Unless your job is a business premises or a huge building – in which case a project manager or interior designer will usually oversee it – a painters quote is not a complex document with hard to figure out fine print.
Generally speaking what is agreed upon when accepting a quote is that the stated rooms or external features will be painted with a specified number of coats on the specified walls, ceilings and timber. In specific internal and/or external areas, in a sometimes specified tinted brand of paint.
Colour choices and types of paint are discussed, but are rarely made part of the quote. People cannot always make these decisions prior to quoting. So painters are very flexible about colours until the day before the job actually starts. Only some specific paint choices will affect the amount on the quote.
Extra Costs for Specific Brands and Texture Finishes
Most painters have an account with a paint wholesaler and will purchase your paint for you. The cost of paint may therefore be included in the quote or if agreed on, will be paid for by you, on arrival. If the painter needs to purchase more paint than first anticipated, he may absorb the cost of this if its minor, or if the surface requires more coats than expected – the client will pay the extra.
Exceptions to this are if the paint used is different to a normal paint, or is used up unexpectedly fast, or if the area quoted was not seen before the quote was sent. If a customer requires a particular brand of paint such as Dulux, or a limewash or textured paint, this may be more expensive than the normal brand a painter uses. The quote would be adjusted to allow for these unexpected costs to be paid as they happen.
If a client wants a specific technique of painting such as a feature wall with a metallic paint or wallpaper finish – then this type of painting or craftwork must be specifically quoted for again, if chosen after the quote is accepted.
If scaffolding is needed, the client must both organise and pay for it.
There are different labour costs for stained wood finishes, polyurethanes, oil based enamel and acrylic painting. The finish of paints such as matt, semi gloss, satin and high gloss finishes may take more time to prepare if they need undercoating or require more time to apply and to dry.
If a customer later chooses a paint colour in a deep base or light base, two coats may be insufficient and the quote will need to be adjusted. Sometimes a painter absorbs the cost, especially on a larger job, but sometimes it is necessary to ask the client to pay more for choices that were unknown when the quote was made.
Painting Frames – the line between internal | external
There are start and finish points, obvious to a painter, that are less clear to clients. The most common line drawn is between internal | external. Door and window frames are only half painted unless all rooms both inside and outside are quoted.
A hallway with 6 doors will have the doors and frames painted only on the side that shows in the hall unless the client specifies both sides. The other side of the door and frame – such as a bedroom – will be painted when the bedroom is quoted.
An external front door will only have its external face and frame painted if the quote is for the outside of a house. Its internal face and frame are painted if the inside of the house is quoted. If both sides of architraves should be painted, make sure you tell the painter this is what you want done .
Changing Your Mind During Painting
Painters are very flexible about clients changing their mind – up until they have tinted or applied the paint. If you want to try different colours – go to Bunnings and get hold of some sample pots to try them out on your walls. Tell your painter you are uncertain before he buys the paint.
Once a bulk lot of paint is tinted, its too late to take it back. If your painter knows you are unsure, he can arrange to paint one wall and let you see it, before purchasing paint for the whole house.
If the room is completely finished and you don’t like it, of course you will need to pay again to purchase new paint and employ the painters to repaint it. Your painter may discount the labour cost if he is still on the job doing other areas for you.
Be clear about what you want and state exactly what you expect from your painter. Your painter would rather think you fussy and have a happy client at the completion of the job, than think you’re easy to get along with, but end up with a disappointed client.
Don’t be afraid to say you don’t like something. Sometimes such things can be fixed for very little extra cost. It’s hard to get everything right first time. If you have special requirements, please tell us, so we can meet your expectations. Then we will both be very happy at the end of the job!