How to Estimate Tile Work
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- There are many ways to estimate a tile project but in over 20 years of being in the tile business I have developed some very successful strategies for getting the tile jobs I want. In this livestream, I will talk about how to be profitable in your tile business and present estimates, bids, or quotes in an effective and efficient manner.
As a retired contractor and former CPA here are some rules I've shared with other contractors. The larger your business is (or you want to grow it) the more critical it is to follow these rules.
1. Qualify every customer before you invest time to quote.
2. Understand your accounting, finance and taxes….do this properly by finding someone to train *and* (not or) advise you.
3. Know your costs - materials, labor, overhead and needed profit. Use Quickbooks as The Coach does.
4. I quoted 100’s of jobs a year using one methodology and would argue most contractors should use something similar. I quoted a single price (I did not break out costs for labor, material, etc). There are three components...the first is most important:
4a. Labor - this is your most valuable asset. Estimate your hours accurately x an hourly rate that is based on needed profit (this will usually include overhead).
4b. Materials - bid these at cost item by item X quantity (use a spreadsheet loaded with all items and costs). For small items add a $ amount for supplies. Add a small % for damage, etc.
4c. Equipment cost - I usually included only large equipment as something close to rental rates.
4d. Use some software or even Google Sheets/Excel to automate this - it’s simple, accurate and saves time/errors once it’s set up.
5. Track profitability by job - this is so, so important - especially in the beginning. Quickbooks makes this easier.
6. Use info in #5 (profitability by job) to adjust #4 (quotes) if your profitability is below your target.
What is great about these rules - they’re easy to learn and once you know’m they pay dividends the rest of your life. I grew my mom & pop contracting business to the largest in our field in Chicago. Happy to help if anyone has questions. Reply or DM.
Thank you
In your #1 comment.....How did "YOU" qualify each customer?
@@eduardovergara4772 Just so we're on the same page, "qualifying" a customer is assessing the likelihood that a potential customer (PC) is a good match for your company. First, make sure what you sell is what they are in the market for. Many homeowners are not knowledgeable about their house, trades, etc. Next, try to determine how interested the PC is in buying and (roughly) when. This helps prioritize your time and schedule. Make sure your PC is in a market you want to serve. Then, ensure the PC has realistic expectations on price. Similarly (and the answer here should align with the answer to the last questions), the expectations of the quality of the work. I can probably write a book (and others prob have) just on this topic. There are more questions but my fav is "how did you hear of us?" That is so powerful, so insightful.
Forgot to mention.....That was a good question! And I'll point out there is no right way for any contractor or trade.... As for me personally beyond the comment I just left....for a couple years I took all the incoming new customer calls. Then I hired others and modified the key qualification questions I'd have those folks ask based on what I learned and the mistakes I made.@@eduardovergara4772
You helped me stop wasting time with customers. I was about to quit and get a job instead. You mentioned your method in one of your live chats. No more driving around wasting gas, time and money on cheap customers. I charge by the job. Sq ft prices attract cheap customers, house flippers on a budget and builders on a budget. Charging by the job based on how many days it'll take you is the best way.
I would love to connect with you to learn more about how you grow your tile business. I am new to the industry, based in Utah! Let me know! Thanks
I have been watching you every day I love your show
The on,y way is to price by the job.
You have comprehension problem. He didn't say to calculate based on sq foot, but to show the cost to the customer. It's not like the customer cannot say the sq footage is not correct.
I am starting in the business, and your videos are incredible, there is no other person who explains and helps like you, I appreciate all your videos, it is like my school tile, thank you, continue to do what you do,
Hey man don't let that customer get to you......she doesn't realize how lucky she is to have you as her contractor. Keep your head up.
She is pissed at herself and blaming you because she was a vieja chigadera and did not pay attention to cabinet installers. All I can say is when a lawyer asked for $300 plus per hours, or hospital expenses they deserve it just like you deserve it. I have no issue paying a man in the trade what he asks for a job. It is not different than paying any bills I incur. My girlfriend is a dental hygienist and get paid $400 for 4 hours of cleaning teeth. Dentist make more money than general practitioners because they are free to charge to their hearts content.
