I am bidding on a restoration project and I am looking for exterior sq ft rates for painting cedar siding. I have already figured out all other details except for the siding. I am a fast painter and don't want to under bid my job.

Hi, Rev78!

Some facts need to be known here...

1. Is it new siding?
2. If not, has it been painted or stained previously?
3. What is the manner in which the paint will be applied? Brush, roller or spray?
4. Who will be supplying the paint - you or the customer?
5. What is the width of the boards?
6. Will a primer need to be applied?
7. Are there any damaged areas that need to be repaired?
8. Is it a one or more story structure?
9. Is there anything on the ground that you will be required to move out of the way?

All of the above factors can affect how the job will be priced.

Thanks!

The house was built in mid 1700's. I live in western Mass and just starting my business. The siding is very old with multiple layers of paint. I plan on using a heat gun to remove most of the paint until I'm down to a good solid surface. I will be using brushes and probably using Ben Moore's Aura. The width of the clapboards is probably around 4 inches on a 2 story house. I will be using ladders with jacks and a plank. I am just doing the front side of the house this year( Huge project! ). I have already figured out all other estimating except the siding. Looking for a sq ft rate. I appreciate you help. I was hoping that you would respond. It seems that you are very knowledgeable and helpful. Looking forward to hearing back from you

Looking for sq ft rates for painting trim and siding in Western Mass. I just need rates for the application of paint and/or primer. I would be using brushes and doing the work off ladder jacks and a plank. The ground is flat with good footing. It is a restoration project so the siding would be down to bare wood or a good solid surface. I already have figures for all prep work

You really only need to post once and then you can continue conversations about rates and what not in the thread you opened.

Just a note:)

Threads merged

Hi again, Rev78!

Yes, it is a huge project!

Have you considered using historically accurate paint products since the home is so old?

If the boards are 4 wide and you'll be using a brush for the application of the painting material, you'll need to be pricing by the linear foot rather than the square foot.

Have you already included the stripping off the old paint in your estimate, please?

Using a heat gun on multiple layers of really old paint might be a slow as well as dangerous way to do things. For one thing, if any of the layers have been on there since the home was built, it's almost certainly going to be milk paint. That stuff is really hard to strip off!

Another factor to consider, is the potential danger of fire because of the use of the heat gun on very old wood. My ex and her then boyfriend managed to catch her home on fire, that is dated about 1850, by using a heat gun. I think that the fire actually started on the inside of the wall as they were heating the paint on the outside wall of the home, so they weren't really able to see that a fire had started, until there was smoke.

I would suggest finding a commercial grade liquid stripper and trying that first, rather than the heat gun. Those kinds of strippers generally aren't available in places like the usual home repair and maintenance chain stores. Although, a marine type of stripper might work that's available in those types of stores.

There is a company that I purchased some products years ago for authentically painting of early types of wooden structures. The paint products were called Old Sturbridge. I'm not sure if the company was called that. However, the following in the link of the search for those kinds of paint products.

Old Sturbridge Paint - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Old+Sturbridge+Paint&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)

I was very impressed with what I saw on the following site.

Twenty classic colors with a natural milk paint base (http://www.milkpaint.com/path_colors.html)

That place is also located in Massachusetts. Where I got the historically accurate paints products may have actually been from them. Don't know, though... I was doing that way before there was the Internet.

Thanks for the compliments, by the way! :)

I was hoping that you'd be returning to here, Rev78!