[biged04]

heres a pic of a brown seat I did a while back...... when I started this I thought it wasnt gonna look good, but when I finished, it turned out pretty good..... I did the center insert from 10" at the bottom to 16" on the top and it allowed me to have the lady who does my embroidery to make the bow tie bigger and we did it in brown also..... what do you guys think ?

then the other pic is of a blue seat I did for the same guy a few weeks earlier..... he liked the brown so well, he ask me if I could re-do his and put some different color inserts in it.......lol

Dan.... and other upholsters........ what do you guys charge to do a basic bench seat like this with no head rest ? total material and labor....
and just using basic vinyl....... ( not counting the embroidery, it was 35.00 )
here in knoxville, tn I charge 200.00....... a friend of mine who does upholstery for a living says 250.00 and theres one shop that ask 450.00 to 550.00....
now....... I just do this as a hobby and I know folks have to make a living but I think 450 to 550 is too much

[DanTwoLakes]

You have to understand that an upholstery shop has more overhead, and also more tools and equipment. The customer is also paying extra for my quality and expertise. $450 to $550 is still pricey. If I don't have to repair any seat springs or fix or replace seat foam, I would charge $300 to $350 for a basic bench like that. That would be 2 1/2 to 3 yards of marine grade vinyl and the labor. I also replace or add new decking to old seats.

[Bodnar720]

I live in the Denver Metro Area, it is beyond expensive here in boulder county to live so the prices here would seem outrageous. typical bench like that in vinyl, no embroidery and we charge a min of 700 no foam or spring work included.

You also have to keep in mind average shop rent out here is roughly 4 bucks a square foot

so to even it out 100 bucks an hour and better be good at estimating lol

[biged04]

wow.......... that is HIGH......lol....
Dan........ I do understand overhead of a shop, but here, a buddy of mine rents a small place that will hold 2 cars comfortable with room to work for 450.00 a month and that includes utilities........ its the basement side of a business that holds a small store on top, a used tire shop in back and my buddies upholstery shop in bottom..... and theres a guy here , Steve Holcomb who runs and owns Pro Auto Custom Interiors does it at his house out of his garage, he does work like Interiors by Shannon, good lord they both do beautiful work ( google him, or youtube his name, you'll see what I mean )
and more tools ?....... lol.... now Dan, you know "boys and toys"..... lol..... I raced late model dirt cars from the late 80's early 90's until 06 when I finally sold out..... when I started upholstery I bought a juki lu563 and also have a consew 206rb, pneumatic hog ring gun ( had 2 sold one to my buddy ) 3 hog ring pliers, rolls upon rolls of different colors of thread, 5'x12' ft laminated table...... and the list goes on and on.....lol..... I think I am a tool hoarder....... but the more I read the more I see that materials cost are all over the board just like upholstery prices.
example: I have 2 places here local that I can buy vinyl for 8 bucks a yard.
sew foam: 1/2 inch 6.50, 3/8 5.50, and 1/4 is 4.50.... headliner is 7.50
and marine grade that is uv treated is maybe a buck more a yard.
I've got a guy in morristown that I get leather hides from ( just got 6 for Christmas, 4 black and 2 red ) from 49 to 52 sq ft each for 130.00 a hide.
and foam remnants, I get skins ( the outside of a formed piece of foam )
to line a seat with and other pieces of different thicknesses, lengths and densities for free from a shop here called foam rubber outlet.
so wiring a spring back together or using a carving knife to cut out a bad piece of foam to replace with another piece of foam.... I never charge for.

so I can see that prices are all over the board everywhere, just like they are here.

Also, please anyone that reads this, please DO NOT take it the wrong way, dont be offended by it, I'm just telling you of some of my experiences and cost of things here in knoxville, tn and I just started this post to see what you guys charge and cost of materials in other places.
Thank you guys and also Thank you Dan for always answering....... Eddie

oooooooooooo yeah...... one more thing..... you guys ever seen one of these ??????? I did the interior work in the back of it and thats my great nephew in the window, he's 2....... its a 1965 mustang station wagon.....
now you wanna stir up some controversy start some conversations about this thing........lol

[Bodnar720]

A 2 car gargage is great, but you will quickly find that is entirley to small to run a efficent trim shop. Many times i believe you will run into a issue where you have a few big projects going that cannot be moved with out complications and now you have no where to work on the simple quick repairs.

Working out of your house can be leary as well, Its great with people who know who you are, but when its a walk in or referal and they are trailoring in their 125k astin martin beauty they tend to get a little nervous or just turn around, which in a big nasty city can turn into a saftey nightmare.

[Coodeville]

I can tell you this - that seat here in NYC would have cost you 1200 for vinyl and 2000 for leather.

[killeratrod]

i like that mustang, i want it.