Painting is quoted from surfaces and preparation, not from a price list. This page explains exactly what moves the number for interior, exterior and cabinet work in Greater Boston, so you can compare quotes on the same terms instead of guessing.
We do not publish invented per-room prices. We look at your actual rooms or elevations and put the scope and price in writing.
Interior work is measured in wall and ceiling area plus the amount of trim detail. These five factors account for most of the difference between a low quote and a high one.
Wall area drives labor more than floor area. A tall stairwell can cost more than a larger bedroom because of staging and cut-in time.
Walls only is a different scope than walls plus ceilings, trim, doors and closet interiors. Each surface should be listed separately on your estimate.
Nail pops, cracked horsehair plaster, water stains and peeling paint add prep time before any finish coat goes on.
Going dark to light, or covering a saturated accent wall, can require an extra coat or a tinted primer.
Working around furniture, floors and daily routines takes longer than painting a vacant home or a pre-move-in unit.
On exteriors, preparation is the cost. Paint is a small share of the total. In New England, freeze-thaw cycles and moisture decide how much prep a house actually needs.
Second and third stories, steep grades, tight side yards and porch roofs change how long safe access takes to set up.
Clapboard, cedar shingles, aluminum and vinyl each need a different prep and primer system. Shingles have far more surface area than flat siding.
Sound paint needs a wash and spot prep. Widely failing paint needs extensive scraping, sanding and priming, which is the single biggest exterior cost variable.
Soft trim, damaged sills and failed caulk joints should be repaired before coating. Repairs are usually quoted separately from painting.
Homes built before 1978 may require EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) containment and cleanup practices, which add setup and disposal time.
Body, trim, doors, shutters, porches and decks can be scoped together or separately depending on budget and condition.
Cabinet refinishing is priced per door and drawer front, plus the prep and spray setup your kitchen needs.
A lower number is not a better deal if it covers less work. Before you compare totals, make sure every quote puts these in writing.
Watch for verbal scope. If preparation, coat count and included surfaces are not written down, they are not part of the job. Ask for them in the estimate before you sign anything.
Interior painting is priced from the surfaces involved, not a flat per-room number. The main drivers are wall and ceiling area, how much trim and how many doors are included, the condition of the plaster or drywall, whether the color change needs an extra coat, and whether the home is occupied. We give you a written price after we see the rooms so the number does not move later.
Exterior cost depends far more on preparation than on paint. Two houses the same size can price very differently if one has sound paint and the other has widely failing paint, rotted trim or cedar shingles. Stories, access, siding material and lead-safe requirements on pre-1978 homes also change the number. We walk the exterior, document the condition, then put the scope and price in writing.
Usually because the quotes are not describing the same work. One may include washing, scraping, sanding, priming and two coats while another includes one coat over an unwashed surface. Compare the written preparation steps, the surfaces listed, the coat count and the warranty before comparing totals.
Refinishing sound cabinet boxes is normally a fraction of replacement because the cabinetry stays in place. It is priced per door and drawer front, plus prep and spray setup. If boxes are water damaged or the layout needs to change, replacement can be the better call and we will tell you that.
No. Estimates are free and written. We look at the actual surfaces, ask what matters most to you, and send a documented scope and price. You can also text photos before we visit so the first conversation is more useful.
Concealed conditions: rot found under failing paint, hidden water damage, or plaster that fails once wallpaper comes off. We flag anything we find, price it separately in writing, and get your approval before continuing.
We walk the job, document the scope, and send a written price. Free, with no obligation. Text photos first if that is easier.