Just came across this video. My god man, I sold my soul to the government 10 years ago so I just work for a pension, no risk, minimal pride. The amount of risk and effort that goes into running a profitable business is admirable. Thanks for sharing all this personal info. A lot of private sector guys don’t share their finances and business stuff.
You're a great example for these young guys coming up Your biggest strength outside of God is your character. Excellent videos on many levels.
One of the main reason why I watch your videos is because you remind people like me that things not always going to be perfect. Thanks for your honesty
Once agin, you have inspired me. I thank you for reminding me how living a spiritual life is the most important thing!!
Tile work is fun, but without people in our life’s it’s just work. I need to hear and learn from you. Thank you sir
PS My business is beginning to take off
I know this video is a year old. but I would like to make a comment, nice presentation!
What I did when I had my business (30 years retired now) is I created a Excell spread sheet.
It is pretty simple to do, I am not an expert on Excell
You set up columns with the first as the quantity second as material, third as cost, fourth as total.
fifth as description, sixth as rate and fourth as cost.
I had prices for everything involved in the job.
Cement board, screws, tape etc. and labor cost.
Every thing had a price. Cement board installation, tile, boarder, diagonal, chair rail etc.
Once set up it is real easy to change the first column and all of the rest change as well.
You can highlight all of the entries in the cost column and get a total.
When you create it you save it blank (give it a name I called mine estimate).
So the next time it is ready to go.
It is a nice setup because you can see the material and labor costs separately and change them as things change.
New subscriber. Thank you for this video. I am an experienced floor installer, I learned the craft working next to illegals. I speak both languages and decided to go on my own. I decided to go on my own instead of installing 1200 sq ft a day for 120 dollars. I have been receiving calls but have no idea on what to charge for back splashes or repairs. This video was just what I needed, thank you for sharing your wisdom. Peace be with you.
Charge $35 sqft with all materials except tile for backsplashes. Let the customer pick it up and sell them on making it fun, and they don't have to shop and call a million times asking if they got the right product, they can spend more time buying their tile and thats it. And tell them straight up, these are my prices, this is how i do it, I don't use any other materials, I don't use this, I don't use that, I use these because this and this and that.. So start buying material in bulk so u make more, and you get your write offs. People respect the fact you are professional, care about your materials and are addement about how you do things. Just be straight up and treat their place like its yours.
Repairs Id do $75 an hr if it is something small, but if you have a strict price and push to a better target audience, you won't be doing small repairs and stuff, you'll attract legit customers with a remodel and over time referrals. A real customer is one that want to pay you because you are honest, transparent, professional, and care about their home especially for resell value! Don't just try and blast through a job to take someones money..when u charge what you are worth, you don't have to slam out 3x the work because you make the same on less work.
As a fellow contractor and tile installer I feel your pain,I have so many happy customers but I’ve also seen the people who you just can’t satisfy and I think some people just want something to complain about. Keep up the good work and stay true to you.
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Someone told me a story about how they installed a marble slab floor about 30 years ago and he had a feeling the customer would be difficult so he didn’t cut out the holes for the air vents (which only he has measurements for) before asking for payment. The customer didn’t want to pay and then a week later realized he hadn’t cut out the vent holes and begged him to come back saying they would pay. He told them to F off…
As an interior designer I work with tile installers frequently, I always ask them for a price per sf quote for material and quote the job separately. That is what I present to clients. If you bill for time and materials, clients do not appreciate the level of expertise required, therefore the hourly rate is always a surprise. Like obtaining a college degree, expertise gained in the field is something that should be paid for. No one should penalize themselves because they can perhaps do a job faster and better than a competitor. You are installing the final finish in an interior, it should be perfect and you should charge for it. Additionally, stand behind your work and always return to remedy any deficiencies.
If not for you, I would not have started my business doing tile work as well as small remodels. Been doing this for 6 months and so far my small business, all word of mouth, is booming here in CO. Thank you for your words, lessons and keep them coming. You do a lot for the community.
Contemplating becoming a full bathroom remodeler because of people like you on here sharing such great information. Fantastic video. Will download and listen on my next long drive.
Were you able to do that? I'm thinking of doing the same.
I've been a tile setter for 9 year's here in Arizona, and thank you for your information
I’m in AZ too, running my own business. Would love to talk pricing with you if you’re open to it.
