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Hello folks  I need help, I am  bidding on a commercial handrail,  and had quoted   a few  before  but  usually  I am told   I am too high, I am in  Dallas  Tx. area this   is a simple   1 1/2"  sq tubing  "per customers request"  posts   at  8' centers when possible  with a  kick plate  is there a rule of thumb  you all use  like  $   per linear feet , I want do this  to keep customers happy and still make money.I have the manpower and equipment to do the job, also the experience  but   lack the knowledge in bidding these jobs. Thanks
Reply:I add up price of material then double it.Then I figure out how many welds total will be in the piece and I normally figure about $10 per weld. More if they are longer bigger welds than just rod/picket welds.Thats about it for how I figure bids. Of coarse I will adjust depending on odd shapes, corners, and whatnots but that is the jist of it.
Reply:Are the customers that say you are too high having the job done elsewhere?  Or are they not doing the job?
Reply:Without haveing done many railings, it will be hard for you to bid it. I've done enough through the years that I know about how long it takes to build a section. I figure that time by the number of sections and depending on how big the job, I add some in for problems. It seems there are always problems.
Reply:I wont touch a railing for less then 85 per linear ft. Thats just for basic style pipe or square stock ect. Any detailed design or in depth fab and i go up. As high as 150 a ft. That being said we have abundance of work so if we loose the job due to price we don't mind.  I wouldn't want it any how. There are some guys in my area that do wrought iron so cheap its nuts. Like 30 bucks a ft!!We have gotten calls after the fact to finish/fix work that the "cheaper guy" had screwed up. In the end you get what you pay for. Hope that helps.Nick
Reply:Just curious What some of you every day railing pros would bid on this guard rail? 17' in all, 2x1/4" flat spacer footing, 4x1/8" flat on top of the footing, 3/4"rebar pickets, 3x3" posts, and then a 2x1/4" top that will be a base for a wood top. Railing is 36" tall.
Reply:85$ x 17 = 1445$... How many hours you quote, how many real hours ? how much $ material ?  Don't listen to me i would probably have under estimated the project just to remember next time to charge more. A customer may have taken me to accept 900$ in a not so busy time, better than nothing.
Reply:I would price that at 1445$ installed. If there was any core drilling involved we charge 50$ a hole plus material. Not an everyday railing guy, its pry about 20% of my work. . Mostly in the summer. Nick
Reply:Originally Posted by snowbird85$ x 17 = 1445$... How many hours you quote, how many real hours ? how much $ material ?  Don't listen to me i would probably have under estimated the project just to remember next time to charge more. A customer may have taken me to accept 900$ in a not so busy time, better than nothing.
Reply:I am in the $1445 area as well. For the OP, does you rail have just a grab rail, or is it a 3 rail? Cored drilled, or mounting plates? $35 a foot for a grab rail on plates is pretty reasonable here. That type of work takes not time at all to do.