gold leaf accenting on cabinets

jeleeinc · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 49 Location: South Alabama

Hi all,
We have a client that wants gold leaf accenting done on cabinets we're going to paint. She has the raised panel doors, some crown, range hood, island, and corbels. Our delemma is figuring out a labor price per foot for the accenting. We want to give her a price for gold paint, foil, imitation leaf and genuine leaf.
Anyone have any input on labor price per linear foot or any other advice?

Thanks in advance,
Jen Very Happy

anita · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2751 Location: upstate New York

get a piece of moulding similar in size to what you are leafing. Go through the process on 1 linear foot and time yourself. Multiply your time by the number of linear feet in the project. Add at least 30 % to 50% additional time for getting up and down ladders, taping off, etc. This should give you an idea how long it will take you.

Add materials.

msarts · Joined: 19 May 2007 Posts: 652 Location: Maryland

Exactly. Also consider that imitation leaf will require a topcoat, which adds to your labor time.

lisascenic · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:34 pm Post subject:

Have you priced composition leaf ribbon?

anita · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2751 Location: upstate New York

Ina Marx, one person from whom I learned gilding, also always said to count on at least double the leaf than the square footage you are gilding if gilding on curved surfaces. The first layer of leaf will make breaks and you will need a second layer of leaf to fill in on top of the first layer. Also leaf crumbles and disintegrates from handling, so expect at least a few lost sheets or pieces as well.

This should help in figuring out how much materials you use.

Patent ribbon leaf is great. It helps control the leaf much better than loose leaf. "Patent" means it has a wax paper type backer stuck onto one side of the leaf which helps you to control it (great on ceilings) and then when you stick the leaf onto the tacky size, the adhesion factor of leaf to size is greater than the leaf to "wax paper", so the backer paper peels right off.

Ina advised if you have a multi-faceted profile on the curved moulding to buy ribbon leaf slightly larger than the width of each element of the moulding profile rather than a very wide strip that you are trying to push and bend into all the varied nooks and crannies as you go. Although additional cost for materials, the time saved is well worth it.

marilyn · Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 744 Location: Boston, MA

Thanks Anita. You are lucky to have studied with Ina Marx. This is helpful info. I have a couple of her books, but am not sure if she mentions those tips in them.