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What to look for on a painting quote
Painting quotes are frequently vague about prep work, which is where quality lives or dies. A $3/sq ft quote and a $7/sq ft quote can both be "paint the house" — the difference is sanding, caulking, priming, and number of coats.
Interior: total wall area by room. Exterior: siding area minus windows and doors.
2 coats is standard. 3 coats for dramatic color changes or poor prior coverage. 1 coat is a lowball.
Sherwin-Williams ProClassic, Duration; Benjamin Moore Regal, Aura; Behr Premium, Marquee. Brand and line matters for coverage, lifespan, and washability.
Primer coat included (yes/no). New drywall, dramatic color changes, and stained areas need primer.
Sanding, scraping, caulking, filling holes, washing. Prep is 40–60% of labor on most jobs — critical for finish quality.
Walls, ceilings, trim, doors, windows, closets. Each should be called out separately.
Trim paint is a different product (semi-gloss or gloss). Doors painted on or off hinges.
Should be specified by scope — light touch-up vs comprehensive.
Required on pre-1978 homes. EPA RRP certified crew + containment for any disturbance.
Floor covering, furniture covering, window masking. Professional crews bring this; budget crews charge extra.
Haul-away of paint cans, daily cleanup, punch-list walkthrough at end.
Labor (1–5 yrs on exterior, 1–3 yrs on interior) + paint manufacturer warranty.
Red flags in a painting quote
2 coats is standard for even coverage. 1-coat paint (labeled as such, like Behr Marquee) works for same-color refreshes but not color changes.
Paint only sticks to clean, sanded, caulked surfaces. A quote that skips prep either expects you to do it or gets bad finish quality.
Builder-grade paint ($25–$45/gallon) at $50–$70/gallon "premium" labor pricing is overpriced. Ask what specific product they're using.
EPA RRP rule requires certified contractor + testing + containment. Non-compliant work risks lead poisoning for your family and exposes contractor to $37,500/day EPA fines — legitimate painters discuss this.
Spraying is faster and cheaper for the contractor but creates overspray and needs more masking/prep. Brush + roller is higher quality on most residential work.
Quality exterior paint should last 8–12 years; contractor warranty under 3 years is weak. Premium contractors warranty exterior paint for 5–10 years.
If the quote doesn't name the specific paint product (Sherwin-Williams Duration, Benjamin Moore Aura, etc.), assume cheapest contractor-grade paint.
Common hidden costs and change orders
These items are often missing from the initial painting quote and show up later as change orders or surprise fees. Ask about each before signing.
- Wallpaper removal ($1–$3/sq ft)
- Drywall repair beyond caulk ($200–$2,000 per project)
- Cabinet painting if not in original scope ($1,500–$4,500)
- Ceiling repairs or spot priming
- Exterior carpentry repairs before paint ($500–$3,000)
- Multiple paint samples to decide color ($50–$200)
- Lead paint abatement on pre-1978 ($500–$5,000)
- Rental of ladder / scaffold for 2nd+ story exterior