Pricing and mounting letters

[jsfrost]

I am discussing an opportunity that would involve cut out letters in black with red outlines roughly 12 inches high mounted over vinyl siding. Presently the wish for an exotic font rules out purchased letters. I can find lots of how to information on the forum, but have no feel for the labor involved. I presently think the letters would be cut from foam and need a rough guess on a fair price for cutting hardening and painting. I have seen the mounts for purchased plastic letters. Are these adaptable to a SB cut letter? Or how would the letters mount?
Presently I just need overview information as I suspect that once I quote a reasonable price, the job will be simplified.

Jim

[billp]

Jim,
Regardless of which method you choose to cut,"harden", and mount the letters, it seems a bit risky to me that you are quoting a job without knowing what it REALLY will entail... And quoting a reasonable price without knowing HOW to do the job adds fuel to the fire...
There are MANY ways to do the above job, and it would be a VERY good idea to research ALL of them to decide what you can accomplish before you jump in on this one...

[Brady Watson]

Yes...very good points, Bill.

Jim,
You want to contact the customer to find out what material is being curretnly used, plus see if you can get your hands on an existing sample (or at the very least detailed drawings of the entire deal). Then make ONE...see how long it takes you, how you are going to hold down the material and how good it looks.

That's just the cutting aspect...how are you going to finish them?

-Brady

[rookie432]

Basic Overview,

The prices on the net for letters are just that. For the letters. Labor is entirely different. A good start point would be to settle on an hourly rate for labor. This is fairly safe due to any hidden problems that always sneek up and bite you when you go to install. Be fair with your customer also. If it takes you three hours because you made a mistake you might cut your rate to reflect that. Some service agencies charge hourly regardless if they take longer due to their incompetance and that really chaps my behind.

Research different materials also. Signfoam is great for outdoor usage but it is also expensive and has high prep and finish times due to hardening filling sanding etc.
Some other materials to consider is:
Polycarve
Expanded PVC sheets
Solid surface Material.
Exterra Mdf
Etc

Most of these are already hard enough to do the job and some will need no finish work if you can get the materials in the colors you want. Also they cost the same or less than signfoam so you can put more in your pocket.

Installation Tip:
If you are going to use the pads and stems to mount your letters get yourself a 1/4" sheet of luan or other cheap material. Use this to make a template of your sign. Use the router to score the luan with your layout design then layout where your pads will go on the letters and peck drill through the material so that you can set the template against the wall, level it, then mark pad locations through the holes.

Take the same artwork layout and invert it for your letters. Peck drill the same holes on the backside of the letters just deep enough to see where your letterpad will go. Cut out letters from the back. Now you will have a corresponding mark on the back of the letter that will match the mark you will make on the wall.

This procedure will help greatly with registrating the letters on you wall and give you a professional look and will only add about $10 to your cost while saving a bunch of time.

hope this all make sense
feel free to e-mail me if you need more info.

Bill
sign letter

6357 (3.8 k)

[joe]

Jim,

I price this kind of product right out of the Gemeni Catalogue.

When doing outline letters we have our SB cut the oversized background letter, which is stud mounted to the wall. Then we attach the letter, which is usually plex, to the substrate background with 3M VHB. This hides the fore mentioned bolt heads.

See "Lincoln Apartments" which is the last picture on the last page of the web site.

I use 1/2" PVC as much as possible because is requires very little finishing and lasts. Coupled with a top surface of plex. the job goes fast.

A pattern is necessary.

J
www.normansignco.com (http://www.normansignco.com)

[jay]

Jim, I also use the Gemeni Catalogue as a pricing guide for my letters but may I suggest that you take a look at this thread http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=312&post=17932#POST17932, as it covers a lot of the basics of pricing that are sometimes forgotten.

[jsfrost]

Thanks for the helpful replies.
As Bill P obviously sensed from my question, I'm not ready to present a formal quote to my customer. I'm shifting my business from play and learn to part time learn and earn, with emphasis on cutting and I know I have a lot to learn. I was trying to understand enough to ballpark cost/feature tradeoffs to see what the client/neighbor wants to pay for and if I even fit in the picture.
If I touch the job at all, I will be cuting for a local sign shop at a price TBD. He will quote, paint and install. The information provided will be very helpful in working out what it is I might cut.

Jim