What is the best way to calculate interior wall and trim painting labor costs; by the hour of square footage? Also, how do you charge for things such as repairing imperfections in sheetrock?
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It depends on various factors. What are the specs of job is the most important. Quality of craftsmanship and materials is the second. Location and time restrictions are next. To quote off the back of your hand is worthless. You have to know what you are quoting. I bid $99,999.00
I'm curious where this question is coming from. Are you a painter? Thinking about becoming one? Hired one whose price you're wondering about?
Anyway, calculating costs based on square footage is a sure-fire way to get it wrong. There's so much more than size: How much cutting-in? Cutting-in against what? Need ladders? Any hard to reach places? How much furniture? How big? How easy to cover? Any fixtures that should be removed?... Any repair work? (which, of course, is extra)... etc.
Once I get to rollering, I figure I'm very nearly done, pretty much regardless of the size of the room.
When providing bids, I figure I can paint a "room" per day. I have a mental picture of what a "room" is and as I look at each actual room/area that I will be painting, I compare it to that mental picture. It may be 1.5X or 3/4X of my theoretical rooms and I base my price accordingly.
-Don
I like your logic.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I agree with Don and Paperhanger. So many different things to consider with each painting project. I remember looking at a paint estimating book which would give you a figure for EACH lineal foot of 12 different types of trim you might find inside a home.
That wasn't realistic but taking all things into consideration such as: moving furniture, flooring, preparation time, quality of materials you are using, how fast you can work and even your tools will help.
We are working on a job today that includes a large family room, bedroom, closet and bathroom. The room has been cleared in preparation for new flooring so we do not need dropcloths to cover floors or furniture. Plus the homeowner wants one color, one sheen on ceiling, walls and trim. I wish all jobs were like this one .
Jon