Before starting any commercial exterior paint project, it is crucial to estimate how much it will cost you. When it comes to estimating exterior commercial painting costs, your professional painting contractor will calculate the cost of each aspect of the project, like materials, equipment, labor, transportation, etc. It will allow them to get the things required to complete the project successfully and efficiently. However, these estimates are not fixed, and they should not be, because during the project there can be modifications to the scope of the project, which can increase the cost.
How to Come Up With Accurate Estimates For a Painting Project
To work out estimations accurately for a commercial painting project, start by assessing each detail of the project and any possible problems. Some things you must consider while estimating exterior painting costs include:
The Surface Area that Needs to Be Painted
You can calculate the surface area that needs to be painted by multiplying the length by the height of every wall. Then, find the value of the total surface area by adding all the figures. You also need to calculate the surface area of everything that does not need to be painted, like doors and windows. After that, subtract the combined value of that from the total surface area of the exterior walls.
Let’s say a building has four exterior walls. They have a length of 20 feet and a width of 40 feet. So, the total surface area of the walls will be 3200 (4x20x40). If this building has eight windows (each six feet high and 5 feet wide), you will subtract a surface area of 240 square feet from the exterior walls’ total surface area. This meaning that, the surface area that needs to be painted is 2960 (3200-240).
How Much Paint Is Required
Generally, a single paint gallon covers around 400 sq. ft. if the surface is smooth, and 300 sq. ft. if the surface is textured. According to this, you will require around 7.4 paint gallons to cover 2960 square feet of smooth surface and 9.8 gallons for a textured surface. If the exterior requires two coats of paint, then this amount will be doubled.
Calculate the Cost of All the Materials
Start by determining all the supplies that will be required to finish the project. You will be required to buy additional rollers or brushes, painters tape, clean drop cloths, pan liners, and other various supplies.
Good-quality paint costs around 25 to 40 dollars per gallon. You will need to first calculate how much it will cost to buy the paint. Next, add the cost of other materials such as paint trays, brushes, drop cloths, and rollers. Professional painters will create a detailed list with the estimated cost of supplies that will be used during the project; This allows customers to see how they got at that price.
Determine the Cost of Labor
You need to determine how much time your worker will take to finish the job to calculate labor costs. Do not forget to consider the wall preparation process. It generally includes washing, caulking, scraping, treating areas that need special attention, and applying a coat of primer.
If there are any additional workers, consider their cost too. When working on a large commercial project that requires timeliness, having additional workers help you out can be very beneficial. Make sure your total labor costs include the hourly wage or per job payment of each worker, as well as any benefits.
How Much Time It Will Take
Consider the amount of time needed to finish the task, from the preparation work to cleanup. The painters might have to spend more time preparing the exterior than painting. The process of surface preparation (pressure washing, scraping, etc.), covering outlets, floor surface, and woodwork, and protecting the commercial structure is as essential as the painting part of the process. Therefore, you need to consider these tasks in the estimate as well.
Lodging and Fuel Costs
Some other costs you need to include in the estimate are lodging (if required), fuel, and mileage. These costs can be minimized by ensuring the workers get everything they require for the project before arriving at the site. Make sure not to underestimate the amount of materials you will need for the project. Otherwise, it will add to the mileage since you will need to make more trips to the store to buy the necessary supplies. Many commercial exterior painting projects require travel. In that case, the lodging costs should also be included in the estimate.
Take Everything Into Account
It is important to take everything into account- from the different materials required and the number of workers needed to the total time it will take to fuel and lodging costs- to get an accurate estimate cost of commercial painting. You can get the estimate after adding all these individual costs. For a better estimate, you can also add overhead costs (insurance, power-washer rental, etc.) and any additional costs.
Keep in mind the estimate will increase with the area that needs to be painted. That is why painters price their projects according to the surface area. Since some things, like outdoor obstructions, safety tasks, the difficulty of preparation tasks, and complexities of trim details can make a painting project considerably more complicated, many painters consider these factors in their estimate too.
Do you want an accurate estimate of the price to paint the exterior of your commercial structure, with no hidden costs and each detail accounted for? Then we can help you. We calculate estimates while taking into account all the unique specifications of each project. It ensures our customers are provided with the full picture before the project begins. So they can feel at peace, knowing that there will not be any drastic fluctuations in the costs at the last moment, and the cost of the project will stay within their budget. Contact re:fab and get your FREE estimate by calling 1.800.690.2539 or visiting www.refabpro.com/
