How much should i charge to stain this fence?

Question

Im staining a family freinds fence

her yard it about 50x30

im doing oneside only

well today i started for the first time

took me 3 hours to do 4 panels
i was doing it by hand
she has a sprayer but its a peice of junk
and the stain she is using is $30 a gallon

im chargeing $10 any hour
and i didnt get much done

im not a greedy person and i dont really want to cheat her out of her money

does anyone know how much a professional would charge

i want to kind of set a fixed price so i can work at my own pace


any help is appreciated

Answer 1

Well, if you have already been charging her a specific price, you're kind of set to it. You say she's a friend of the family so be a friend and help her out. You could go out and buy your own sprayer, they aren't that much for a simple one.

Answer 2

With all due respect, and agreeing with 1 & 2, You are set in the price; IF in fact you have stated what you're charging; or she is paying you as a day laborer. Does she know about $10 per hour???

You say you're not greedy, and that this is a family friend. It sounds like you're unhappy with both.

"I" as a professional would probably give a FAMILY FRIEND a break; so I won't tell you what I charge; but then you really confuse the issue by stating a fixed price so you can work at your own pace??? Why would you want to drag the job out?

SHE IS USING; is a bit inaccurate also. YOU are using the stain. Is she paying for it?

I don't want to offend you; but bite the bullet; get the job done; take what she pays you; and move on. You obviously feel like you deserve more $$$; though I can't imagine why. You're obviously not interested in the job; yet you agreed to it??? You're obviously Not a professional or you wouldn't be here asking.

You could use a Hansen Pump Sprayer. Less than $20; and does the job. You could use a roller.

160 ft. At $10 per hour you could charge her thousands of dollars if you drag this; although she would need to be institutionalized as insane to pay you. You could charge $1 a foot? You could base your fee on number of panels; yet that still suggests you aren't motivated or in a hurry to finish. You could have negotiated a price up front.

Again; and with some respect; PLEASE to not go into trades work; unless you truly feel some enjoyment in it; not strictly for a profit motive. If you want to make money in the trades begin with Plumbing or Electrical work; after getting an education in those areas.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

you aren't telling us the things we need to know to help you out here.... Like is the fence 4' high or 20' high? New wood or old? pine or oak? 50' x 30' x 2 ? I'd spray, unless it's windy and neighbors are close.

Answer 4

i use a mini-hot dog roller and charge 45 bucks a gallon. if you want to spray, get a wagner hvlp for about 75 bucks, it will go much faster!