Home Painting Estimates Should Be Thoroughly Explained

Home painting estimates are based upon the amount of work required to do a good job. Typically, preparing exterior surfaces to make them ready for paint takes the most time. As a general rule, older houses require more preparation work because they have more wood exposed to the elements while newer houses may have windows and siding that are designed and built with materials that may not require regular painting. The number and type of windows will also influence the bid.

Surface prep work is the most important and time consuming step of a paint job and it has significant impact on home painting estimates. Cedar and clapboard siding, as well as stucco, may require scraping, but a thorough wash down with a high pressure stream of water may suffice. If repair work is needed that will also take more time.

Windows often require a lot of work. Wooden double hung windows are common. If one or both sashes are subdivided, that is if they are composed of a number of smaller, equally sized panes held together with decorative wooden splines, a lot of prep work, possibly including use of a paint stripper, may be required. Natural brick and stone usually are not painted, nor are vinyl or aluminum clad windows usually painted; in those cases, they should not enter the home painting estimates.

Otherwise, home painting estimates require a calculation of the surface area of the outer walls that are to be painted and then the amount of paint required. The type of paint used may have an impact as there are newer paints that promise to be long lasting; that type paint will be more expensive and may require a primer coat to precede the finish coat.

The painter will figure the amount of time required and pay himself a reasonable hourly figure. House painting is fairly straight forward work but it is physically taxing. Moving and standing on ladders or scaffolding takes a lot of effort. The actual painting is quite often done with a paint sprayer although use of a brush or roller may also be necessary.

Once a homeowner understands the amount of work and steps required to do a good job, home painting estimates are much easier to accept. It is not uncommon for house painting to cost several thousand dollars. Homeowners who have in the past attempted house painting are familiar with the work required. Considering the amount that will be invested in a good paint job, it is best for everybody involved to have a clear understanding of the requirements and expectations.

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