Bidding Tips When Renovating Existing Interior Flooring
by Daniel Owen - R&D Leader, Specialty Flooring
When bidding on a project with an existing flooring system, it can be difficult to put a firm number on it because there are many unknowns to consider. Review these quick tips and scenarios to ensure you and your customer are getting a fair rate.
Evaluating Flooring Viability
Both you and the customerneed to understand whether the finished floor is truly viable. Since you don’t have x-ray vision, you will need to lay out the worst case scenario. Often there are certain defects you know will be present, such as the presence of tack strip holes beneath carpet or the presence of glue or Mastic if the floor has VCT. Further, if the customer wants an acid stain, you know there’s a chance the old tile lines could telegraph back through the stain.
Honesty is the Best Policy
So how do you deal with these unknowns? First, be honest with the potential client about the worst case scenario. If the floor has tile on it, informthem you have no way of knowing what the floor will look like once the tile is removed with a chipping hammer. If they want you to stain the concrete,more than likely you’ll need to install an overlay. It is always better to bid the job for the worst case and tell the customers they can decide after the demo is complete if they want to remove the overlay from the scope of the project. I have found that if you lose this type of project to a contractor who low balls it, it can be a blessing in disguise.
Demolition & Developing the Proposal
Once you’ve reached an agreement on the desired flooring system, you have the somewhat daunting task of putting your proposal together. The first big question:who is going to perform the demolition?Will you and your team do it? If it is carpet, sure why not? It’s a simple enough task. However, if it’s VCT or tile you may want to think about subbing that part of the project to a specialized contractor. They have all the proper equipment and manpower to perform the demolitioneffectively. The cost will be a bit higher, but it could work out much better in the long run. I know from experience that the demo phase of a project can eat you alive if things don’t go well.
Once you compile thenumbers, make sure your bid is as clear and concise as possible. It’s also a good idea to verbally review it with the customer so he/she has a chance to ask any questions.
While these types of projects can be challenging, they are also fairly common. It’s essential to become accustomed to answering the tough questions. Remember that you are the expert. It’s also beneficial to take the time to develop a positive relationship with the demo/prep contractor. Let them do what they do well so you can focus on what you do well.
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