Bidding process

Construction
1

Hey guys,

I am going to be submitting a bid on a PCC store front property. It’s a new little strip that I took a look at today. The total window count is 170 including the doors. Roughly 40% are on ground level and the rest require ladder work.

Everything is pretty straight forward. However, this is the biggest job I’ve ever bid on. I’m not sure what to bid! The windows were covered for a little while at first, but haven’t been covered for almost two months. These bad boys have hard water, concrete, paint, and more than a few scratches.

I estimate, off the top of my head, it’s going to take at least 3 days by myself, if not a little longer. I was thinking a flat rate of $15 per window…
Does this sound to high? Too low? This job is going to be a doozy…

I unfortunately am not going to have time to take pictures,
but based on what I said, what do you guys think?

Thanks a lot,

Josh

2

Josh,

I think you’d better decide for sure how long this job is going to take you before you bid it. Being new to the business, have you done much CCU? Just a clarification there. It can take as much as three to four times as long as a regular first time clean.

My advice is, no matter what the time length is, you want to make a certain dollar amount per hour. So does the guy your competing against. Yours better be a little lower, but not so low that it’s not profitable to you.

Example: You want to make $500/day (8 hr day = $62.50/hr)

         Let say that you think it'll take 32 hours (38 with fudge factor)

          Multiple want you want hrly by time ($62.50/hr X 38 hrs)= $2,375

That is just my way of putting a sample bid together. I stay away from the $XX/per window formula because my thought pattern is–what one window takes 15 minutes, while another takes an hour. You’ve made $30 for an hour and fifteen minutes of work. Thats half of what I keep my hourly minimum at!
We couldn’t eat like that. But, hey, if it works for you, go with it.

Your math has you cleaning one window every eight and one half minutes. Thats over fifty windows per day. I think that might be a little high for a rough CCU. And you also have to include ladder moves, take down, set ups, lunch, talking to prospects, etc.

My bid would be more in the $3000 range. I wish I could see it, I might give another price.

Good Luck, Bro! I hope you get it. Besides, if you do it in three days for $15/window, you just made $850/day for three days work.

Let us know how it comes out.

3

Thanks a lot, Bert.

I took a second look on my way home and it probably is going to take more like 5 days. It’s freakin’ huge. My pane count from earlier was off, as I did not see a few windows. I totally agree with you about the hourly rate ideology. My $15/window was me rushing to post before I had to go back to work.
I have done 3 PCC jobs to date, all of them being residential. I had waivers and contracts signed before the work started, but everything went very smoothly.
I’m going to fax over the bid tonight.

Thanks again for the help.

4

Good Luck Man. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

5

You mentioned that the windows have scratches. If you do get the job, you might want to somehow document this with the owner/contractor, to make sure you are not blamed for these.

6

If they will be looking for a maintenance program you got two things to work with to get the job; the CCU bid and the maintenance bid. Can’t tell you how to bid, as I’m too new at this to get specific. But, you may be able to play one bid low and the other high to get the job.

Eric

7

What is your plan on dealing with the hard water?

What is your plan on dealing with the concrete?

What is your plan on dealing with the scratches?

8

The hard water will be treated last w/ steel wool or unger rubout. ( treated last b/c of the concrete)

The concrete will be treated with a pump up spayer filled w/ gg4 and water while using a new razor blade. I have had luck with this method. However, I am gona get some phosphoric acid and a hogs hair brush b/c this seems a lot quicker and safer.

Scratches will be documented and photographed prior to cleaning along with them signing a no fault waiver.

Did I pass your quiz?

Josh

9

Not a quiz, but an opportunity for you to reflect on the preparation and planning this job requires.

Your initial post seemed to reveal some inexperience, and you didn’t offer your planning up front. The fact that this is your largest bid opportunity shouldn’t sway you from your past, successful bidding process. After all, when utilizing factor pricing, one can account for differences in scale.

It’s interesting that you mention having had luck with concrete removal via straight solution and a blade. I don’t perform service on the basis of luck.

10

Thank you, sir.

11

Nice breakdown there,
Idowindows, and some very good advice as well from some other folks.

12

I am a novice with ccu as well. I would like to know what you suggest for removing concrete, plaster, hard water and dealing with scratches.

Thanks,

Lucidwindows

13

I’m new to this but want to know what do you handle these issues? And what about plaster?

Thanks,
JD.

14

My post was to provoke thought (1 1/2 years ago!)

What is your plan on dealing with the hard water?
Discuss with owner/builder after inspection and determine appropriate chemical use.
What is your plan on dealing with the concrete?
I use a phosphoric acid-based solution to release the (binding) sand. I apply with a hogs hair brush because it will not trap construction debris which may scratch the glass as it is being moved across the surface. I use the same process for plaster.
What is your plan on dealing with the scratches?
I utilize customer education and a heat-treated glass waiver. If scratches are found during walk-through inspection, I notify owner/builder. If scratches are found during cleaning, I stop and notify owner/builder to determine next steps. (usually contact window supplier to replace.)

Read all you can about fabricating debris and construction cleanup. There are many threads to be found using the Search feature (top of page.)