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Pricing for Deeper Base Material

11:24
18:54
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At 11:24 in

How to bid a Paver Patio

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What happens here

A specific formula is provided for pricing base material for paver projects: charge $1 per square foot per inch of base material. The presenter explains that the industry standard for paver base is typically 6 inches. If a project requires more than 6 inches of base, that additional depth should be charged as an extra line item. For the example patio, which is 344 square feet, installing 4 inches of base would be 344 sq ft * $4/sq ft = $1,376. If 6 inches were installed, it would be 344 sq ft * $6/sq ft = $2,064. In his actual bid for the example project, he charged $688 for 4 inches of extra base material, effectively halving the standard rate. This adjustment was made because his crew was already on-site for other extensive landscaping work, making it more efficient and cost-effective to add the base prep at a reduced rate.

Goal: Accurately calculate and price base material, especially for depths exceeding industry standards.

Tools and materials

  • Calculator — Performing cost calculations

What they say

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material. Here we will approach the matter scientifically. Here we will break down the formula for you because there is no room for guesswork in this. Okay, six inches is the industry standard, right? Some might say four. I always say you need at least six. If you add more, then you are taking money out of your pocket because you may be charged for additional base material beyond 6 inches when needed. It was necessary at this facility. We installed 10 inches of base. Here's what we do : I have a formula because I get calls about it all the time . I get calls like, "Hey, can you come over and just prepare the base for me?" "I want to lay the paving stones myself." Well, that's terribly annoying. I'm sure you guys, as contractors , have received calls like this. I simply removed that annoyance and created a formula that works and makes me money. And I'm going to share it with you. This formula works at work, where I just go to prepare the base. I don't do anything anymore. I am not installing any brick patios. I don't do anything anymore. The formula is $1 per square foot per inch. OK. So, if I have 4 inches of base material that I have to install for a customer and I don't do anything else. So I need to dig a trench at his level. Then I have to pour four inches of base material in there. It will be $1, and let's say the area is 100 square feet. So that would be $1 per inch per square foot. So this is going to be 100 times 4, which is equal to what? $400 for preparing this area. I will list it again and get back to you with an answer. Hmm, well, here, yes, I checked the calculations , and they are correct. So, I want to transfer this formula to a real object and do a little comparison. OK. Now, if I were to prepare this area, this patio that I installed was 344 square feet. If he called me and I didn't do anything else but put in 4 inches of grade 5 crushed stone. You know, usually we put six, but in this case I want to stay at 4 inches so I don't get confused. If I were just putting 4 inches of grade 5 gravel on it and nothing else, without installing a patio or anything, I would take 344 times 4 because I'm putting 4 inches. Of course? So that would be $1,376. Here's what I would take from them. Let's say I was going to put down six inches of base material. Then that would be the size of the patio, 344 square feet multiplied by 6, and that gives me $2,064. And many of you will say, "Oh my god, you can't get those prices." Yes, I get it. Yes, I get it. But…

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