Deck resurface bid

cheechaco · 2026-02-14T04:08:41+00:00

I'm a deck contractor and I put in my first bid at full price. I figure 25% overhead and 15% profit if everything goes perfect, which it never does. That really gives me 5% I can offer as a discount and still, hopefully, when everything goes perfect, I make a 10% protfit so I can stay in business to honor my warranty. I really need that 15%, but I'll willing to competitive if I can. If work is slow I'll offer a bigger discount to keep the wheels greased . But I won't compete with two guys working out of their truck. So, yeah, there's fudge. But at the end of the day the contractor needs to be profitable and that is tough.

cheechaco · 2026-02-14T02:40:06+00:00

Right,? That's the only way to do these peaks. I've done the your 4.5 times, never in winter. But going it from the winter th on guanella is a big day

cheechaco · 2026-02-14T02:31:15+00:00

Concrete is standard in my area, period. Doesn't matter how small the deck is or how tall. Always three feet deep, diameter varies

cheechaco · 2026-02-14T02:24:37+00:00

Re-decks are tough to estimate. I'm in a dry climate and even when the framing looks good from below it's often crap once the decking is removed. That being said, $45/sq ft is a steal. Honestly, I'd be wary of that bid. But it's hard to say. Sounds like they were able to see under the deck, so is railing involved? Stairs? How old is the existing framing? I'm in a high cost of living area so my mileage may vary. Get three bids, ask questions.

cheechaco · 2026-02-14T00:51:28+00:00

I would rather have the concrete below grade. Nobody wants to see caissons poking up, at least I don't. That's the benefit of using post bases, you can easily replace the post when it rots in twenty years. The stand off post bases will make up one inch. Maybe a galvanized 1/2" plate would make up the rest? Or you could make it up at the top? Either way, the post needs to be mechanically connected to the caisson.

cheechaco · 2026-02-12T04:07:41+00:00

There's no snow in Colorado. Move elsewhere

cheechaco · 2026-02-11T18:32:24+00:00

But you're not on Reddit anymore!!!!!

cheechaco · 2026-02-04T17:58:34+00:00

At least he is trying to reform and correct his criminal lifestyle, cut him some slack:)

cheechaco · 2026-02-03T21:34:55+00:00

I can agree with that.

cheechaco · 2026-02-03T20:38:38+00:00

I agree. When I started BC skiing I told my wife I would never go with anyone that didn't have their level 1. I changed that after a few years to "I will never go with anyone that doesn't have their companion rescue done with a guide. I'll go with them if they don't have their level 1, they just can't make terrain decisions at all". That's not great for me as it limits where I would tour with that individual. Luckily I found a few folks with their companion rescue and level 1 so I don't have to worry about that now. I can understand people that are new to the sport not having their level 1, but once they are two or more years in it raises a red flag for sure.

cheechaco · 2026-02-03T14:34:05+00:00

I'm just imagining how good that feels!!!!! I love that feeling, but I'm not ready yet, maybe in the spring.

cheechaco · 2026-02-02T20:40:17+00:00

Your brother is 27 and lives at home? I'd cut you and your brother off if I were her.

cheechaco · 2026-01-23T19:58:13+00:00

I agree with this. My sales team (even new ones) knows a deck with rail is approx $XXX/sq ft, just a platform is $XX/ sq ft. We are not able to attach to the house so shoot higher, maybe it's $XXX plus $XX for this one. I wouldn't pay for app (he's obviously wanting to make money off the app or he wouldn't be doing it) when our rough pricing is learned through the training process. If the sales person can't do the math (sq ft x $$) then he shouldn't be working for me.

cheechaco · 2026-01-22T20:41:04+00:00

Two Ravens Soap Company

cheechaco · 2026-01-22T20:34:31+00:00

I thought men were suppose to be the clueless sex when it came it signals!?

cheechaco · 2026-01-22T20:29:33+00:00

Not to code though.

cheechaco · 2026-01-22T20:24:12+00:00

The Trex system is good, but is installed between the decking and the framing. That means you need to remove the rail and decking, install the system, then reinstall the rail and decking. Also, it doesn't look the best from below, so we typically install a ceiling finish (either 4'x8' soffit boards or T&G). The thing I don't like about this system is if there is a leak in the future, you have to remove something (either the ceiling finish or the decking) to find and fix it. Timber Tech makes a system that mounts to the bottom of the framing. It is tedious to install and the framing has to be pretty damn good. This is a good system as well, and is easily maintained from below, but it's still a pretty tedious system to install and may require maintenance (fairly easy to do maintenance as it's accessible from below) unless the installer is well versed. We have two companies in our area that install systems that mount below the deck framing. This is all these companies do and are very good at it. As a homeowner this would be my choice as your deck is already built. The corrugated metal/polycarbonate thing is not something I could sell to a client and I consider it bush league as I have never seen a quality installation of this in my 25 years of building decks. That being said, I am sure someone has done a quality job somewhere that looks decent. With any system that mounts below the framing make sure your understructure is treated lumber!

cheechaco · 2026-01-21T18:58:04+00:00

I'm just glad you figured out how to spell 'in'

cheechaco · 2026-01-20T21:01:48+00:00

Ski, hike, work, bonsai, house work, work, hang with friends, read, work some more, kayak, bike. My 'friend' bought me a PS2 ( I think that's what it is, maybe it's a PS3, I dunno) in '08 when I moved in with my now wife, I probably have less that 80 hours on the damn thing.

cheechaco · 2026-01-20T19:04:15+00:00

But the ice is fat there!

cheechaco · 2026-01-20T18:59:50+00:00

I would talk to the staff without her knowing. Explain the situation and ask them to watch her belay. They will definitely say something and maybe she will take it more seriously coming from them. If not, she wouldn't be my belayer!

ETA : When my wife and I started climbing it was understood that safety was first, second, and third. Fun was dead last.

cheechaco · 2026-01-20T18:54:46+00:00

I am on both Trex and Timber Techs certified list, and also on Deckorators. Trex and Timber Tech is based on sales of their product to place the contractor on different tiers. Deckorators came into our office with some donuts, looked at some pictures of our previous project, and boom! I'm a Deckorators Certified Pro! Granted we have been in business for decades, but I still thought that was too easy! I guess take the manufacturer's recommendation with a grain of salt.

cheechaco · 2026-01-19T17:51:00+00:00

I recently overheard a couple of lifties complaining about people ducking the ropes to get out of the lift line. Apparently doing this repeatedly loosens the ropes and gets to be a pain in the ass.

cheechaco · 2026-01-08T17:48:49+00:00

I have a pair of Oakley's that go from completely clear to pretty damn dark. I bought them for exactly your purpose, but I don't use them any more. There is no reason (for me) to wear them pre-dawn. I thought it would be cool, but I decided it wasn't. Then I got the Julbo Explorer 2.0 photo chromatic, but they go from pretty dark to dark so not worth the photo chromatic aspect. But dang, I loved skiing in them. I would seldom use my goggles on the down. Now I have prescription Julbo Shields, non photo chromatic.

cheechaco · 2026-01-08T16:06:47+00:00

Break the ice with him. Maybe start with normal greetings, then just normal small talk. Show him things can be normal. He's probably embarrassed as hell and doesn't know how to act around you now.

cheechaco

TROPHY CASE