Obtaining formal bids begins
with specifications for the work to be done.
As we all know, the bids received are not always apples-to-apples
because there are various ways of approaching a scope of work. For instance, painting with one coat or
two. A bid for one coat of paint
naturally will cost less than the bid for two coats. However, the discrepancy with competing bids
becomes increasingly more problematic when they appear to have the same approach
for doing the work, i.e., they both specify two coats of paint.
If two competing bids appear
equal in terms of approach yet one bid is significantly lower than the other,
this is a red flag. When you notice red
flags, ask questions. The ultimate goal
when soliciting bids should be to receive apples-to-apples bids. This is the only way to obtain usable
bids.
To keep with the two coats of
paint versus one coat example, here’s what you should know:
There is a difference between
a real two-coat application and cross-hatching.
While cross-hatching is a perfectly acceptable practice, it is not a
true two-coat process.
What
is cross-hatching?
- Painting (or spraying) in one direction (up and down) and again in another direction (left and right)
- It takes about 30% less time and 30% less paint than a true two-coat process
- The time and materials difference results in a lower price than a bid for a true two-coats
- The workmanship and quality are not comparable to a true two-coats
What
constitutes a true two-coat application?
- The first coat of paint must be allowed to dry for one to four hours before the second coat is applied
- The first coat of paint is approximately 80% lighter than the final coat (this will allow you to visibly inspect the work and accurately determine if two coats were applied)
- Each coat should be relatively thin for maximum durability and longevity, as opposed to one thick coat applied using the cross-hatching technique.
If two bids appear comparable
in scope of work to be performed yet differ drastically in price, ask the
contractors to define two-coats for you.
This will allow you to determine if the bid is for a true two-coats or
if the bid is priced for cross-hatching.
This applies for other repair
work as well, be it wood replacement or fence repairs. If two bids differ significantly in price yet
appear equal in scope, ask the contractor to explain their approach. Yes, this seems like more work for you but
it’s worth it in the long run.
Paint
Recommendations:
·
For the first
coat, use a primer for the greatest durability.
·
To prevent a
contractor from coming back a few minutes later to apply a thin second coat, require
a dry time between coats of one to four hours depending on humidity and
temperature. For example, Phoenix
requires less in-between dry time than Seattle.
Paint
Resources:
Cari Stark
EmpireWorks Marketing
cstark@empireworkks.com
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