It's a kitchen, 13' by 12', with 9' ceilings. It's for walls, ceiling, two windows (32" by 62"), one five-panel door, three door casings. It includes all prep, caulking, one coat primer, two coats of paint and clean up. The walls and ceiling are horizontal beaded board, from the 1920's. The windows are peeling and the wood is weathered, so I think they will take extra time to prep. He will fill the hinge spots and other holes on two door casings, where we removed the doors. On the walls there are some nails to remove and holes to fill. There are old nail holes on the window trim to fill. There are cabinets on only one wall, so there's not much wall space left on that one. Although I haven't hired him to paint before, he's very particular about his work, so I know it will look as good as is possible, with what is there to work with. I will supply the materials, and he'll do the work for $775. I haven't asked anyone else yet. I'm in South Carolina. Does this price sound reasonable?

What brand and type of paint are you going to use? Suggest as high quality pait as possible. Don't let him paint and back roll and call it two coats. Some painters do this to reduce the time and money thay have in the job. Back rolling is where a coat of finish is applied and then gone back over with the roller causing it to raise the paint on the wall causing it to look like another coat. Bad deal. Each coat of paint must dry at least 8hrs. prior to next coat application.

How many days did he say it would take?

Ask for references! CAll them! Don't pay up front. Pay after you are saticfied with the work - or he completes what he said he would.

chris,

that is not the purpose of backrolling (to cheat someone).

Backrolling is used in spray applications to give better adhesion and add some roller stipple to the finished wall.

Repeat. It's not a system developed to cheat the customer or deceive them into thinking they got two coats.

Michael

He's a friend of my family for many years (and SC residential builders licensed, insured and bonded), and he's done excellent work for us before. He has painted, just not for us. He made an itemized list of the work to be done. He said he would try rolling the paint on a section, then brushing it. If it doesn't go well like that, he'll just brush. He'll do two complete coats. I was planning to get the paint at Lowe's, the American Tradition Signature paint. He didn't say how long it will take, but I know he will be slower than someone who does nothing but paint for a living. I've been pleased with his other work, and he does take time to do things right, rather than rush and leave things looking sloppy. He's never asked for money before he's completed any work for us. I have paid him partial amounts for work already completed if the entire job is going to take more than a week or so.

Brushworks:

I have a question to help clarify - we have a bid from our painter on a new custom build to "spray and backroll two coats" of paint. Is that a good or bad thing? Confused from chris' statement and your follow-up response. Help me I need your knowledge, what should I be asking for with all new drywall.

Cheri

Cheri,

Primer first then spray and backroll two coats is fine.

My response was to clarify that spray and backroll was not a way to cheat a customer, it's a very practical way for a painter to achieve good results in a timely manner.

Michael

That is a reasonable price I think. He has quite a bit of work to do. When I had our old house painted inside and all woodwork, it cost $5000. They did a beautiful job but the price was shocking. The other bid was $10,000. I also had a bid for $2500 but the guy was not competent and would not give references.

Thanks, everyone. I've never hired anyone to paint before and had no idea what would be reasonable.

brushworks - the OP was asking about interior painting on walls and windows - not on a school with CMU walls. I doubt this contractor will be spraying unless the home is empty - even then I would doubt spraying is very pratical for this application.

Having said that, on certain jobs, and in certain conditions - spraying and back rolling is "A" way to paint and would be recommended as long as the owner or homeowner knows about it.

As a union painting contractor, we bid against all kinds of companies calling themselves painters - when their bid is half the price of mine (in some cases) one only has to look at what they are getting for the price to know why. most all specs for new construction are a prime coat and two finish coats.

My point was for the origianl poster to know what they are getting for their $$ and be sure they get it. Since the painter appears to be someone they know - perhaps it will be less of a problem. Check references!!! IMO

Cheri

Recommend Certified PDCA member.

Brush and Roll application - new construction.
One full prime coat - tint primer if you have strong colors. After primer has fully dried, apply first finish coat - brush and roll application. Dry for a full day. Finish with top coat - brush and roll application.

Check all references first. Pay when satisfied - do not finance him to paint your home. Go to the paint store of your choice and pick what you want, then tell painter to only use that product. If you don't care, let him pick. take great care as not all paint product are created equal.

Make sure they leave at least a gallon of extra paint per color for future touch up and color match - unless this is a very small job, then have them leave partial pails. Mark the pails with color number and name.

Good luck

Chris:

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and the valuable information.

Cheri

I think for the amount of work involved the money sounds right. I got a quote for an 11 x 33 room with 8 foot ceilings for 375.00 but no trim work and no prep. no primer and I supply the paint. (I would have to do all the prep. myself.)