Everyone likely has had their own personal experience with the notion; “You get what you pay for...”
I choose not to sell false economy, and whenever possible I make it a business practice to attempt to give more than what was negotiated. Being a owner-operated business, I know what, the estimator (myself), the customer, and the painter are all talking about.
Fortunately, I seldom bid a job, only to find midway through, that doing the work correctly, would take twice as much time as thought. The following are considerations for how involved the work on your property will be.
In some cases, knowing these facts can save you money- especially if you are considering a quote from someone that seems less informed than you are.
Sadly, there will always be people willing to take too much money for not-enough execution do to either lack of experience or willful neglect. Get three quotes, and don’t simply choose the cheapest; seek references and try to see their work.
Your home should cost the same to paint as a similar property, provided most conditions are the same or similar. My web site shows many private home with price ranges; so you can get a base point.
These are things to consider in estimating the cost of painting your home:
Type of Building Materials:
Some materials require more prep work and repairs than others, so consider if parts of your home have wood, stucco, brick, Hardy-plank, etc. Wood siding and shingle buildings that have been painted many times over 75 years or more may have additional concerns if thick layers of paint have begun separating from the wood.
Condition of Surfaces to be Painted:
Some buildings are in much better condition than others, even though they may be built with the same materials. If a surface was not cleaned prior to painting in the past- peeling and or cracking may be prevalent.
Previous neglect, previous use of inferior paint products, water damage, or direct exposure to the sun (usually only two sides). It may be that all your home needs is a light power-washing and a little bit of caulking before a fresh coat of paint is applied. In some cases, power-washing is not an option, and still in further extreme cases, complete refurbishment (or replacement) of material is recommended.
In one recent project, the cost of stripping flaking layers of paint off of soffit areas was nearly the same cost of replacement., with additional concern for the garden area and paint chips; customer choose to have us replace.
Access to Building:
Consider the accessibility issues for painting your home, including the grade conditions (slopes) on your property, as well as trees or shrubs that will inhibit a painter. Failing a solution of specialty ladders, scaffolding or power lifts- the more difficult the access- the more time and money to have a painter do proper work. When safety of a worker is set against costs, or concerns of shrubbery- my focus will be on safety and quality work. Shrubs can grow fresh limbs and grass can be replanted. All these things should be identified in advance.
Color Schemes:
Most homes are painted with two or more colors, with one being the body and the access color for trim areas, however, your choice may be to have more colors, and this will affect the quote, or cost of painting. It should be considered reasonable to expect that if you don’t request the additional colors- they may not be supported in the quote provided. Brush cleaning, additional trips to same access areas can make a fair case for increased costs.
If you are painting with intent to sell in near future; let the contractor know in case a savings can be realized by using a similar color and reducing the amount of time, paint, and costs.
Products Used in Past Painting Projects & Choices for This time:
If the property was last painting in oil and the decision is to change to latex, an additional primer coat may be required which would affect the over-all cost.
Some customers, whom are selling their property choose to request a less expensive paint product, while others insist on products boasting the best durability.
There is a great deal of new products on the market today, all primarily motivated by the move towards environmentally friendly products. There is a growing gap between the price of the old standards and the new products, but the good news is that the quality and durability of the environmental products is at par or in many cases better.
Timing of the Work:
Occasionally, it is possible to negotiate a better price for painting at a time when it is most convenient to the painter.
Exteriors should be initially cleaned a week or more before prep and painting begins, so I would suggest that finding a good paint contractor should be started a couple months or more in advance.
