When ordering the services of a professional paint contractor to re-paint your home, it’s always good to understand to the pricing estimate involved.  Typically, the quote given to you accurately reflects cost of materials plus time needed to complete the task, spread across the wage spectrum. Understand how paint pricing works by completing a rough estimate on your own, taking into consideration the following things:

Area: Look at the workspace to see if the overall job will require a lot of time and attention to detail. For indoor paint jobs, counters, cabinets, and furniture fixtures will complicate work entirely, so they need to be factored into the overall time estimate. Measure how tall your walls are, and determine the texture as well. Painting from a ladder will slow down the process considerably, and certain wall textures yield more paint than others.

Square Footage: If the square footage of your room is not already known, it’s necessary that it be calculated. To do this, first add the length of all walls together. Once the length of every wall is known, you can discover the area by multiplying total length by total height. For a more exact estimate, subtract 20 square feet per each door and 15 square feet per each window to get the total number.

Supplies: Using the square footage and an estimated 2 coats of paint, you can find out just how much paint will be needed to complete the task. A gallon of paint should cover around 450 feet on smooth walls, and around 350 feet on textured ones. If applicable, don’t forget to factor in a coat of primer. Accompany that final number with an estimate of the cost of any other necessary items such as masks, painter’s tape, and brushes.

Labor: Depending on the painter, this will vary immensely. If the painter is very experienced and your home’s walls are clean with minimal obstruction, the work will be easier and ultimately cost less. If the painter is new, it may take more hours to complete a job. However, that does not mean the job cannot be done in a timely, professional manner. Be sure to make yourself aware of the painter’s experience, and check that they aren’t overcharging you for their services.

With the steps listed you will be able to gather enough numbers to obtain a rough estimate of the price of any given paint job. Remember that market rates change per area, so be sure to have a grasp of your area’s cost of living. For more pricing information, contact your local painting professionals at CertaPro Painters of Wilmington, DE.