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+-- Thread: Siding removal (/showthread.php?tid=7378523)
Siding removal - MstrCarpenter - 05-18-2025
So I've got a "roof raise" project that I've been working on (for too long). Customers wanted to change siding color from white to grey on the whole house at some point in the near future, so I put the new color on my new work. The new 28 x 38 second floor sits on a 26 x 70+ ranch so there's somewhere between 1700 and 2000 square ft. of vinyl siding to be removed. About 2/3 of that has wide clap boards underneath. The window door casings stay as I'll be putting 3/4" foam to bring it flush for siding. I asked a young guy (late 20's early 30's) if he wanted to quote to strip and load in my dumpster. I'll add that he has been charging me $32.50/Hr.. I even offered to let him do the back (about 5 square) by the hour to help him guesstimate his time. He said he just had to measure. I told him it was more important to know how much had clapboards too, and gave him some advice based on how I've done it in the past. (He did listen and genuinely thank me.) I pointed to a wall section about 12'x 9'; he said; Just vinyl, only about 10 minutes, but (he) still had to pick up and load it. I suggested I would lay out a tarp, lay 2 or 3 short ropes next to the wall, drop the vinyl siding somewhat neatly on the ropes so I could tie up a bundle to take to the dumpster. Now you still have to pull (or bang in) some nails and bring the tarp to the next section, then grab a water or take a leak, so call it 30 minutes. He agreed. How about I pay you for an hour, (for 100 sq. ft.) then I won't care how many breaks you take. Sounded really good to him! He just gave me a quote of $5000! That's more than double what I expected.
Question is, how do I diplomatically tell him he's out of his f-ing mind? I think we're too far apart for him to save face. He's over $250/sq. and I esimated $200/sq. including the mat'ls and labor for foam board or Typar and taped joints. That's based on $100/Hr. + overhead+ 15% for me doing something that doesn't require my experience or desire to do.
There's a saying that goes something like "Diplomacy is telling someone to go to hell in a manner that they'll actually look forward to making the trip."
RE: Siding removal - EatenByLimestone - 05-19-2025
I think it’s easiest to flat out tell him.
If you two were agreeing on the amount of time it’d take to do the job, it sounds like you didn’t account for the:
I’m going to have to work with MstrCarpenter upcharge.
RE: Siding removal - fredhargis - 05-19-2025
A lot of times the "tough love" approach is always the best.
RE: Siding removal - tomsteve - 05-19-2025
(05-19-2025, 05:25 AM)EatenByLimestone Wrote: If you two were agreeing on the amount of time it’d take to do the job, it sounds like you didn’t account for the:
I’m going to have to work with MstrCarpenter upcharge.
yuuuuuuuup