estimated cose of complete exterior paint job
mike
I am looking into buying a home that needs a complete exterior paint
job. I don't know enough to know exactly what this entails, but I
assume it means scraping and painting. The siding is wood and the
window frames need to be done also. The house is a 9 room colonial
with an attached garage, in the Boston area.
Can anyone estimate what a professional might charge for such a job?
Doug Miller
In article <6e1f8d$dv9$1...@news-srv1.fmr.com>, mnst...@AOL.COM (mike) wrote:
+I am looking into buying a home that needs a complete exterior paint
+job. I don't know enough to know exactly what this entails, but I
+assume it means scraping and painting. The siding is wood and the
+window frames need to be done also. The house is a 9 room colonial
+with an attached garage, in the Boston area.
+
+Can anyone estimate what a professional might charge for such a job?
+
Why not *call* a professional and ask for an estimate?
William Brown
estimates ranging from $2400 to $8000. Surprisingly, the crew with the
$2400 estimate did a really good job.
--
To reply to me, delete the e following brown.
Foster Vista
If a nine room colonial with wood siding, trim and garage can be properly
painted for $2400...I'm going to eat every paint brush that I own, and
wash 'em down with a few gallons of thinner. Be cautious, people. If it
seems to good to be true, it really is. A good job is not cheap and a
cheap job is not good. Go get a price quote for a paint job on your car.
Now look at the house. Hmmmmmm......
PBroussard
>I am looking into buying a home that needs a complete exterior paint
>job. I don't know enough to know exactly what this entails, but I
>assume it means scraping and painting. The siding is wood and the
>window frames need to be done also. The house is a 9 room colonial
>with an attached garage, in the Boston area.
>
>Can anyone estimate what a professional might charge for such a job?
>
>
The house needs to be throughly looked over by a professional. There are far
too many variables for someone to give an estimate via newsgroup.
Paul Broussard, friend of Bill's
Broussard Painting Contractors
pres., chief bottlewasher, Baton Rouge Dart Assn.
darkstar
> > Why not *call* a professional and ask for an estimate?
> Better yet, call three or four.
GRRRRRRR.....I CAN'T GET ANY< ANY< ANY< ANY ANY!!!! OF THEM TO RETURN MY
CALLS!!!!!!!GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! there, I feel better. I am not the
original poster. WHAT IS IT WITH MY AREA! I know there is a housing boom
but this is RIDICULOUS, it's WINTER and they won't call me back.
a...@bigfoot.com
In article <3504B5...@ix.netcom.com>, wbro...@ix.netcom.com says...
> Doug Miller wrote:
> >
> > In article <6e1f8d$dv9$1...@news-srv1.fmr.com>, mnst...@AOL.COM (mike) wrote:
> > +I am looking into buying a home that needs a complete exterior paint
> > +job. I don't know enough to know exactly what this entails, but I
> > +assume it means scraping and painting. The siding is wood and the
> > +window frames need to be done also. The house is a 9 room colonial
> > +with an attached garage, in the Boston area.
> > +
> > +Can anyone estimate what a professional might charge for such a job?
> > +
> > Why not *call* a professional and ask for an estimate?
> estimates ranging from $2400 to $8000. Surprisingly, the crew with the
> $2400 estimate did a really good job.
> --
> To reply to me, delete the e following brown.
>
a year.
--
Bruce
A.&B. Construction
Houston, TX
mailto:a&b...@bigfoot.com
gwarwick
If cost is critical, a lot of teachers or firemen are semi-professional
painters. The teachers do it in the summer and the firemen on their days
off. But, make absolutely certain that the painters have insurance and
workmans comp. If they would have an accident, the job could be very
expensive. The cheapest bid could be the most expensive.
jerry
PBroussard <pbrou...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19980310062...@ladder02.news.aol.com>...
> In article <6e1f8d$dv9$1...@news-srv1.fmr.com>, mnst...@AOL.COM (mike)
writes:
>
> >I am looking into buying a home that needs a complete exterior paint
> >job. I don't know enough to know exactly what this entails, but I
> >assume it means scraping and painting. The siding is wood and the
> >window frames need to be done also. The house is a 9 room colonial
> >with an attached garage, in the Boston area.
> >
> >Can anyone estimate what a professional might charge for such a job?
> >
> >
>
a...@bigfoot.com
In article <01bd4c71$47ebe7e0$086a1bd0@default>, gwar...@zoomnet.net
says...
> If cost is critical, a lot of teachers or firemen are semi-professional
> painters. The teachers do it in the summer and the firemen on their days
> off. But, make absolutely certain that the painters have insurance and
> workmans comp. If they would have an accident, the job could be very
> expensive. The cheapest bid could be the most expensive.
>
> jerry
It's a shame that painters and the painting profession are held in such
low regard. I guess the fact that anyone can buy a $10 can of paint and
start painting makes it seem like a fairly simple minded occupation. In
reality painting is a very complex matter. I am more amazed at how much
I don't know than impressed by how much I do know about painting--
something I do almost on a daily basis.
The simplest error sometimes can cost the customer hundreds or thousands
of dollars having the job redone. I recently did some interior painting
for a customer at a cost of $2600. This was just 3 weeks after another
painter had done the same job for $1600. The problem was that the
original painter had no idea what he was doing. You guessed it, the
customer had originally gone with the "cheapest" bid to "save money".
I don't think you would want me to teach your children, or to put out a
fire at your house. So why would you want a teacher or fireman to do a
job they are not qualified for?