Retail sucks in the aspect as you mentioned about troublesome customers... I own a bathroom vanity store and when I run into those customers, i just tell them to bring the item back for a full refund or if before the sale I get a scene they may cause trouble... I would tell them, I am here to sell, but i want you to be sure these vanities are for you... If you don't like a certain thing, then these vanities are not for you.... as you mentioned, when you finally become established, you don't have to chase every sale... I rather avoid a problem that will cost me more money in the long run..... sometimes it sounds mean to the customer, but its best for my store....
God bless you brother, I use your videos to improve upon my work , your authenticity and helpful tips are priceless. Thank you!
The IQ saws are great for certain situations, but if I have a convenient place to set up a wet saw, I'm going to use that every time.
I've been a tile setter for about 13 years, and today I talked to my tax guy and had him set me up as an S Corp. Wish me luck!!
Thanks for making this video. I'm a new subscriber. I'll be going through your old videos and trying to learn all of the things I never learned about the tile business on the jobsite.
This is golden. Both for the technicians who are learning the art, and for those who are in need of the art. I have been far too kind along the way of estimates and sold myself short. I enjoy giving friends a great deal with quality work that I have always hoped to stand test of time but I think a final product that speaks for itself should be wholesome in diligence from that of the instal and payment from the kingdom for all the glory that it is.
Great video, nice to evaluate new ideas and thoughts on estimating tile jobs. I use quick books also and love it. Everything I need is there, from work orders to invoicing and I love that with a push of a button I can get a variety of reports as to my actual materials costs, overhead and profit. I estimate my jobs first by running a square foot price on the tile, tile backer etc. I add in piece prices for items like a new shower valves. Then I roughly estimate my overall time on the job and what I want per day and see if they are close; usually they are. Then I may make some adjustments depending on the job specifications. This keeps me in check and helps me get to what I think is a reasonable competitive bid. I don't try to win every bid and there are customers who when my instincts tell me to run, I do! Thank you Isaac.
When I first started my business I would always hit pawn shops to get wet saws and angle grinders because I was flat broke. My first good wet saw was a kobalt (roughly 250$) I was so proud that I finally got to a point where I could get brand new tools.. first thing that happened was my helper pulled it out of the van and dropped it right on the motor. It still ran but it was really tweaked. Broke my heart but I ended up doing pretty good that year and picked up a better one. I don’t let helpers set up my wet saws anymore lol
Hey Man! I just wanted to thank you for posting on a handyman and do a lot of everything so it’s always good to have pricing info to not under cut the Industry!
Thank for your videos! They have helped me become much more confident in my work.
bro i feel thist so hard. it is incredible just how connected everyone is and the situations. like the same same song different dance
it makes me feel so good to actually hear things like this
I am retired military and do all sorts of jobs. But tiling is in demand here in Hawaii. I get those calls from Home Advisor also. But I have a word of mouth policy and a very select client base….realtors and property managers. I work slow and take my time.
We started watching you cuz we’re getting bids on 2 gutted bathrooms & wanted some advice. Love your videos! We watched this one to get an idea of how much we should expect to pay. On the downside we’ve learned too much & have been turned down by two tile guys 🤷🏻♀️ wish you were down here in SoCal cuz we’d hire you for sure! Hot mop or pan, that’s the big dilemma 🧐
That joke lol 😝 ya we got thru this far haha! Thanks for what you do!
I feel the same way about the Coach.
Man, Isaac I just have a situation exactly like your counter top, I do Plumnbing in Los Ángeles California but as soon as we passed rough inspection for Repiping she the customer just turned knots and bringing lots of items and things that has nothing to do with the work we did and put everything in hold and like you said start talking to the city and state but man we love what we do and just get it going
Best way I've found for renovations is to break each working day of 8 hours into sections and figure how long demo will take, rebuild and finish. If we run into issues the customer is notified of additional costs before going forward
I'm baffled that the countertop lady is still giving you problems. She's a con artist, ignore her and continue your good work.
Thank you so much man, not just this video you have taught me so much as a tile setter coming up in the trade.
