Painting - $99 a room? How do they do it?
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : $99 a room? How do they do it?
sirwired
07-11-07, 03:14 PM
I was at my local SWP over the weekend picking up some paint and noticed a work van advertising "$99 a room*" painting. (Or maybe it was less.... I can't remember.) Now I KNOW that to hire such an outfit would be colossally stupid, but I am curious as to how on earth anybody can paint a room for $99?
I know that they are surely using the thinnest, cheapest, waterered down paint available, and that $99 is only a one-coat, no primer, no repair, no surface prep job, but I still can't figure out how they can do it...
I am sure that asterisk covers a lot of exceptions, but still... the only room I could see getting painted for $99 is a closet with no shelving.
SirWired
I know that they are surely using the thinnest, cheapest, waterered down paint available, and that $99 is only a one-coat, no primer, no repair, no surface prep job, but I still can't figure out how they can do it...
I am sure that asterisk covers a lot of exceptions, but still... the only room I could see getting painted for $99 is a closet with no shelving.
SirWired
GregH
07-11-07, 03:38 PM
The one to ask would be the person advertising that price.
It is possible that was for labor only.
Out of curiosity why don't you call them and ask for the details.
Maybe it would be worth the money to have them apply the paint you just bought.
It is possible that was for labor only.
Out of curiosity why don't you call them and ask for the details.
Maybe it would be worth the money to have them apply the paint you just bought.
the_tow_guy
07-11-07, 03:39 PM
Probably a 3 room minimum, doesn't include the trim, and there's extra charges for this, that, and the other thing. And cheap paint.
groundbeef
07-11-07, 04:02 PM
Like anything, the LARGE PRINT GIVITH, and the small print taketh away.
I would bet money that it is a labor rate excluding moving furniture etc.
I would also bet it is for 1 coat, and for white paint or at best a stock color that can be used on other jobs or returned if extra is not needed.
It would also be for a maximum room size such as 10' x 12'. And not include the ceiling.
For a proficient painter outfit, it may be a "loss" leader to get them in your home. Just like the grocery store that sells soda for a loss to get you in the door, and gets you on other items.
They may have a setup crew making minimum wage setup (1 guy making $9.00 a hour...given 30-60 minutes to setup), and then the painter making ($15-20 hour) again given 60-90 minutes to paint. With buying paint in stock colors by the 5 you could drive the price down to around $20 for a decent mid grade paint. At this rate your looking at approx 49.00 for the job. This doesn't include the roller sleve or a few other items to consider.
At most they may make $15-20 per room. Not a great way to get rich, but again, maybe just to get in the door.
Or simply, the painter is new, and doesn't know what the heck he is doing.
Call them up, and let us know what you find out.
I would bet money that it is a labor rate excluding moving furniture etc.
I would also bet it is for 1 coat, and for white paint or at best a stock color that can be used on other jobs or returned if extra is not needed.
It would also be for a maximum room size such as 10' x 12'. And not include the ceiling.
For a proficient painter outfit, it may be a "loss" leader to get them in your home. Just like the grocery store that sells soda for a loss to get you in the door, and gets you on other items.
They may have a setup crew making minimum wage setup (1 guy making $9.00 a hour...given 30-60 minutes to setup), and then the painter making ($15-20 hour) again given 60-90 minutes to paint. With buying paint in stock colors by the 5 you could drive the price down to around $20 for a decent mid grade paint. At this rate your looking at approx 49.00 for the job. This doesn't include the roller sleve or a few other items to consider.
At most they may make $15-20 per room. Not a great way to get rich, but again, maybe just to get in the door.
Or simply, the painter is new, and doesn't know what the heck he is doing.
Call them up, and let us know what you find out.
marksr
07-11-07, 07:08 PM
I'm sure it is just an advertising gimmic. As noted above the fine print probably excludes enough so that at $99 job while not likely, would be profitable.
As with any contractor you hire CHECK REFERENCES!!!!!! I never advertised [other than business cards] but always stayed busy and often got jobs where I was the high bidder - word of mouth can be worth a lot $
As with any contractor you hire CHECK REFERENCES!!!!!! I never advertised [other than business cards] but always stayed busy and often got jobs where I was the high bidder - word of mouth can be worth a lot $
slickshift
07-14-07, 11:56 AM
Oh, they'll do it
But they will just spray everything
The doorknobs, the cat...
*Drop Cloths are Extra
*Color other than whats in the bucket (which can be a mix of leftover whites, off-whites, and beiges, mixed with water), Extra
* Another coat (because that stuff will not cover in one coat)...Extra
They also can lower overhead by hiring people that you really don't want in your house, and not having the required paperwork, workman's comp, green cards, insurance, etc...
But they will just spray everything
The doorknobs, the cat...
*Drop Cloths are Extra
*Color other than whats in the bucket (which can be a mix of leftover whites, off-whites, and beiges, mixed with water), Extra
* Another coat (because that stuff will not cover in one coat)...Extra
They also can lower overhead by hiring people that you really don't want in your house, and not having the required paperwork, workman's comp, green cards, insurance, etc...