Is this fair? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

casey344 · 11-15-2007, 04:41 PM

I'm a dock and deck GC, not a painter. We have painted the downstairs of our home over the past 12 months. I've seen enough paint and want the upstairs done in time for the holidays.

I just had a painting contractor come in and he gave me a price of $1895.00 including paint.

His estimate reads: Walls, ceiling, trim, closets, sand, patch, caulk, prep and paint.

This was for:
- bedroom 11x14 + closet
- bedroom 11x12 + closet
- bathroom 6x13
- hallway 4x26
- plus a stairway consisting of 15 risers, no the steps themselves but the walls up and down the side of the stairwell.

Painter has been in business for 30+ years and uses Sherwin Williams paint.

Without spending too much time, does this sound like a good price?

Joewho · 11-15-2007, 04:44 PM

Without asking a lot of questions...

Yes, good price.

**ProWallGuy** · 11-15-2007, 04:47 PM

More than fair.

Celtic · 11-15-2007, 04:54 PM

How high are the ceilings?
8' ladder enough or all sorts of scaffolding?

Walls, trim and ceilings all the same color?

In other words...I have no idea

donb1959 · 11-15-2007, 04:59 PM

Sounds low to me.

**ProWallGuy** · 11-15-2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donb1959

Sounds low to me.

Ditto, that is why I said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProWallGuy

More than fair.

plazaman · 11-15-2007, 05:08 PM

sounds good

casey344 · 11-15-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic

How high are the ceilings?
8' ladder enough or all sorts of scaffolding?
Walls, trim and ceilings all the same color?

All ceilings are 9' with the exception of the stairwell.

Ceilings white, trim white ... bath, bedrooms and halls are different colors.

ron schenker · 11-15-2007, 06:27 PM

Way too high! I could do it for $300 and make a good living.

Just kidding

thom · 11-15-2007, 06:36 PM

The time isn't in the painting, it's in the prep, so you can't get a realistic price from someone who hasn't seen it. If there were no prep, nothing to move, no fixtures or covers to remove and replace, just go paint, it could be done in a day. With a lot of stuff to move, walls to wash, fixtures to disconnect, covers to remove and wash, windows to caulk, ... it could take as long as two weeks. It's pretty tough for us to give a price on labor that could range from a day to 10 days.

Joewho · 11-15-2007, 06:58 PM

It is a low price, but a guy with 30 yrs., picking up work in the slow season, who knows you are a contractor, will probably do you right. Especially if he's doing a "cash" job.

American Paint · 11-15-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casey344

I'm a dock and deck GC, not a painter. We have painted the downstairs of our home over the past 12 months. I've seen enough paint and want the upstairs done in time for the holidays.

I just had a painting contractor come in and he gave me a price of $1895.00 including paint.

His estimate reads: Walls, ceiling, trim, closets, sand, patch, caulk, prep and paint.

This was for:
- bedroom 11x14 + closet
- bedroom 11x12 + closet
- bathroom 6x13
- hallway 4x26
- plus a stairway consisting of 15 risers, no the steps themselves but the
walls up and down the side of the stairwell.
Painter has been in business for 30+ years and uses Sherwin Williams paint.

Without spending too much time, does this sound like a good price?

I would charg about the same this time of year.
AP

casey344 · 11-15-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thom

The time isn't in the painting, it's in the prep, so you can't get a realistic price from someone who hasn't seen it.

They were here today, he and his son drove up in a UPS size company lettered truck.

I have carpets that will be removed prior to anyone coming. Nothing to move, all rooms are empty. Lots of prep though, walls are in bad shape. Previous owner painted over a wallpaper border, etc etc.

They walked the area, went outside and said they'd be back in 5 minutes ... came back in 1 minute with their price. They figured 5-6 days.

DeanV · 11-15-2007, 08:38 PM

If by trim, it also includes door casings, windows casings, doors, it is dirt cheap. For two coats on the walls only in the rooms, one coat on ceilings and 2 closets, I would be guessing around $1700 WITHOUT extensive prepwork in the walls. Trim work would be on top of that. I do not live in one of the privileged, high wage areas. This is with paint along the lines of Benjamin Moore Regal, Graham Ceramic, etc.

Brian · 11-15-2007, 09:52 PM

We finished a 10'x10' bathroom today. The price was $1,150. I thought it was a fair price and so did the customer.

There is no way I'd do the scope of work you describe for the price you got. However, if you are comfortable with the contractor, have a good written agreement, he has a good reputation, etc. then I'd say you are getting a good deal. Otherwise, you get what you are paying for.

Brian Phillips

regal · 11-15-2007, 10:05 PM

$1895. Sounds like it was eye balled at $2000., They thought about the price, thought about the size of the job (total area to be painted) and thought it might be high, decided to lower the price a little, then thought about the amount of prep again, and said, "yeah lower it but not to much." so, $1895.

Joewho · 11-15-2007, 11:34 PM

2 guys, 5-6 days? Materials included? What flavor of SW paint are they using? That work at that price is cutting it awfully close to the bone. If the rooms are empty, no carpet, cash job, then the paint has to come in low to pull it off. If you know what paint they're using exactly, it would help.

Better yet, show them this thread. LOL.

Looks like pwg is right again.

PlainPainter · 11-16-2007, 06:34 PM

$1,895 is exactly what I would charge for labor and materials for exactly 5 days work - BY MYSELF! And that is a 'winter' price only - when I could do with some cash during the slow months. During the normal months - that is how much I would charge to do a quality job for the two bedrooms alone - and you said in rough shape? Closets as well? Man - it would be probably be more like $1300-$1400 per bedroom with good some good mudding on the walls and closets. You have to remember, a professional tradesman working by himself on interiors needs to steadily gross 2k in sales each week, week in and week out - in order for it all to be worth it. At the price you quoted - I would revert to my alter ego, which knows how to do quick and dirty apartment painting. Where the only primer I use is BIN, cheap caulk, $8/gallon ceiling paint. Superspec eggshell on walls. No sanding, no cleaning - maybe a TSP wash on trim - and then bigtime splash of $12/gallon semigloss.
That I would do for $1895 for the rooms you described.

Tmrrptr · 11-16-2007, 07:44 PM

I feel he is giving you a good guy price.
r

jack75 · 11-16-2007, 10:45 PM

Agree w/ all above posts. Surely everyone from different part of the country has the same notion regarding good/fair prices (to the customer)..

I asked myself: would I do the same scope of work at that price. Um.. may I think a bit outloud here. $1895, less materials and paints = ~$1600. Six days of work by myself -----> roughly $260/day. After taxes and overhead, I'd earn ~$150/day. Not enough for me..

Anyway, if he's to do good work, it's a really good deal.