The main thing that the average customer just doesnt realize is the liability involved when doing custom showers or anything involving water that could potentially cause thousands in damage pretty quickly. There is also the fact that until you begin demo and really get into it you could run into some plumbing or electrical "do it yourself" past repairs that no decent contractor would ever cover back up. I also agree with setting the expectations properly. Im often at my initial consultation an hour minimum during this time most customers who have already had other estimates actually tell me they knew they were using me regardless of what the price came back at. This was simply because of how thorough I explain the process and how we go over many options to give them what they want. If they appear to be crazy which happens then I simply take my measurements and leave with no intentions of even wasting another minute figuring their estimate. The time we spend actually working up our estimates with a detailed material list is like having a second job
Thank you. Your doing a great work. I watch your videos all the time.
Really appreciate this video man, it helped me tremendously, the customers were iam at are unreal when it comes to pricing because exactly what you said , they have no idea about what it takes to do a job. I am going to stop worrying about what they can afford and just do business,
I give one price with a job scope under all of our information, then followed by that i give a day by day breakdown with materials so its transparent. I have bought majority of my materials in bulk and average around $100 an hr after tax when its all said and done. Customers love how transparent I am, and they don't have to do anything except shop for some tile. If they wan't to do plumbing and framing it's per job scope but generally it's about $90 an hr without material. I don't touch drywall or paint, but I work close with my friends who run their own business and keep the work "in house" so we all can keep the money in our circle and don't worry about another sub effing it up. lol And when u mention someone feeling weird about you making more than them just explain all the different hats you have to wear while on the job, and then off the job. You literally BUY their head space, you are living in their designer brain lol. SO yeah, it's gonna cost to bring a customers vision to life. I don't charge hourly either, but if i decide to do the math which isn't hard, I average around $100 an hr. Really gotta be cooking tho!
Thanks for your excellent service! Blessings to you and your crew!
Another thing you can do, especially when bidding full bath/kitchen remodels is to put the fixtures on the side with an estimated cost. Keeping the cost of tile, faucets, toilet, cabinet/sink, light fixtures off of your proposal is way better than providing allowances. Estimate the costs for all "owner provided" items, make it detailed and provide along with the proposal so the client has a full overview of their complete costs saves you time and energy.
This is particularly important for CA contractors as our warranty includes the fixtures. Meaning if that faucet you included in your quote starts to drip 3 years later, you have to go fix it.
Keep the fixtures off the contract so you don't have to warrantee them.
In the CTEF does have a mud work specific certification. It’s One of the advanced courses that you can take after completing the initial CTI test.
YOU are AWESOME !!!!!!! thank you for your efforts to make a community here.
I'm just finishing quartz job where the cabinets are out of level by an inch in 10'. I didn't check it before I started! I've been doing remods for twenty-five years! Yes, I'm still a dummy. Hopefully they understand when I tell them I couldn't install the quartz out of level. Fortunately, I had already told them they would need to trim under the quartz.
You special my guy , appreciate you foreal! Thanks for all this information! God bless!
Thank you so very much for all the great information Sir. I truly appreciate you and your RUclips channel.
Didn’t expect this to be so wholesome, who’s cutting onions!!
Great dude right here! Great video for people just starting and for people in business for many years!! Love how he pinpointed some great topics. 👍👍❤️❤️
I like to do a lump some amount ,and line item extras like niche , accent borders , in lays etc that way they can decide if they want to add the extras or decide they want to save money . Customer that wants hourly rates dosnt understand other off of job site related time , like travel time , material purchase/transport and debris disposal…that is all time you need compensation for
Yeah ,like when you buy a tough she they have a base price for the shed for $5000 paint, doors, vents cost me $7,000 for a 10 x 12 but I needed it.
Isaac talking about not doing large format glass tile. Looking at my 3 × 12 subway glass tile job with a side-eye now.
Haha. I still like them 😁
we are all under way to Much stressss.....keep you head up your a good dude.
Thank you, I will
LOVE YOUR CHANNEL> What is your recommended system for a walk in shower and tub surround? (Wedi, Schluter, Laticrete, whatever else) I've laid tile before but first time doing a job from studs to finish. I will be doing the whole thing by myself for myself. Just want to do the best job possible in the most reliable way possible. Thanks in advance!
