Summer is in full swing here in Thurston and Pierce County, and with it comes seasonal cleaning and maintenance for your home. Having your home’s exterior painted is one of the best ways to keep your home protected from the elements. 

In order to get the highest quality exterior painting result, it’s important to begin the process with a home assessment and estimate from a well-regarded, experienced painting contractor in your area. While painting contractors vary in their approach to providing an exterior painting estimate, there are certain things you should expect to receive during the process.

To have the knowledge you need to feel confident in moving through the estimate process, there are a few key components to keep in mind. Regardless of which contractor you choose for your project, you are ultimately in the driver’s seat for your project and should be at the forefront of every decision. Expectations you have should be delivered within the estimate you’ve been given especially when it comes to the cost and the timeframe of your project. 

What to Expect from a Painting Contractor

Booking a trusted painting company is the first step in your journey to a refreshed exterior for your home. You can narrow down professional painting companies in your area that meet your needs by obtaining referrals from friends, family, and neighbors, and by performing online searches for ‘painting companies near me’ or ‘painting contractors in your city.’ 

Read reviews on trusted sites like Better Business Bureau and Yelp. Other verified sources for quality and customer experience include searches through Google My Business profiles, which can give you specific information including photos of completed work, hours of operation, maps, and Google reviews. 

Throughout your research to find the best painting contractor, it is important to know how they handle themselves professionally. Look for qualifications as well as painting associations with which they’re involved. This will indicate if your company of choice is committed to hiring licensed and qualified painters. 

The company you choose to work with should be fully insured and licensed should any onsite incidents occur. There should be a statement of safe painting practices and evidence of OSHA training, along with notice of compliance with state standards. A liability insurance certificate and a warranty of their work should also be provided. On average, most companies provide a 1-5 year guarantee for newly painted and repainted surfaces. Be sure to obtain any warranties in writing before work begins.

What to Expect When Booking your Estimate

How you’ll book your painting estimate will depend on how your professional painter of choice connects with their clients. Common ways to schedule an estimate include: booking online through a painting company’s website, by emailing the painting contractor directly, or by calling the painter by phone. Regardless of how you contact and schedule your estimate, a courtesy call or email should promptly be returned to you to confirm your request. 

Booking estimates with a few different contractors is recommended to help you decide which company you will want to move forward with. During this process, there may be preliminary questions asked about your project so that your contractor is prepared to best serve you and the unique needs of your home.

What Questions to Expect During a Painting Consultation

To prepare for your consultation, gather as much information as possible to share with each paint estimator, along with questions you have. Listen carefully to each painting contractor and compare their answers. This will help you establish a list of contractors to narrow down your choices.

Communicating your vision for your home, as well as your expectations, can help each painting contractor develop an accurate estimate. Information should include which space(s) you are planning to have painted, as well as general color palette selections. While professional contractors expect to lead the conversation by asking these types of questions during the consultation, some preparation on your part, including how you envision your home will look, helps your contractor develop a plan for your project. 

Materials and paint products should be discussed at this time. While painting professionals often have certain brands and finishes they prefer to work with and can give you recommendations, you ultimately have the final say in what paint products are used. If there are certain areas of your home that require special attention, this is the best time to address them. 

The steps of your project should be discussed in detail during the consultation. The project in its entirety should be covered phase by phase to attain desired results. This includes prep work and clean-up so that you can plan accordingly. 

Your painting consultation should be a pleasant and positive experience for you. Your contractor should be respectful of your time by arriving early as well as looking and acting professionally throughout the process. They may bring equipment for taking measurements or photos to put together their estimate. 

Remember you are entering into a working relationship with this contractor and allowing them access to your home so you should feel comfortable bringing up areas of concern that you have and feel that you are heard. At the end of your consultation, you should have concrete answers to your questions, understand the company and guarantees they have, and get a sense of how they will treat you throughout your project.

What to Expect in a Painting Quote

A full estimate or bid for your project should be returned within a few business days of your consultation. Included in this should be a breakdown of project costs and a detailed explanation of the entire project. The painting estimate should be clear and concise, so at no point should there be a surprise or hidden charges. A hard copy of the estimate is sent to you, most likely by email.

What to Expect a Painting Contractor’s Services to Cost

While the amount of time, space, paint, and supplies are unique to each painting project, there are standard practices and guides contractors use to determine the cost of a project. Guidelines to understanding what you can typically expect a project to cost can be done either by square footage or by hourly rates. 

On average, a home exterior project costs between $3-6 per square foot. These numbers are estimates based on the average cost of supplies and paint. For an hourly range, you can expect to pay anywhere from $45/hr-$100/hr or more. This depends on the size of your home’s project, necessary repairs, and the complexity of your project.

Remember, these are only averages and may vary quite a bit depending on the current condition of your home’s paint, the weather or interior conditions it withstands, and other factors.

What to Expect in your Painting Contract

At this point, you may have a number of estimates from a few painting contractors and an idea of the top contenders. Once you’ve made your decision, you can contact the painting contractor you select to confirm your contract. The final step is to schedule your start date and time, which may be subject to weather. 

Be sure to request copies of your contractor’s liability policy and insurance information before signing the contract. Obtain a written warranty so you know the steps that will be taken in case you need touch-ups or if other issues occur. This information is given willingly by reputable painting contractors to ensure your satisfaction. 

As the customer and the main priority of any project, professional painting companies work to serve you, all for the purpose of providing an excellent painting finish for your home. Remember, you are in control of the project, so communicate any concerns you may have early in the process so that your painters can meet your expectations.

Flying Colors Painting is a trusted and experienced painting company for interior and exterior home improvement projects. Our team is eager to bring your vision for your home to reality. Contact us for a free estimate and let our incredible estimators, painters, and customer service team take care of your home.