Painting a sq. ft area??

Whats up fellas, Got a pretty big area they want painted yellow, and some handicap stalls painted entirely blue! Anyways never done them before and no clue on how much paint I'll use up . I was trying to come up with a decent price and can't figure out whats fair. I'm not asking for prices but just a good way to go about figuring what to charge. It's a re-stripe also.

hey I may be wrong but this is what I do If I am reading your question right let's say your customer wants to paint the entire handicap spot blue take your measurement Length X Width = total feet. Then take the total number of feet you have then times it by what ever you charge per fot to stripe. Let's say 162 sf x $0.??= I guess that is what you mean in your question if not sorry -Dean

Just convert your regular striping (I am assuming is in LinearFeet) to square feet... When you multiply legnth times width you come up with sq feet. Say you charge .12 a linear foot for 4" stripes, that would be .36 per sq ft... now that same stall goes from $19 to $58...Hope I did not confuse you, buts thats how we do it, and actually I charge even more, it's just one of those custom type of things that you should be able to make more $$ to paint..

Awesome, exactly what I needed!! Thanks a bunch Sean Paramount Asphalt

Use caution painting the entire space! I add sand to the paint to prevent slip/fall hazards and apply with a large roller, but only after the PM is informed and writes off on the possible problems. My paint cans say not to apply to large surfaces which can get wet. Add cost of sand and extra labor to your cost and keep your insurance premiums paid.

Eh? I don't get it? I worked with my uncle in New Jersey this summer for about 4 months, he doesn't bother with sealing or striping much anymore. He had me stripe everything he paved till I got the hang of it. Came back to VA, worked for another striping company doing all their striping for about 5 months or so, got sick of $10 an hour and started my own business. Attended the NPE learned all I could and now I'm to (expletive) busy! Good thing about the south is the lack of hustle from these southern folk, I'm hungry for it and don't leave till I get the job . My mom does all the bookeeping for the company if thats what you mean. Sean Paramount Asphalt

Sean, I think you have a point, Liability is a big concern when you own your own business.....I think that other person was being kind of quirky, not sure what he was aiming for though with his comment. We have been in business for quite some time and our whole basis is safety and customer satisfaction.. India

I would just echo the comment about "slip & fall" liability. 1st I would advise the customer against painting large areas "solid" if pedestrians will walk there. 2nd If they insist be sure to write up and have them sign a disclaimer saying you advised against doing this (spell out exactly what) but did it only at their specific instruction and that they agree you and (you rcompany name) assume to responsibility "expressed or implied" (be sure those words are in there) for any accident, injury, claims, or losses resulting from the performance of this work against your advice and recommendation and "indemnify and hold harmless" (you and your company name) for any injury, loss, or legal action taken by any party at any time as a direct or indirect result of the performance of this work. Using #2 usually talks them out of doing it when they realize it's "all on them". 3rd There is also a specialty paint for this (don't remember where I saw it) but it's blue, very expensive (like $50 a gal if I remember) and must be rolled on because it contains sand or whatever for "anti-slip". Even if you used this I'd still do the disclaimer just to be on the safe side. Whatever you charge it's not worth risking a big insurance claim over and people look for excuses to fall down & sue these days. Even if they are not looking to sue this is "double trouble" because people in handicap spaces often have trouble walking or getting in & out of their cars anyway. From my own experience since my 85 year-old mom broke her hip last year she has to have very stable footing to stand up or sit down when getting in & out of her car and anything that made the surface slippery could be big trouble for her if one foot slipped even just a tiny bit.

I think they are just pointing out something that you will begin to see with your new business, and that is liability issues. We used to never care about say for example red curbs and the slip and fall factor, but now being in business for many years I look at everything, we now include beads on the red to prevent slipping, and we only paint with a flat color red rather than a high gloss and slippery color. With this job you are bidding, include to add sand to the paint, and inform the manager of that, and also like the previous post you may want to sign a disclaimer that although you have taken measures to prevent a slip and fall you can not be held liable. People will sue for everything, a friend of mine had a lady twist her ankle in crack seal 6 months after it was applied, she sued the PM and got 30k from them and 30k from my friends insurance...That sucks

There are roadmarking products out on the market designed for these kinds of applications, if you follow these links this will give you an idea of what's available. I would take the slip issue very seriously when covering a large area with roadmarking paint. Here are the links for you. It's a U.K site but the product is available world wide email the company to find out your nearest dealer. It's going to cost more, but once you have explained to the punter they'll be thinking twice about going down the cheap lane. Print off the picture and take it to them as well, pictures sell! http://www.btminternational.co.uk/products/asp/coloursafe… http://www.btminternational.co.uk/products/asp/treadgrip.asp

Asphaltman wrote on Mar 16, 2005:Go to #9

I think they are just pointing out something that you will begin to see with your new business, and that is liability issues. We used to never care about say for example red curbs and the slip and fall factor, but now being in business for many years I look at everything, we now include beads on the red to prevent slipping, and we only paint with a flat color red rather than a high gloss and slippery color. With this job you are bidding, include to add sand to the paint, and inform the manager of that, and also like the previous post you may want to sign a disclaimer that although you have taken measures to prevent a slip and fall you can not be held liable. People will sue for everything, a friend of mine had a lady twist her ankle in crack seal 6 months after it was applied, she sued the PM and got 30k from them and 30k from my friends insurance...That sucks

Liability is a fact of life in these "lawsuit happy days". What the disclaimer does is prevent what happened to your friend. It puts it all on the PO. I would not include a line that "you have taken measures to prevent a slip and fall " at all. That can be twisted into "implied liability" because it "proves" you knew about the problem took the chance anyway even though you attempted to solve it. Then you have a "gray" area that opens a hole for lawyers. Not saying don't add the sand. Just don't mention it in the disclaimer. Leave ALL responsibility on the property owner.

Thats true.....

Even with a waiver being signed I would think that the striper would still be liable if a fall took place,because you knew you were creating a slip hazard. I had a customer that requested the same work from me and when I explained why he shouldn't do the whole spot blue, he understood and did what I suggested which was to paint the lines all blue with the blue square and man. Came out really nice and customer ended up very happy and sent me to his 2 other places for the same work in the handicapped area.

One other issue of painting large areas. If you are painting on top of asphalt, physics is a factor. You have all seen cracking in widely painted areas. The asphalt obsorbs heat while paint reflects it, causing cracking that can lead to expensive filling and patching. Make sure to always point this out when large square-footage painting on asphalt is requested.

I resemble the statement that we suthernurs do not hussle. My linedriver is as fast as anyones.

Yep, we may walk slow, and we may talk slow, but give us a linedriver and watch us go.