Why We Do Not Quote Painting Over the Phone
People ask us what it costs to paint a house, a room, or a deck, and they are surprised when we will not give a number without seeing it. The reason is simple. Two living rooms the same size can be a day apart in work: one has sound walls and fresh trim, the other has plaster cracks, nicotine stains, and crown molding that has never been caulked. Two exteriors the same square footage can be a week apart: one needs a wash and two coats, the other needs every window scraped, spot-primed, and recaulked first. A number given blind is either wrong or padded. We would rather give you the right one.
What Happens at the Visit
- Pete comes himself. Not a salesperson. The person who writes the quote is the person who has painted North Shore homes since 1969 and who will run your job.
- He looks at everything you want painted, and a few things you may not have noticed: the caulk at the window perimeters, the soffits and fascia, the condition of the plaster, moisture behind peeling paint, whether the brick has ever been sealed.
- He asks what you want it to look like when it is done. Color changes, sheen, trim details, cabinets sprayed or brushed, whether you want the ceilings included.
- He tells you what the surfaces need. Sometimes that is less than you expected. If brick should be tuckpointed instead of painted, or a deck should be cleaned and sealed instead of stripped, you will hear it on the spot.
- It takes about thirty to forty-five minutes for a typical home, longer for a full exterior or a commercial property.
What the Written Quote Covers
You get a written scope and a firm price for that scope. It spells out:
- Every room, surface, or elevation included, and what is excluded.
- The prep: washing, scraping, sanding, patching, caulking, priming, and any repairs.
- The products, by name. We use Sherwin-Williams lines matched to each surface, and the quote says which one goes where.
- The number of coats.
- Protection and cleanup: furniture moved and covered, floors and landscaping protected, daily cleanup, final walk-through.
- A schedule: when we can start and how many working days the job takes.
The price is for the job, not an hourly rate, so it does not grow if a wall takes longer than planned. If you add work after we start, you get a written change with its own price before we do it.
What Moves the Price
Since we will not list prices, here is the honest version of what makes one job cost more than another, so you can read your own quote:
- Prep, more than anything. Peeling exterior paint, failed caulk, plaster cracks, water damage, and wallpaper removal are where the hours go.
- Height and access. Two-story exteriors, cathedral ceilings, and stairwells take scaffolding or lifts and slower work.
- Trim and detail. A room with crown molding, wainscoting, six-panel doors, and built-ins has far more brush work than four flat walls.
- Color changes. Dark to light, or a saturated color, usually means an extra coat.
- Surface type. Cedar, stucco, brick, and metal each need their own primer and product.
- Lead-safe work. Homes built before 1978 may need containment and cleanup under the EPA rules we are certified for.
What Does Not Happen
- No pressure. The quote is good for the season; take it to your spouse, your board, or another painter.
- No deposit to get the quote. The visit and the written estimate are free.
- No surprise line items. Everything on the invoice was on the quote or on a change you approved.
Getting Ready for the Visit
You do not need to do much. It helps to know which rooms or elevations you want done, whether you have colors in mind, and any dates that matter, like a move-in, a party, or a listing. If you have paint cans from the last job, leave them where Pete can see them. If you want to try colors first, the paint visualizer lets you test them on a photo of your own house before he arrives.
Book the Visit
Call (847) 564-4880 or request an estimate online and pick a date and time of day that suits you. Pete confirms within one business day. We serve Northbrook, Glenview, Winnetka, Wilmette, Evanston, Highland Park, Deerfield, and the rest of the North Shore and Northwest suburbs. See our residential and commercial painting services, or read the FAQ.