Painting is unusual among trades in that the finished job looks identical on day one whether it was done properly or not. A wall coated over unwashed stucco and a wall coated over a properly prepared surface photograph the same. The difference appears in year two. That is why the estimate matters more here than it does in trades where the work is visible when it is done.
What should be on the page
These are the items that separate a specification from a number.
- The surfaces included, listed. Walls, ceilings, trim, doors, closets, garage interior, fascia, soffit, shutters. Whatever is not listed is not priced, and a garage or a set of closets is a genuinely large omission.
- The preparation, described. Not the word "prep". What washing method, what happens to failing caulk, what happens to cracks, what gets primed, what gets scraped or sanded.
- The product, named. Manufacturer, line and sheen, per surface. There is a wide spread between the cheapest and the best line from the same manufacturer, and the word "premium" does not distinguish them.
- The number of coats, per surface. Two is normal. One over a colour change is not, and a dramatic colour change may need more.
- What is explicitly excluded. Wood rot repair, stucco repair, hardware removal, furniture moving. These are the usual suspects and the usual sources of a change order.
- The timeline, and what happens if weather stops work.
- The payment schedule.
Why two honest quotes differ
Assuming both are given in good faith, the gap usually sits in one of these.
| Variable | Cheaper approach | What it costs later |
|---|---|---|
| Washing | A rinse | Coating over living growth, which fails from underneath. |
| Primer | Skipped on bare or repaired areas | Flashing, patchy sheen, poor adhesion at the repairs. |
| Product line | The builder grade line | Shorter colour retention and fewer years before it chalks. |
| Coats | One coat, called a refresh | Thin film, poor hide, visible roller variation. |
| Caulk | The cheapest sealant available | Brittle joints within a couple of seasons, exactly where water gets in. |
| Masking | Minimal | Overspray and cut lines you will look at daily. |
None of those are visible in a finished photograph. All of them are visible in a specification, which is the argument for insisting on one.
Questions that are fair to ask anyone
- Which product line and sheen are you proposing, and why that one for this wall?
- What does your surface preparation consist of, step by step?
- How many coats, and is that per surface or overall?
- What happens if you find rot or cracking once you start?
- Who is actually on site, and is it the same crew throughout?
- What is the schedule if it rains for three days?
- What is not included?
The answers matter less than whether they come readily. Someone who has thought about the wall will answer all seven without preparation.
On deposits and pressure
A modest deposit is ordinary practice. A demand for most of the value up front is not, and neither is a price that is only available if you sign today. Legitimate scheduling pressure exists here, particularly in dry season when crews book out months ahead, but that is a reason to decide sooner rather than a reason to sign without reading.
How we do it
Starting prices are published on every service page so you can tell whether we fit your budget before spending twenty minutes on the phone. Every number we commit to appears on a written estimate before anyone opens a can, and that estimate names the product for each surface. We are open 24/7 and the estimate is free.
If a project is larger than you planned for, the payment estimator shows roughly what it looks like monthly. Otherwise send the details and we will come and measure.
Common questions
- What should a painting estimate include?
- The surfaces included listed individually, the preparation described step by step, the product named by manufacturer line and sheen, the number of coats per surface, what is explicitly excluded, the timeline and the payment schedule.
- Why are painting quotes so different for the same house?
- Usually washing, primer, product line, number of coats, sealant quality and masking. None of those are visible in a finished photograph and all of them are visible in a written specification, which is why the specification is worth insisting on.
- How much deposit is normal for a painting job?
- A modest deposit is ordinary. Being asked for most of the value up front is not, and neither is a price only available if you sign the same day.
- What happens if the painters find wood rot?
- It is frequently not fully visible until preparation starts. A good estimate either states an allowance or states how additional work will be priced and approved before it is carried out, rather than assuming none will be found.
