what to charge for painting room 30' x 12'?

Question

I usually do landscaping, but this customer friend want's me to paint her basement live-in room and I don't know what to tell her for a price...I've done tons of painting before, so I have the experience to do it, I'm just not good at pricing. The room is currently dark green, and she needs me to paint it close to somewhat like a dark peach kind of color. How many coats do you think it will take, and how many gallons, there are three doors, one of which is loovered, and 2 small windows to trim. Any help would be apreciated...

Answer 1

First of all your price should be defined by the keyword, "Friend"

Sometimes a charitable effort is not only it's own reward but can add more work than you can handle with two careers, smiles.

After applying thousands of gallons of paint I've developed what is comfortable for me, as well as generally profitable. I do a lot of work for non profit orgs. and charge $1 a sq. ft. BUT I will add to that any extreme prep or cleanup. For a household usual customer my fee might go to $2.50 a sq. ft. plus.

In your example, keep in mind NOT the rooms sq. ft. but the WALLS sq. ft. . Without knowing the ceiling height, door ways, windows, other issues that may have to be masked or cut in, the base charge at $1 per (for instance) would be ,,,assuming an 8 ft. ceiling,,, $1 @ 672 sq. ft = $672.(OK I see your detail)

As a friend you might round that down some, or depending on the effort, round it up.

30 x 12 is a decent sized room, and certainly if you're rolling, once all the cutting has been done, should go a single coat in half a day or less. If you were to equate your labor charge to hours charged consider how long you think it will take to get in and out. This could become a one week project.

The color change is going to be mildly problematic. Obviously my fee per sq. ft. is for a single coat that will "cover" an older coat/color. In your case you may be applying 3 coats of paint. 1 primer coat and 2 finish coats. Obviously the successive coats, especially the final, might be thought of as being charged less than the first.

In your case, and since it's a friend, I think if you believe you can be in and out in less than 40 hours, $1000 is a fair price to both of you.

The louvered doors, depending on the finish will take two coats at least. Louvers create visible brush strokes usually in the first coat applied. (That's especially true with semi gloss)

Windows to TRIM? are they wooden framed windows with wooden Pane frames? Figure those will take up to an hour each.

A falt panel door, or even one with deco embossed panels can be charged at $10 per coat, per side.

Consider too, material costs. Obviously you shouldn't charge for brushes, or roller handles, or even roller pans, but you can charge for consumables, such as any spackling you have to do, masking materials, caulk, drop cloths you may dispose of, but other than PAINT, those items should be added in your hours or sq. ft. fee, unless you're asked to break down labor and materials on a bill.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

National rate is-
ceiling latex .13 per sq. ft. labor only.
ceiling enamel .16 per sq. ft.
walls latex .06 per sq. ft.
walls enamel .10 per. sq. ft.
Base boards and trim work .26 per lin. ft.
Loovered door .48 per sq. ft.
This is just labor, no materials, add extra for sanding & patching.

A good rule of thumb for materials and labor for painting is $4.35 per sq. ft. with minimum prep work