A question for anyone who can help me. How do you determine pricing for millwork, especially custom millwork? I've been in the green end of the industry for a long time, logging and sawing, so I have a good handle on lumber prices. I have some woodworking equipment around, and was wondering how to charge for some millwork. Do you charge by the hour, by the foot, or a combination of both? This is for the value-added part of the price, not the raw lumber you start with.
I have not started yet, but I have a woodmaster. It is my plan to offer molding at about 80% of the box store price for similar grade. I don't know how I will price stain grade hardwood molding as the box stores around here don't seem to carry the high end stuff. I figure if I price it right, I should be able to move it and turn a good profit if I cut the lumber myself. Of course, I have to get the shop built first! Let us know how it works out for you.
How much money does your customer have? :D I know people who charge by the lineal foot and by the hour. I usually charge by the board foot and on small runs I add a set-up charge($50). If you are running a small quantity of poorly cut wood and maybe having to run it twice with constant adjustments between boards you should get a much higher price than if your are processing a large volume of well sawned lumber, running at "warp speed". My normal charge for 1-3mbf bd ft of decent wood is about $300/mbf. For a very hard wood (dulls knives quickly) and/or thick and thin lumber , maybe $350/mbf. If you're selling your own wood look at what the competion gets and that will give you a good starting reference.
Good luck,
Mark
I looked into having some Hickory milled at a local mill. I have 4/4 boards that are 6" wide and I wanted them milled into 2 1/2" tongue and groove flooring. The price I got was 350/mbf, which is pretty much in line with what ellmoe says.
If you are supplying the wood and cutting the molding I'd call it about 75 cents for clear stain grade pine (per lineal foot), maybe $1.25 for oak and higher for different woods.
Thanks for all the help.