What should an interior painting estimate include?

“Paint the bedroom” leaves room for assumptions. Check whether the estimate includes the walls only, or also the ceiling, doors, door frames, baseboards and other trim. Closets, built-ins and stair areas should be named if you want them included.

Ask: Which surfaces are included, and which will stay as they are?

A few nail holes and a room with damaged plaster need different preparation. Point out cracks, peeling areas and uneven surfaces before the estimate is finalized. Ask which patching, sanding, caulking and priming steps are included for the surfaces being painted.

At MGC, drywall and plaster repairs, patching and skim coating can be included in the agreed painting scope. They are not automatically included in every project.

Ask: What repairs are priced now, and what would need a separate assessment?

The estimate should make clear who supplies the paint, which product and sheen are planned, and how primer and finish coats are covered. A change in color or surface condition may affect the work needed; discuss it before the project begins.

Ask: Are materials, primer and the agreed finish coats included? When do I need to choose colors?

Confirm who moves furniture, clears shelves and removes wall decorations. Ask how floors and nearby surfaces will be protected, what happens to switch plates and hardware, and which cleanup tasks are included when painting is complete.

Ask: What should I prepare before the crew arrives, and what will the crew handle?

Share any move-in date, work-from-home needs or rooms that must remain accessible. Ask about the expected schedule and any drying time that affects when you can use the space. Treat a preferred start date as something to confirm, not an assumption.

Ask: How will the work be organized, and when can I use each room again?

Check that labor, materials and any separately priced work are easy to identify. Read the exclusions as carefully as the included work. If you add another room or repairs are discovered later, agree on how those changes will be discussed and priced before the extra work starts.

Ask: What is excluded, and how will any additional work be approved?

Tell us your city or ZIP code, the rooms and surfaces you want painted, any visible damage, and your preferred timing. Photos help us understand the project before discussing the next steps. Your estimate should reflect the work agreed for your home.