i understand what lynjo means about contractors. i also am new to the painting business. have done
it on the side off and on many times in the past. a contractor just gave me a job of painting some
paneled walls. it took five coats of primer just to keep from bleeding through. i probably made about
$7 per hour and busted my butt. however, the customer added a ceiling to paint which i made about
$35 per hour. now, she wants me to change out her kitchen counter tops and put in a new hardwood
floor. jobs that were suppose to go to the contractor. i did an excellent job painting for her and am
making up for my loss in customer satisfaction and additional work. as a result, this customer will not
use the original contractor again. i just keep my mouth shut and she adds more work.
i don't know much about estimating, but in order for this work to be worth my while, i need $20 per hour.
i figure $1 a sq ft., 2 coats of paint, includes trim work, not the ceilings, and the customers pays for
materials. so a 10 x 10 sq ft room would be $100 plus the cost of materials. materials being paint,
rollers, and paint tray liners. not brushes. i add a little extra for any obstacles or additional patching needed unless it is minor stuff like nail holes. the ceiling would be 1/2 that, or $50 plus materials.
or, i charge $2.50 a linear foot. same difference.
i am not as fast as i would like to be, but i am very meticulous about the outcome.