The thumbnail breakdown of his quote was what I was here to see so I could get a better sense of how to itemize things and he only briefly shows a printout of it
Just started business in August this year and while I had a good run the first few months, I've hit a wall with finding good leads. My close rate has been sucking lately! Currently lowering my prices and studying the sales process.
It is the holidays so that's prob influencing peoples financial decisions too.
Do you have a price sheet for tile install porcelain, ceramic, marble?
hey an if you coming to Ft. Myers and want some help let me know. I live just south of there in Naples, been watching your videos for awhile now and would really like working with you and see how you do things.
Your a hell of a guy man. Pickin up a shirt/hat to represent!
And shes just one of those that you will never please , no matter what shes going to make up a problem or shes just needing
Is that 15000 bid just for tile work? Or vanity and flooring and paint?
You definitely have to be licensed & insured to legally do tile work, or any type of construction, in Florida. Was licensed in SW Florida for 25 years. BUT there's still alot of illegal contracting.
Plus, T & M are illegal as a licensed contractor in Cali. Must give customer fixed price bid. The $1k or 10% which ever is less to start, only reserves the customer a place in my schedule. Materials plus some labor before actual start, progress payments during job, and Max 5-8% final.
Hang in there, some people just won’t be happy!
I made a few hours worth of cuts on an IQ dustless tilesaw. Not a fan of them... It was not dustless, I could not lift tiles for certain types of cuts, It chipped the crap out of the porcelain tiles, and I had it bind up and break a few tiles. It also bound up on one of the other guys and smashed his fingers bad enough that we stopped using it and got the good ol Target saw back out. this was atleast 2 years ago, maybe they got better?
Stay Humble, Allways do your Best ,God works his magic after.
Hi Bro.i dont no if i am spenceble but after charge for sf. i add overhead formula plus taxes i just get my license one year ago, But you right everething change on tile installation,diference zizes and kind off materials
Definitely do a video on it👍🏻 that lady will never be happy no matter what you do , can’t please all the people all the time 😙
Communication is my first tool.
Wonderfull way with great approach
I use Pro blend from Home Depot for grout they have a wide variety of colors for every taste and I mix it by hand not with a mixer because you get air bubbles that way and I mix it medium stiff never use that premix crap hard as hell to get off ceramic tile no matter what the glaze is
Great video long time follower. Question that you brought up that I've been meaning to ask for a while.. What do you guys do with dirty "tile" water??
at my place we try to recycle the water as much as possible. Or I'll pour off the water part and/or let the bucket settle overnight, pour off the water and toss the sludge in the trash.
When you do the plumbing and the electrical work are they sub contractors
I charge by square and linear foot for labor here in up state NY. I leave it up to the customers to either pay for the material or I would, but I don’t up charge for the material. I’ll charge extra if I supply the material bc I take the time to go get it.
I’ve gotten jobs over other contractors when I tell them I don’t charge by the hour and explain to them I could take advantage by dragging it out.
How much do you charge by the square if u don’t mind me asking I just starting and I’m tryna figure out a shower wall with niche would cost
@@SuperGeo213 it depends on the tiles, how they want it laid out, mitre or not and your location and customers. Where I am in NY, I can charge anywhere between 90-125 per square for full build. I don’t just tile someone else’s prep work.
@@tommynguyen8942 I’m in NC and thanks for the reply it gives me an idea of other pricing and it was 12x 24 tiles
Good luck!
Ahh. The good old days!
Issac do you have customers purchase the fixtures for showers and sinks or do you usually get those supplies and just ask the customers for the style and finish they want
I really need to up my price, I did haring bone shower, niche, floors for 1500 :(
I wonder how much the contractor made off me.
Plus I did all the prep.
I don't even want to do tile anymore because of this fact.
It's hard.
how much time did you spend on this job?
I believe you're real and honest. Trust love be grateful be optimistic listen hard make people feel better after they talk to you love Trust
I'm a carpenter and doo enjoy tile work for the most part . What I don't like is it destroys your hands and tough on your knees and back.
