scarifier rates

Alright everybody, need an idea of what to charge for removing directional arrows from asphalt with a scarifier. It will cost me $242.00 a day to rent (includes blades). I've never done any removal work before and I don't know how long it'll take per arrow - there are 6 arrows. I understand there will be damage to the asphalt layer but they want them removed. Thanks!! Tiny/LOTMARKER

Have you thought about powerwashing with a 0degree tip? We just did one today.Realighed a small lot.Work good with very little stripper.(nice gal) Like every thing else costs plus profit =price.

Too bad that you have to rent, I am guessin that these are not Thermo arrows which would increase the price. I would probably charge around $350.00 for that type of job, a minmum charge sounds like 1 Hour of work to me plus to and from. If they hired a sandblaster it would be min 2 hours anyways. I would add your regular profit to labour cost of doing the job. Telling the customer you need to see how much wear has come from blades is a good way of charging a little extra. Good luck Greed and Fear, start high @ $450.00 you can always come down but never up. Specialty work derserves specialty price.

Stephane is right, The rental kinda eats any profit you might see. When I used to have to rent equipment of any kind, I'd try to schedule several jobs to maximize my profit(spread the cost out over more jobs). If you can rent on a weekend. Most rental yards are closed on Sundays So, you usually get a free day, this way. Most importantly, check the weather before you rent. Honestly, I'd recommend taking a loan and buying a scarifier. even if it's just the entry level Smith. It gives you more flexibility in scheduling you work. You'd be surprised, how useful they are once you have one. We maintain over a hundred properties and many times we'll use it while on site (striping),for a few areas. In some cases, I don't even charge for something as small as six arrows. My attitude is: 1) it makes my work look better, when I get rid of built up/flaking paint 2) it makes my job easier in the future (less prep time). If you are painting back over the removal area, the scarifier alone is just fine. Just don't try to take off too much at once. Sweep the area between each pass, as the wheels will grind the paint dust into the surrounding concrete. Try to keep scarring to a minimum .In most cases, you WILL NOT be able remove all traces of paint with the scarifier alone. If you want to remove all traces of the markings, I'd recommend following with a pressure washer, to remove paint in porous surfaces. I usually try to get at least $50 - $75 an hour for this type of work. I talked to one striper, who does pressure washing with sand injection and he charges $150 an hour for this method of removal. That is before cleanup. Just bid your first job in a manner that you won't lose money. Then you'll have an idea, what YOUR TIME is worth. If you feel like you weren't fairly compensated, charge more in the future. If the customer tries to hold you to this price in the future, simply explain that you lost your a** on the first job(whether you did or not) and that $xxxx is your new rate for that kind of work. If they don't like, let someone else do the work for nothing.

have you talked to them about seal coating the arrows out or using black striping paint, or if they are going to change how the arrows are facing in the same spots straight to curve try sealer or paint and then paint new arrow make sure the back ground is bigger than the arrow so you give the shadow box effect and they look nice also, or that is what I would suggest to them.

I appreciate all of the input guys! I understand all of the variables involved. Okie-unfortunately I have blacked out these arrows 2 times - the second at no charge. I've told the pm the only way to get rid of them is to physically remove them. What I don't know is how long it will take to do each arrow. I have no idea - never having done this procedure before and I'm just trying to keep a large client happy wiithout losing my (expletive)! Cheney - what pressure power washer yo use to remove paint? I have access to a 3500psi - is that enough? Thanks everybody!!!

I appreciate all of the input guys! I understand all of the variables involved. Okie-unfortunately I have blacked out these arrows 2 times - the second at no charge. I've told the pm the only way to get rid of them is to physically remove them. What I don't know is how long it will take to do each arrow. I have no idea - never having done this procedure before and I'm just trying to keep a large client happy wiithout losing my a$$! Cheney - what pressure power washer yo use to remove paint? I have access to a 3500psi - is that enough? Thanks everybody!!!

It shouldn't take more than an hour or two, if that long. Depending on the size of the arrows and thickness of the paint. I ran my scarifier over some lines on blacktop a couple weeks ago and it took up some large chunks with the paint. Even at a higher setting, I'd be careful. Also advise your client of the possible surface damage. I don't do sealcoating, but i'd guess you might want to reseal the area too.

I bought a little scarifier from Smith Mfg at the EXPO loaded with the wide tungston carbide blades designed for removing film (thermo). 'Been using it successfully on concrete and asphalt. Makes surfaces smooth as a babies butt!

3500 psi will work. I use a roto nozzel. Alot depends on the condition of the substrate. The older the asphalt the better it cleans up.We do not see a lot of concrete lots here.

I started pressure washing then moved into striping. I'm still pretty new at this and \\\STRIPES/// has been very helpful. The pressure washer is what I use. You have just enough pressure although I'd recommend 4000-4500psi, you probably all you need to do is buy a turbo nozzle and filter. That thing works wonders for us. Here is a guy that sells equipment and parts, Joe Townsend with American Cleaning [phone removed]. These folks are good to deal with but I would imagine any supply place can sell them to ya.

Hey Lotmarker, I just rented a scarifier last week to remove a thermo stop bar in the Chesapeake Square Mall area. It took me about 45 min to an 1 hour to completely remove it, but I was also pretty thorough because I was killing time while I waited for my newly painted stop bar to dry! I don't know who you are renting from, but be careful because I was quoted $231 from Sunbelt (who is cheaper than United rental in our area) and when all was said and done the total cost was $330.97. I had it delivered to the job site which was $50 of that, but then returned it myself to save and extra $50. The rest was tax, gas, environmental, and rental protection plan, blah, blah, blah!! I declined the insurance but had to pay for the protection plan anyway. What a ripoff. Anyway, good luck.

Hey STRIPES, what model smith scarifier did you buy at the expo?

It was the 200 series (the little one) The larger ones are too bulky for our normal use. A 200 is not too heavy for one man to load and unload.

Stripes, how much does the Smith 200 cost?

Around $1700 loaded with a full set of tungston carbide.

Hey guys, I really,really appreciate this forum! It is so helpful to pool knowledge to help poor, ignorant, unknowing stripers like myself! Did the job - used a 3500psi pres washer and a turbo tip (which neither I nor my friend who owns a pressure washing business had ever used - another example of this forums usefulness!) and knocked out 21 arrows - took about 4 hrs but I have a happy PM and a little pofit in my pocket anyhow! Couldn't stripe cause of weather - unfortunately I don't live in a year around season area like some people who live in the "great" state of Texas! - so it was good to make something. By the way...if everything is bigger in Texas, why could I not find jeans to fit me? I'm only 6'7" and 300 lbs? Besides that, I wouldn't want to live in the state that had the nfl "cowgirls" in it anyway!!! Thanks guys Tiny.......LOTMARKER

I agree with flyperk with respect to the pressure issue. Layered paint begins to shatter and remove more thouroughly when you exceed 4500psi using a turbo nozzle. Heat does remove petroleum stains more thoroughly but being we aren't in the "pressure washing business", I have removed the burners from the pumps..... I have found no difference in paint removal using heat when the pressure is over 4000psi. Sundog, you might wish to get a scarifier rigged with the "thermo" cutters. They work well on asphalt and concrete and will remove paint too with no scarring.

lotmarker, from that experience would you say 3500 psi w/turbo nozzle was more than sufficient , not quite enough psi, borderline?

well, I dont really have a reference point. It worked okay - seemed to work a lot faster on the more worn asphalt. I have never used a higher psi or a scarifier so I dont know if it would be much faster. I did accomplish what I set out to do - make a large client happy and make a little profit. Tiny