And so on until all are taken from the abstract to the estimate, the number of yards super being entered to the left hand of the word yds. (yards) ; not only the squaring of the dimensions should be checked, but also the casts and divisions, and in fact any work done after the dimensions are entered into the measuring book until the estimate is complete.

We now come to pricing the estimate; attach the prices at the right hand end of each item in the column shown for the prices. Many of the prices used for this class of estimating cannot be dissected minutely, showing what the labour costs and what the material, and waste; but where possible it will be given, as that is really the only way to learn estimating properly, and to vary your prices with the fall or rise in labour or material.

Just a few words of general advice before commencing the pricing.

For competitive work, such as we are now treating, 15 per cent. gross profit should be added; this is very close and really as low as it should be done to show a net profit worth doing it for.

Where the work is small, that is to say, not redecorating and repairing the house throughout, or redecorating only small houses of 30/. to 50/. per annum rent, nothing less than a gross profit of 20 per cent. would pay: for the working expenses, i.e., wear and tear of plant, use of brushes, office expenses, etc, will amount to from 5 to 7 1/2 per cent., and on very small works even more. This deducted from the profits before quoted leaves but a small net profit, even when the estimate exceeds a hundred pounds. There are very few works of this description carried out by decorating builders of any standing at so low a profit as 20 per cent. gross. In contracting for new buildings, a gross profit of 10 per cent. is considered the usual competitive one; the working expenses on such work are much lower; 3 per cent will cover them for large works.

It is very essential that a proper prime cost should be kept of the work carried out, and this should be checked to see that nothing is omitted or anything charged twice over, or that should not be charged at all, such as new plant, brushes, etc. It is only by these means that you can tell whether the prices you have carried the work out at have paid you; again, in subtracting the cost from the sum you receive, to arrive at the profit, do not fall into the error (we have known more than one do) of calculating if they get one shilling out of five that that is 20 per cent. for them; it is 25 per cent., as it is one-fourth more than they have spent. We have known this question of taking off instead of adding confuse some of the well educated; a discount of 50 per cent. not taken off would leave a profit of 100 per cent.; 33 1/3 per cent., a profit of 50 per cent.; a variation of 5 per cent. when the discount is over 50 per cent. 10 per cent. profit. These are matters that really require serious attention when buying, and we have known the trade discount on glass to be 25 and 5 and 5, and another 2 1/2 for cash. This looks at first glance to be 37 1/2 per cent., or very near, while it is really only about 34, as shown under : -

Turning to the measuring book, the first measurement is wash, stop, and clerecolle and white ceilings; the price of this is scarcely dissectable, it can be sublet for 3d. per yard super, labour and material, so that 3 1/2d. would give 15 per cent. profit; the material in such work costs very little per yard; 3 1/2d. is a low price for good work, though it can be done at a cost of 3d.; this price of 3 1/2d. will have to be attached to the yards super, which are entered at the end of the estimate; it is necessary though, as we have not given the contents of the measuring book in their entirety, to follow the items as they are treated in these articles.

The next entry is the strip walls, and paper at 1s. 6d. per piece. The cost of hanging papers varies with the season it is done in, unless you keep a man employed permanently; and a good man, at the wages of 8 1/2d., will hang the paper cheaper than a man at 7d., and as a matter of course better; but to arrive at a definite price we must treat the work as task or sublet work; common papers of this kind are hung at slack times by paperhangers at 6d. a piece, but 7d. is asked at busy times, or even more; to arrive at the value, take off first the trade discount from the paper, which varies from 25 to 50 per cent, say 33 1/3, which is the most general one, those who get less or more must make the variation.

This cost of stripping varies of course; the paperhanger seldom does it, a painter's labourer at 5 1/2d. to 6 1/2d. per hour usually strips ; we have known it done at a cost of less than 3d., but this is not a fair guide; the cost of the labour of an ordinary average man is the higher one of 4d.

The next thing to price is the hack-out and reglaze with 21 oz. sheet glass. The cost of this is 6d. to gd. per foot super, varing with the sizes of squares ; add for profit.

Next comes wash and two oils.

All the supers of this are taken to the abstract at end and from there to the end of the estimate, where the price must be attached. The value is 6d. per yard super for ordinary work, and 7d. where it is bad and requires touching up; painting is worth about 1 1/2d. per yard super for each coat on the average for labour only, and a little over 1/2d. per yard for colour; both of these prices are exclusive of profit. Price the shelf edge at 1/2d. a foot run including profit; this is a good price, and all other runs at § d. a foot run. The ordinary sashes and frames price at 1s, 6d. each for one side; these prices include profit; price the squares at 1s. 6d. per dozen one side; this price is for the small squares only; this gives 3s. for washing and painting these sashes and frames one side, which is a very fair price; on the basis of the prices given, all the work under wash and two oils may be priced.