How much should I charge to paint this table?
by
Roberto
+2
Im was asked to paint this table and wax it, but i have to remove the old paint and put stain, sealer and then semi gloss
Look into vat striping services
charge by the hour
If you've done furniture refinishing before, you probably know about how much time it will take you to complete the table. I'd start with that number and then multiply by what you want to make per hour. Don't sell yourself short....perhaps suggest an amount you'd feel good to receive and see what the person says....negotiate it a bit if you're comfortable with that. Be sure to include the expenses of the products you will need such as paint, sandpaper, etc. Obviously the person who asked you has confidence that you'll do a good job and they don't want to or don't feel competent to do it for themselves. Throw a number out there and if you get a gasp, perhaps you've asked for too much. :). My daughter-in-law had a long low 9-drawer piece done along with two night stands and she was charged $200 and was very happy to pay that price.
$200. It's very time consuming.
A couple of things I would like to include in this answer. Are they insisting on latex and wax? It won’t last. Wax is not a sealant ( even floor wax has to be redone and of course cannot be used on a table used for eating/food). There are paint products that do not require stripping, just a good cleaning and sanding if the surface is rough or needed patching. I have had great results using Vintage Market andDesign product Chalk furniture paint and specially formulated products that were designed to work both together and with their paint. The also have sealants and their paints are low VOC. Tutorials online and they sell online. Tables can get some serious wear and tear so doing it with the right process and products can ensure great long lasting results.
Pricing depends on many factors. You may want to visit some local Vintage shops and see what others are charging for their tables. You would need to subtract for the cost of their base table unfinished as you are not providing the table to your customer. Compare that to a cost per hour you would like to have. Also use your experience- if you have done a similar piece how long did it take. If going into this you need to calculate your expenses, labor and multiply by your time. This table should come out spectacularly!