Plus very few people want to pay what it is worth they watch all these diy shows where it looks easy
@@Stevesbe There is a special market of people who have a leaking shower that was result of going cheap and what's funny is how little they have researched the process for me if im dropping 10 to 20 grand on something im up for a week researching all I can find about it not just taking the first guy that walks thru the doors word that he knows what's best and can do it cheap. Only one time in my life I saw a contractor that was cheaper than everyone by a lot but still did top notch work but he was nearly 75 years old and said he couldn't imagine a person would pay 25,000 for a bathroom
@@independentinstallations8419 i have a customer that paid $50000 for his small ugly master bathroom and ther shower pan is leaking. The contractor that did ther work told him it's his fault it leaks because ther way he wanted it built
@@Stevesbe wow $50k and it leaks. Him being a professional should have still taken the time to water proof it. Watching his videos I see so many ways. To blame the homeowner cause he wanted it built differently is just LAME
Very good advice!
27:45 as far as setting expectations. They have to be told when they are being ridiculous at some point or they keep getting away with abusing contractors over and over.
ya, man, you are great! thanks - great content
These difficult customers are why I question why I'm doing this work from time to time.
Man dam me n my helper are only like 700 a day ghee but I live in south Florida but shit I thought prices was high here already ya know it's been gone up steady now a long while ghee eskeliard wake me up when September ends
700 a day, would you need your general contractors license to get that type of money out here in Vegas?
God bless man
I do time and materials. Works well. Some jobs are flat rate. Depends.
I never use epoxy grout Alexis for certain applications that you have to use that with certain products I remember doing a bakery at a giant eagle and because of health code it had to be non porousso so it would not grow any kind of mold worked well with the quarry tile but that's what the manufacturer called for other than that I would never use that in a residential dwelling
Can you bid a job without looking at the job first,
1/3 materials ... 2/3rds is for labor & miscellaneous expenditures that may come up (and I give the customer a time line)
is the way I do my estimates? Doing it by sq-ft is not how I do business..
Do you know the best place to get a saw refurbished?
Not a fan of T&M because the customers start clock watching on you. I’ve had a customer call me to tell me that my guy took x minutes going to the toilet or or having a cigarette while talking to his wife on the phone. It gets silly.
Exactly!
I think the countertop problem lies with the sink.
I like doing tile, but like many otherwise enjoyable hobbies, making it a job can make it less so. Picky customers (like that counter top lady) would drive me nuts, complaining about issues that are either tiny or not your direct responsibility, then demanding changes and having it turn into a big and expensive time sink.
I'll pray for you...
You need a lawyer my brother. Whenever those kind of Karen comes up law school helped me a lot to know when people are trying to get advantage of your business. I had a client that we wrote in contract that we wouldn't paint, and we wouldn't do a lot of stuff, and those types of Karen's tried to hurt your business you have to be prepared.
I don't get the license part. Where you can't work or do a job more than $600 if you aren't License. But then why not price jobs at $600 or break it out to $600 by 2 if it's a $1200 job. And is that$600 just labor or materials too?
That's exactly what they do. Price the shower in 3-4 parts. From framing. Then pan so on so each step is a separate itemized bill
Thanks!
I thought this was a tile estimate! dang
does that price include the materials you used?
What to do with dirty water?
The cabinet installer should be responsible for levelling the island.
Have you done a tile job with a shower panel?
Flex seal overtime ?
I always explain tile is structural ART. and a good tattoo is not cheap and a cheap tattoo is Not good.
Absolutely Nailed my estimates. Itemized Everything,sq ft LF extras like niche,windows,windows, and TILE QUALITY(square or rectified garbage)And Nailed the time and materials thing.If the customer spends 15 minutes wt me once I start thier job for detailed explanations they almost always feel much better accepting my pricing when they realize I know my shit.expaining cuts,layout options,what can be added insurance like waterproofing options,explaining what corners most other douchebags cut that I refuse to.I prove WHY MY pricing are standing.
What do you say to someone who is a Faster(but thorough)installer? Again thats why I hate Day pricing. I lose when I am so much faster .I kill myself physically and Can't work any other way in this field..A normal 5 day job done in 4. Or 7 done in 5.🤷♂️
I started with 75 dollars a day now is different but i still think i dont make what im worth im 26 been doing it since i was 18 maybe later
Definitely raise your prices
75 a day. Damn. I'll use you min $120-150 day is cheap least $20hr if you know wtfnyour doing and skilled people is worth 30-50 yea sounds like after 8yrs raise those prices
谢谢