Experts say that buildings should be repainted every 4 to 6 years. With that said, setting up a paint job is easier said than done.
There are so many variables that affect paint jobs. When you’re looking to estimate paint job costs, how do you go about it? What should you know?
That’s what we’re here to look at today. Read on to find out how to properly estimate a paint job here.
Site Visits
While it’s possible and certainly acceptable to give quotes to your customers over the phone, it might suit you better to see the client’s place for yourself. That’s where site visits come in handy.
For starters, you get to meet the client and have a discussion on what they’re looking for. It also lets them walk through rooms and other aspects of the place to help you get a grip on what’s needed.
You’ll be able to see the location’s overall condition. This informs just what you’ll need to bring once it’s time to paint.
Visiting the site helps you adjust your expectations for time, labour, and overall costs.
Calculating Time
Speaking of which, knowing how much time it’ll take to paint everything is a huge asset to your overall estimate. It’s tough to know exactly how much time a paint job will take since it hangs on a few variables.
This includes your overall experience. Assuming you’ve got a few painting jobs under your belt, this might be a factor. However, the client might have a larger building that you might not be familiar with.
You also need to look at your capacity as a painter. Are you able to get this job done in a certain amount of time? If so, how much time will that really be?
If you nail down the time, it’s on to calculating your labour.
Time x Labour 
If you’ve got a team of professionals working with you, that’s a great starting point for calculating the cost of labour. This ultimately comes down to how much money you and your team want to make.
Setting your rates to a reasonable amount is advisable, but don’t sell yourself short. Take stock of how much equipment you’ll need and multiply that by how much time you think the paint job will take.
Just know that charging 30 pounds an hour might seem reasonable or completely off the hook depending on the client. Pricing yourselves hourly is a great way to incentivise more efficient work.
Look At Overhead and Other Material Costs
Adding the cost of paint as a line item for all of your quotes is advisable since that’s the main tool you’ll need here. How much paint you think you need will depend on your experience or a paint calculator.
Other supplies like rollers, plasters, and brushes should also be considered as overhead costs. They aren’t typically added to quotes but are still important to note.
Don’t forget about all the tertiary costs associated with your paint job. The cost of transportation, the administrative work, the office cost – all should be considered when you’re estimating a paint job.
Estimate Paint Job Costs Today
Paint jobs require precise and informed cost estimates for both the painter and the client. To estimate the paint job cost with MAS materials, download MAS technical datasheets where you can find the application method and the coverage area for each material.
Looking for a reliable paint company with the best products around? Contact us today and we’ll get you started on a solution!