Originally Posted by Clough
It would be helpful to have a lot more information from you in order to make an attempt at answering your question the best.
If you are going to be spraying the paint on the exterior, I would strongly recommend using at least two coats. One coat of paint only lasts and works well if it's applied over exactly the same color of paint and if the original paint isn't all that old (a number of months, not years) and is in great condition. If you use two coats, you will get much better results than if you use just one coat.
But, you know what, it depends on what kind of job you want to do and the kind of quality work that you want to be known for doing. Some people that own apartment buildings and rental properties aren't really concerned with how long a paint job will last - for various reasons. They just want to get it done quickly and cheaply. I don't do those kinds of jobs because I like to do quality work that takes time. That's just my preference. To each their own as long as they can live feeling good about the work that they have done.
I'm not saying that the above is the kind of job that you are asking about here concerning costs. But, applying only one coat is usually for those kinds of jobs.
When I take on a job where the customer requires work of the highest quality, I can have the satisfaction that the customer is very well pleased and that I can be proud of the work that I do. Such things as that will lead to further referrals for me to have more work to do for others in the future.
Concerning your original question, it would help to know where the approximate location of this job in order to give you the best answers here, because the prices will vary greatly depending on the location.
Also, concerning your original question, it would be helpful if you would tell us how large of an area it is that you are going to paint, whether it is a one-story structure or two and if you will want to be including the cost of the paint in the estimate. I don't include the cost of the paint in my estimates. I do however, let the customer know approximately how many gallons that will be necessary to do the job. I also insist on using only certain brands of paint so that I can guarantee my work according to what I have specified in the Contract that I have prepared for the Customer. It's important to have a contract specifying your responsibilities and the customer's responsibilities among other things.
Painting on a stucco surface is going to take a lot more paint and more time than when painting on perfectly smooth surfaces.
A word of caution: Painting of exteriors can be very tricky when using a paint gun or spray gun. You have to be very exact with getting the paint on the area on which it is intended to be applied. And, especially when painting up on the second story of a structure, the spray that is taken up by the wind can end up being little bits of paint on someone's car if your not really careful. So, I do hope that you have the appropriate liability insurance in case such a thing were to happen.
Are you just starting out in the painting business? It would also be helpful to know that.
To recap, in order to help you the best here:
Where is the approximate location of the paint job that you are wanting to do?
Why are you only going to apply one coat of paint?
How large is the area that you are going to paint in square feet?
Is this a one-story structure or two?
Will you be including the cost of the paint in your estimate?
Do you have the appropriate liability insurance that is specific to doing exterior painting?
Are you just starting out in the painting business?
That's just a few thoughts from me. If I've left anything out, I am hopeful that others will fill in the blanks...
