how do you charge for a vinyl install? Should I try installing vinyl over screws?
One of the managers at my "Real Job" (til this vinyl thing takes off full force) wants me to make some vinyl graphics for a mobile concession stand he is running on his off time. I went out, measured, told him what I can and cant do (seeing as how I only have a vinyl cutter, and people want printed images, etc), and thinking back to the sides of this concession stand, it has rows of screws every 6-8 inches, about 1/2 dozen of them. So the lettering is going to have to go over the screws. I know this manager very well, and know that at the last second he is gonna ask me to install it for him, and I have no issues with installing, save for these damn screws. So, should i see if i could take out the screws and then appy the vinyl? Or should I get one of them handy dandy heat guns and after I apply the vinyl, gently go over those spots with the heat gun and make sure the vinyl is secured around, and on the screws? I plan on telling him the price for the vinyl, and adding a good amount and saying "Or for this much I can install it for you..."
And, just curious... how much do you folks charge for installation? Is it a set fee? Or a per hour charge? Thanks a ton in advance for any coments or suggestions )
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
Hi JT
I cant say without looking at the stand if you should take the screws out. Maybe someone else will chime in on that one.
Shop rate for installation is $65 per hour. That is timed from the time I leave the shop, to the time I get back (If I have to go there) Its much cheaper for them to bring it here.
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin
Hi JT
I cant say without looking at the stand if you should take the screws out. Maybe someone else will chime in on that one.
Shop rate for installation is $65 per hour. That is timed from the time I leave the shop, to the time I get back (If I have to go there) Its much cheaper for them to bring it here.
Thanks Robin... Do you work for yourself? Like run and own your own shop?
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
Yes it is hard to tell without looking at the trailer whether or not to take the screws out, I'd say do it with them in there and yes definitely take a heat gun (and a tennis ball), heat it up for a second or two and push tennis ball over it and twist gently.
My shop rate for installs is $50.00 per hr and that's like Robin said, from the time I leave until I get back.
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by theflowerboxx
Yes it is hard to tell without looking at the trailer whether or not to take the screws out, I'd say do it with them in there and yes definitely take a heat gun (and a tennis ball), heat it up for a second or two and push tennis ball over it and twist gently.
My shop rate for installs is $50.00 per hr and that's like Robin said, from the time I leave until I get back.
Tennis Ball! Thats AWESOME! Man thank god I posted up in here... I went from feeling a little nervous about this install to feeling a whole lot better about it....
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
my shop rate is 85.00 an hour..
If this bavcking has so many screws.. make sure he knows what it will look like.. .. if you take out the screws there will be screws with no vinyl and if you dont take them out.. its gonna be a pain..
I would actually try to suggest to him either a big banner covered with vinyl letters or a hard sign on alum or coro he could hang up.. It would end up looking much nicer in the long run.. and not be such a pain to install.
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by mystysue
my shop rate is 85.00 an hour..
If this bavcking has so many screws.. make sure he knows what it will look like.. .. if you take out the screws there will be screws with no vinyl and if you dont take them out.. its gonna be a pain..
I would actually try to suggest to him either a big banner covered with vinyl letters or a hard sign on alum or coro he could hang up.. It would end up looking much nicer in the long run.. and not be such a pain to install.
I know he wants this to be on the concession stand (which has a hitch, and is transported as a trailer) permanently so he can get more business... So, maybe an alum sign... would make install even easier lol.
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
ooo im sorry its like a trailer.. my mind was actually picturing something else.. im sorry..
yeah a banner wouldnt work.. .. i would just go over the rivets..
dis reguard what i said before..
sowwy
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by mystysue
ooo im sorry its like a trailer.. my mind was actually picturing something else.. im sorry..
yeah a banner wouldnt work.. .. i would just go over the rivets..
dis reguard what i said before..
sowwy
oh no prob!
I have been on a lot of forums before, and have to say this is definently the best. Most forums someone would chime in right away with "Did you look around on the forum?? Try using the search box!" Then someone else would say "What vinyl are you using? Cause mine is the best and everyone else sucks" and you get half a dozen messages before something worthwhile comes up.
So, you guys rock! I really do appreciate it!!
Last edited by Rodney; July 3rd, 2008 at 04:36 PM.
Reason: removed self promotional stuff
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
For the screws, Id leave them in. Get a propane torch and a rivet tool. Its fast and easy after you get the hang of it. If this is something you plan to do more of, Id suggest getting a Fellers catalog. Its a great source for what are good tools to have on hand. The RollePro is the greatest thing Ive ever seen for installs around protrusions.
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by hammered
For the screws, Id leave them in. Get a propane torch and a rivet tool. Its fast and easy after you get the hang of it. If this is something you plan to do more of, Id suggest getting a Fellers catalog. Its a great source for what are good tools to have on hand. The RollePro is the greatest thing Ive ever seen for installs around protrusions.
i will definently check that catalog out! Think i am gonna try the heat torch and tennis ball suggestion... experimented at home and it looks good to me
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
All you needs a rivet brush for that. Put the vinyl on when you come into contact witha screw use the rivet tool to push the vinyl over and around it.
Install rates....I charge from $30-$80 per hour depending on the circumstances. Do i have to rent? Do I need to pay someone to help me? Lots of things to consider, but my standard rate is $60/hour
Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol
Howdy,
Not sure if this helps or not but when I worked at the sign shop (we did the roadway signs and the big interstate signs on the highways). Some of the signs were huge. 17ft tall by 22ft long and we'd have hundreds of screws in the sign.
What they had us do was roll the vinyl on.
Then using a exacto knife we cut out the screw hole , install the screw and then they had printed out little circles of the vinyl color and we'd put the circles over the screw.
At times we'd have a screw hole were one side was one color and the other side was another color.
Oh we would counter sink the screw hole so that the screw top was flat and even with the aluminum.
Re: how do you charge for a vinyl install? Should I try installing vinyl over screws?
well, I ended up using the tennis ball and heat gun method and it came out pretty good, i must say ) Here are some pics.... I didnt realize the shutter was partly closed cause it was so bright i was just pointing the camera and snapping pics.....
This is a discussion about how do you charge for a vinyl install? Should I try installing vinyl over screws? that was posted in the Vinyl Signs and Decals section of the forums.
how do you charge for a vinyl install? Should I try installing vinyl over screws? 
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Re: Got a question or two on an install I know I am gonna get stuck with lol 
