Painting guides
A well-run paint job has four stages: define the scope surface by surface, collect comparable written bids, confirm insurance and - for pre-1978 homes - EPA Lead-Safe Certification, then walk the job with the crew lead before and after. Most disputes come from scope that was assumed rather than written.
Write your scope before you call anyone. List every surface: walls, ceilings, trim, doors, closets, window sashes, railings, shutters, garage door. Note which ones you want painted and which you don't. Hand the same list to every bidder. This one step removes most of the ambiguity that later becomes a change order.
When bids come in, compare them line by line rather than by total. Look for coat count, prep description, product line, surfaces included, protection of floors and landscaping, and daily cleanup. If one bid is dramatically cheaper, find the missing line - it exists.
For homes built before 1978, ask directly: are you an EPA or state Lead-Safe Certified firm, and will a certified renovator be on site? EPA requires firms doing covered work to be certified, requires lead-safe work practices, and requires recordkeeping that demonstrates compliance. Certification through hands-on training runs five years; online refresher training runs three.
Finally, agree how you'll sign off. A pre-start walkthrough (colors, sheens, exclusions, where they can park and store materials) and a punch-list walkthrough before final payment protect both sides. Hold a meaningful final payment until the punch list is done.
Choosing painting an approach
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- Build a surface-by-surface scope list One page. Give the identical list to every bidder so the numbers are actually comparable.
- Ask for two references on the same type of job Cabinets, stucco and historic wood are specialties. Generic references tell you nothing about those.
- Confirm the certification before signing For pre-1978 homes, get the firm's Lead-Safe Certification number in writing and verify it independently.
- Do a color sample on the actual wall Large samples on the real surface, viewed at different times of day. Chips lie under store lighting.
- Set payment to milestones A modest deposit, progress payments tied to completed areas, and a final payment after the punch list. Never pay in full up front.
All painting guides
Lead Paint and the Law
Prep Is the Job
How to Read a Painting Quote
How to Write a Painting Scope
How Long Should Exterior Paint Last
Paint Grades Explained
Best Time of Year to Paint
Choosing Exterior Paint Colors
Cabinet Painting vs Refacing
Interior Painting Process
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- EPA - Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rules · retrieved 2026-07-25
- EPA - RRP Program: Contractors · retrieved 2026-07-25
You know more than the last homeowner they quoted.
That is worth something only while you are still choosing. Tell us what is going on and we will match you with a few painting pros whose licence and insurance we have already checked - free, no obligation.
Free · No pressure · Only your matched pros get your details