Low day rate or sqm rate?

[mckinnna]

Guys,

I'm new to the game and have recently fully tiled a bathroom. 23sq mtres of ceramic including grouting and Silicon. Awkward shaped sloping ceilings. Gave attention to quality, but slow and want to charge the customer, a friend, a fair price. Walls not entirely flat. Could you give me a fair estimate, labour only/no adhesives rate? I would like to hear from those who are experienced, fast do a good job and would think it is easy (sqm? or day/job rate?), and also from those like me who are new, trying to please the customer with attention to quality and still taking say 1 week to fully complete the job? Does the south-east generally charge more than say the north-east?

Regards

Neil

 

[Ramag]

Hi Neil, ask your friend how much it was worth to him to have his bathroom fully tiled. As for asking a tiler to give you an estimate for 23sq taking one week to complete would be very unfair. A qualified tiler would finish the job in under half the time and without having seen the job this is an impossible question to answer.
If you were to ask what is the basic sqm price in a given area for a certain make and size of tile I think you would get the response you are looking for.
All the best
Joe

 

[Alan.P]

Hi Neil, discussing prices in open forum isn't general a good idea, with any job though, mates or not, a price should have been agreed before the works began. This has the hallmarks of 'how mates fall out' written all over it, if he wants a fair price charge him what you need for a weeks wage.

Good luck.

 

[jamie B]

Totally agree with the above posts!
as for pricing, it can be difficult when you're starting out! you'll find as you go along you will be able to know what different jobs/materials demand time wise and adjust accordingly with price. Be prepared to drop the odd clanger (everyone's done it!) when you do something on a price and run into unforeseen trouble. In the mean time I would stick away from day rates (unless you are certain it's in your ability to deliver in a fair amount of time) as this can do you more harm than good!..don't cook the goose that lays the golden egg!!
I do sympathise, even now after 17 years I still occasionally get the willies when pricing big jobs!..always remember there's no such thing as a bad job if you're earning out of it!! best of british to you mate!!

 

[david campbell]

unfortunately as you say you are slower than an experienced tiler,thus when pricing jobs you will have to make less money than somebody who has years of tiling experience behind them,by less money i mean charging the same,but taking longer to make sure you leave a perfect job that will enhance your reputation,as long as you make clear the time scale it will take you and the job is to a good quality then there shouldn't be any problems,just charge your normal rate

 

[White Room]

With bad walls and sloping ceilings, a day rate is what I would be charging

 

[heavytrevy]

Well if it was a good friend of mine I would only charge material costs.
But then again im pretty generous.

If u need money Half price the job for him.

Trev

 

[bcfcdaz]

:welcome:

 

[Dan]

I used to have 'mates rates' and work out of hours or something for them. Never put off a real paying job for a mate, and explain to them why. If you normally make X a day and for your mate you do it him at cost, you're loosing cash. I bet not many mates would work their jobs for nowt at your request.

That said I have some good mates that I'd do it for nowt for all week. The sort you holiday with and what-not.

And tell your mate to tell his mates it was normal price to encourage you to stick at it or whatever because once you get jobs based on your price alone you'll be working for that price for a very long time.

All the best with working that out mate. Always a bit of a dodgy one.