[Garypa]

How much is the going rate for painting in sq footage in NY State

How much is the going rate in square footage for painting what should I bid

[tickle]

Every site I visited was either .86 cents or $l.00 sq. ft. this is without cutting in and masking off. So if one wall is l00 sq. ft. then you would charge $100. I can't imagine the client masking and cutting in for you, so add another l0 cents per square foot for masking and cutting in. Cutting in being the time consuming part.

So, we have $1.25 an hour per sq. foot.

Tick

[Clough]

Hi, Garypa!

There are a lot of unknown variables here that will influence the cost of a paint job.

For instance, in what manner is the paint to be applied, please? Brush, roller or spray, or maybe combinations of those? Plus, how many coats of paint are to be applied.

Are there any repairs to be done to the surface areas to be painted? Also, are any of the surface areas to be painted textured in any way and who is going to be purchasing the primer (if it's needed) and paint, the painter or the customer?

Will any objects be needed to be moved by the painter to facilitate painting? Also, will any scaffolding be needed to be used.

Those are just some of the many factors to be considered when pricing a paint job.

I could give you the prices around where I live. In New York State, the labor prices will probably be around $.75 to $1.00 more than they are around here for a job that's done with a roller for large, perfectly flat surfaces, no priming or imperfections to fix. But, it does depend on what needs to be done and how it's done.

Would you please supply more specifics as to everything that's involved in the job?

Thanks!

[cyberheater]

Here we go. Used to this, so I can add some here.

Small, Medium, to large prep work on walls, which includes filling in holes, cracks et.
You need to add labor and materials for that.

Figure in your equipment.
Roller/ roller covers/ pan/brushes etc.
Even if you reuse, you need to add a percentage.

Then, how many coats. If you are covering a dark cover, and going lighter - then primer is needed. That is a coat in itself.
If you are going from lighter to darker - you need a lot of coats (especially very dark like red) Darker primer helps, but you will still need additional coats of that paint.

As Clough said, rough surface or shiny?
Cleaning required, that is prep work.

Trim is separate from walls. Charge per LF
and add for a different color, etc. 40 cents same color, 50 cents different color and so on.
Anything over 8 feet you add 12% appx for every 3 feet up. I charge an additional 15% on top of that wall sq. ft. for ceilings.

Figure out your cost for fixed equipment.
Now your cost per job supplies.
Your time for prep work.
Now your square foot and linear foot price on the items mentioned above.
Add percentage for any high work and ceilings.

Two coats (one primer, one coat paint)
1.25 per sq. foot
Same color on trim 40 cents per LF
(including windows)
Figure a gallon of paint (no flat - doesn't cover well - use eggshell finish at minimum.)

if they specify a certain paint and it's higher then your costs of ex: sherwin williams or equal to) add for that cost.

300 sq. foot room with two coats, no ceiling
with 300 LF trim same color
Little prep work on walls on a decent surface.

450 + 120 =570
you need two gal of paint (or one primer, one paint) $40
brushes, rollers, pan etc. $35
little spackle or joint compound and sand paper $8
You should make about 450 for your labor.

This is appx.

[tickle]

Hi cyberheater, what wonderful information, you should make this a sticky for other people asking about this and we do get so many asking how much they should charge.

Thanks so much for the info. I do all my own painting, it is more satisfying to look back and just know I have done all the work, but I do have my wallpaper removed by an expert, I don't have time for that.

Ms tickle

[cyberheater]

tickle, I dislike dealing with wall paper too. If I have to do that, I charge my the hour. YOu never know what you are getting into for that one. LOL

Thank you for your kind response.
BTW, I hardly used spray in a lived in home. Too may issues, and you have to spend way too much time covering everything. I have seen many try, but not without spray over problems.

Sprays are good for new construction, or exterior, but there is a lot of problems if you don't mix it right, and cleaning the machine is something I dislike as well.

To keep clean up quick, I used to use liners in my pans. Cheap ones.