PBroussard
In article <01bd4c71$47ebe7e0$086a1bd0@default>, "gwarwick"
<gwar...@zoomnet.net> writes:
>If cost is critical, a lot of teachers or firemen are semi-professional
>painters. The teachers do it in the summer and the firemen on their days
>off. But, make absolutely certain that the painters have insurance and
>workmans comp. If they would have an accident, the job could be very
>expensive. The cheapest bid could be the most expensive.
I've seen quite a few bids from station wagon painters (or teachers, firemen)
The bid is usually just enough to apply a coat of paint. This is apalling to
me, since it's the prep work that determines the longevity of the paint job.
When estimating a repaint of an exterior, generally half of that time or more
is devoted to prep work. Without a good foundation, finishcoats aren't going to
last long.
PBroussard
>It's a shame that painters and the painting profession are held in such
>low regard. I guess the fact that anyone can buy a $10 can of paint and
>start painting makes it seem like a fairly simple minded occupation. In
>reality painting is a very complex matter. I am more amazed at how much
>I don't know than impressed by how much I do know about painting--
>something I do almost on a daily basis.
>
>The simplest error sometimes can cost the customer hundreds or thousands
>of dollars having the job redone. I recently did some interior painting
>for a customer at a cost of $2600. This was just 3 weeks after another
>painter had done the same job for $1600. The problem was that the
>original painter had no idea what he was doing. You guessed it, the
>customer had originally gone with the "cheapest" bid to "save money".
>
>I don't think you would want me to teach your children, or to put out a
>fire at your house. So why would you want a teacher or fireman to do a
>job they are not qualified for?
>
>--
>Bruce
>A.&B. Construction
>Houston, TX
>mailto:a&b...@bigfoot.com
Very well put, Bruce. There is a serious misconception in the way consumers
view painting in general. Most DIY'ers can handle wall painting, or even an
exterior if conditions are right. It's the knowledge required to look over a
job to see what needs to be done that makes the difference. One major concern
to homeowners is how much they value their time. Most painting homeowners
tackle can be done far faster by a pro. It took me a while, but I've quit doing
major automotive work to my (and the kids) vehicles, simply because it doen't
pay. I'd just as soon work some OT to pay for repairs than do them myself. I'm
assured that the repair is done better than I could do it, and far faster.
I'm finishing some kitchen and den cabinets (milled from old cypress beams) now
for a customer that wants to save a few dollars by painting her walls. She has
about $40,000 tied up in this remodeling job. I'd guess she has about 40-50
hours into it, where I gave her a price of $300 for 3 coats on the new walls. I
just can't see the logic in this.
Sure, prices vary from contractor to contractor, with the low bid is usually
slap a coat on and go. As with every trade, you need to find a contractor that
is honest and dependable. Seems like a good painter is hard to find, tho.
William Brown
PBroussard wrote:
>
> In article <01bd4c71$47ebe7e0$086a1bd0@default>, "gwarwick"
> <gwar...@zoomnet.net> writes:
>
multiple estimates, and relating that a friend had done that, and had
been very satisfied with the work done by the (substantially)lowest
bidder. This apparently stiffened the bristles of every painter who
read it.
I would certainly not suggest that every lowest bidder is the best buy;
but at the same time, one would have to be foolish to make the
assumption that the highest bidder offers the greatest quality, and the
lowest the least.
In the story I cited (and I would add that the painting was done a
couple of years ago, and the owner remains satisfied) the highest bidder
was a company that hires students and markets aggresively (I know,
because they approached my son about a summer job). It is certainly
possible that they do quality work, but I think it is unlikely, and I
would not hire them without getting some references. The lowest bid
came from some semi-retired painters, who apparently had the time and
skill to do a few jobs at very reasonable rates; as I recall they even
offered the owner the option of providing her own paint, or letting them
get it.
Certainly price is not the only thing one should look at.
PBroussard
In article <350895...@ix.netcom.com>, William Brown <wbro...@ix.netcom.com>
writes:
>I posted the item in this thread suggesting that one should obtain
>multiple estimates, and relating that a friend had done that, and had
>been very satisfied with the work done by the (substantially)lowest
>bidder. This apparently stiffened the bristles of every painter who
>read it.
>
>I would certainly not suggest that every lowest bidder is the best buy;
>but at the same time, one would have to be foolish to make the
>assumption that the highest bidder offers the greatest quality, and the
>lowest the least.
>
>In the story I cited (and I would add that the painting was done a
>couple of years ago, and the owner remains satisfied) the highest bidder
>was a company that hires students and markets aggresively (I know,
>because they approached my son about a summer job). It is certainly
>possible that they do quality work, but I think it is unlikely, and I
>would not hire them without getting some references. The lowest bid
>came from some semi-retired painters, who apparently had the time and
>skill to do a few jobs at very reasonable rates; as I recall they even
>offered the owner the option of providing her own paint, or letting them
>get it.
>
>Certainly price is not the only thing one should look at.
Sounds like in this situation, the lady you work with got a bargain! Experience
at a low cost. Thanks for clarifying the post. All we had to go on was your
original post, and as we compare that situation with our own experiences, it's
not surprising we get our bristles stiffened. We see it day in and day out, low
bids are taken, true professionals called in later to straighten up the mess.
In article <3504B5...@ix.netcom.com>, William Brown
<wbro...@ix.netcom.com> writes:
>Better yet, call three or four. A lady I work with did this, and got
>estimates ranging from $2400 to $8000. Surprisingly, the crew with the
>$2400 estimate did a really good job.
>--
Paul Broussard, friend of Bill's