign so it would be restored to it's original condition. I figured it had to be removed, cleaned, sanded, primed, and then painted in the top-coat colors. Seemed like about $800 to $1000 worth of work.
Did I overprice this? Did I miss some short-cut to redoing this sign?
thanks, Denis
-------------------- Denis de Leon Creative Signcrafters 125 Railroad Avenue, suite 4 Hightstown, NJ 08520 Posts: 128 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2005
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I wouldn't touch it for less than 1700.00 in my shop. I would not honor any gaurantee at all. I used to refurbish signs like that in droves until one bit me hard in the behind. I had one sign that had openings in the paint, allowing moisture to enter the sign. I let the sign dry out in my shop for 4 weeks in front a dehumidifier before refinishing.
The sign lasted 3 weeks in the hot sun and bubbled and blistered. It had moisture still in it. A good moisture meter would be a grand investment.
I ended up standing behind my work and instead of repainting it I sold her a new carved sign and deducted the cost of the paint that she paid me on the old sign.
[ July 13, 2005, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Thanks for the reply. My gut told me this job was going to be more work than I expected. I looked at what I figured it would take to do the job and it came out to be about the same price as a new sign. Unfortunately, the customer's exectation of what it would take were not in line with mine. When I mentioned the job would be somewhere in the $1000 range the customer winced.
I can't see doing this job for $500.
Thanks
-------------------- Denis de Leon Creative Signcrafters 125 Railroad Avenue, suite 4 Hightstown, NJ 08520 Posts: 128 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Your price to refurb being close to that of a new sign is right.
If you try to refurb this, the only thing you MIGHT be saving is the cost of the substrate. That potential savings will be eaten up in the time it takes to strip & prep it. I'll bet that time is worth at least the cost of a new substrate. Not to mention that it may not last, like the problems Bob had.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Denis, We refurbish our sandblasted wood signs all the time! We have 2 or 3 out there that get a new finish about every 7 years. Good priming and good spot filling of the wood is very important. Usually the sandblast area just needs fresh SOLID LATEX STAIN. The raised portions get sanding to remove any loose material, filling and sanding of any voids, and Chromatic Block Out for primer. Then finish as usual with lettering or background enamels. We have 5 panels in the shop right now, and Maris (as I type this) is out doing one on the job site because the weather is good and the sign is a huge pain to take down. (5 x 8 foot sign at 2nd story) I would not guarantee a repaint on someone else's original work, but we will stand behind refurbs on our own signs. Maris usually figures about $60.00 a square foot I think. That is about 1/2 the price of a new (sandblasted or carved) sign.
BTW we NEVER repaint MDO signs. Better to replace.
To overlook this potential for profit would be a grave mistake. I am assuming it was redwood, cedar or HDU.
High quality latex (flat-bkgd, satin raised) Is all it takes to get the job done. Latex "breaths" & redwood/cedar demands that. We sand & clean the "old" sign then spray the whole sign with the bkgd color- 2 coats, then 2 coats of the raised. Very durable finish.... We would guarantee for a year,(safe!)& probably create a new customer. You don't have to stencil, sandblast,laminate (join), design,create mounting system, etc. It is really a quick buck. If there is no goldleaf & the sign is in good condition, I think you can "refresh" these signs for approx. 1/3 the price of new, plus removal & re-installation. (that is one of the sell points when I sell a new one). I tell them... unfortunatly for us, this sign will probably outlast us, but we will need to shine it up every 7-10 years.
I am a new Member also & LOVE what I've seen so far. Good Luck to you Denis!
(How's everything in Andover Barb?)
-------------------- Michael R. Bendel Bendel Sign Co,. Inc. Sauk Rapids, MN Posts: 913 | From: Sauk Rapids, MN | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Unless it's a piece of metal not bent or just dull paint job that needs revitalizing, I don't "refurbish".
Recently, a customer wanted to cut costs and have me redo their sign. It was an aluminum sign that had a lot of cracked vinyl on it. Two sided sign, the other side was bent up from a car running into it. She wanted me to peel the old stuff off and paint on a new sign, not replacing the bent one.
I told her it would cost more to do that than it was to replace it and do the job ten times as nice! And I was going to charge $500 for two signs, installed!!
I was way too much. She wanted to keep the old ones and redo it "cheaper".
For some reason, the sign is still sitting there looking exactly as it did when I went by there!
posted
Just to followup on my original post. I called the customer yesterday and she really wants the new sign. Being that it's for a homeowners association there's some that are still looking to refurbish the painted wood sign. In any case, the sign is still hanging there.
With the support and advice I've gotten here I feel really good about my initial decision NOT to refurbish the sign. I told the customer that anyone that refurbishes the sign would really not be doing them a favor. I have a feeling they'd try it themselves if'n they can't get anyone.
-------------------- Denis de Leon Creative Signcrafters 125 Railroad Avenue, suite 4 Hightstown, NJ 08520 Posts: 128 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2005
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