We are finalizing a contract with a contractor for painting a large house. Our number is going to allow for one color each on ceilings, walls, and trim work to be consistent throughout the house. He would like me to put in place something that predetermines the cost of multiple colors schemes. We have no idea what they have in mind as far as a color scheme which is why I am pricing it for one color each. He would like to avoid any conflict over pricing during the job. Would a square foot cost for other colors work? I would appreciate any input. Thanks.

We can't price what is unknown.
At times consumers, contractors really can be vague as to what is planned down the road, but wanting a "firm price" from we painting contractors.Talking with the decorator, homeowner would give you more insight as to additional osts. Each color added creates another set-up time of the new color paint with the tools involved, and changing to the color. Mid or deep tone color will require additional coat(s). Clean-up of equipment used for each color also.
I focus on residential repaints, for the most part. I put a price tag of $75 per additional color, and the additional cost of that paint and waste factor(portions of singles & "fives" not consumed). Of course, I don't always get the "job" either. Good Luck!

I know Ken, its really hard to determine pricing for this. Does your $75 cover rooms of any size? This a large house approximately 10000 sq.ft. I would not want to sell myself short on something like this. I would think that a square foot price would work because it wouldn't matter how large the room was it would work out accordingly.

The square foot price works as a guide to prep, prime and paint the total. I charge an additional 75 to 100 for a color change. Could be a deep color accent wall or a whole room. That last coat of color is easy, it is all the work that you did to get there!

Masterpiece,
My $75 per color charge is just the fact there is another set-up, clean-up, and "PITA" factor involved. If I had no charge, at times, clients would have us applying 3 - 9 colors in mid to deep tones on walls, and I'd be consuming additonal material(and waste factor), along with precious & costly time, at my buisness' expense.

Your costs for applying the color(s) and number of coats would be additional to that charge, at your unit costs, square footage factors.(Cleaning a roller cover and brush that's been in "tobacco brown" all day can be a job in itself).

First, let me say how much I hate new construction! We typically charge $200 per color change after 4 colors. We are in a situation where we waived that fee, and the customer chose 21 different colors in the house. We waived the fee as the homewoner had been taken advantage by the original builder for a LOT of money, then the second contractor also took advantage of him. Now we are in a situation where he doesnt want to pay us for additional work we were directed to do by third contractor. Sometimes it doesnt pay to be so helpful and sympathetic. Dont be afraid to charge!
All the best
Jeff

Jeff,
How in the world can you do 21 colors in a house with no change order. You must demand per PDCA Standards that you get paid for this addition. Did you not include the standard for placement of colors? If not, maybe you can get back with other changes or another job. We have all taken a bath at one time or another over the years. So, strick it up to experience and never give away so much in the future! I have done this a few times over the 25 years I have been in business.
Joel

My thoughts we interrupted this morning while I was dreaming of ways to force commercial owners & commercial g.c.'s let me live my dreams. While listening to the Ipod on the treadmill Brooks & Dunn's Song Cowgirl Don't Cry caused me to think of this post.

Lyrics:

Her daddy gave her, her first pony
Then taught her to ride
She climbed high in that saddle
Fell I don't know how many times
Taught her a lesson that she learned
Maybe a little too well

Cowgirls don't cry
Ride, baby, ride
lessons in life are going to show you in time
soon enough your gonna know why
it's gonna hurt every now and then
if you fall get back on again
Cowgirls don't cry

She grew up
She got married
Never was quite right
She wanted a house, a home and babies
He started coming home late at night
She didn't let him see it break her heart
She didn't let him see her fall apart

'cause Cowgirls don't cry
Ride, baby, ride
lessons in life are goinna' show you in time
soon enough your gonna know why
it's gonna hurt every now and then
if you fall get back on again
Cowgirls don't cry

Phone rang early one morning
Her momma's voice, she'd been crying
Said it's your daddy, you need to come home
This is it, I think he's dying
She laid the phone down by his head
The last words that he said

Cowgirl don't cry
Ride, baby, ride
Lessons in life show us all in time
Too soon God lets you know why
If you fall get right back on
Good Lord calls everybody home
Cowgirl don't cry


Materpiece, the color standard is the answer unless the projects are so similar everytime that you could square foot out additional color changes with certainty, but this would never account for colors needing multiple coats (more than two).

Use the stanards & head towards your dreams or slave for others dream & cry.

Joel J

I always place a clause in my proposal and make sure it's carried through on my contract as shown below:

Proposal assumes a maximum of three standard light colors on all T.B.D. surfaces. Dark colors require an extra coat; therefore, extra cost will be applied.

Another thing to keep in mind is the type of product that is specified to use may or may not have the base to do deep or ultra deep base colors. Such as SW-ProMar Series, you would have to use Color Accents and it runs about 3-5.00 more a gallon.

The best way I would handle this for the GC is to give him a couple of color scheme options to choose from. Give a price to place two colors through out the project such as one color goes on the wall and one color on the trim and price it based on medium dark colors, another price for deep base/ultra deep base colors. Ect.

It's always easier to get more of what you want and need if you do the leg work and put it out in front of the GC to choose, instead of having them spell out what they want. This also helps you keep control of how many colors and the deep factor of product without loosing anything on your end. Later down the road if they choose any options that is not what you have presented upfront, then that gives you the opportunity to price it out.

Good Luck and GOD Bless
Jody

Joel,
When we bid the job, we didn't realize he was going to do 21 different colors. What we did know was that the first contractor took a lot of money from him. You see the homeowner lives in New York, and was having this house built in KY. The second contractor, came in to complete the project, and he got paid money for things that were never completed, and he subsequently died during the course of his work. Then, his foreman took over the project and that's who we've been working under, and the foreman really has no experience running a business. The reason we waived the color up charge was more or less a sense of compassion. He had paid the contractor who died almost $10,000 for painting work that had never been done. We wanted to try and help...what a HUGE mistake that was! Considering the fact that the foreman was the one in charge and getting us our draws from the bank, he directed us to do the extra work which we gladly did, but he wanted us to delay the invoicing for the extras until the end of the job. When the project became delayed it was necessary for me to submit the invoice for the extras and thats when it hit the fan. It's been 8 days since I E-mailed the homeowner and still no reply from him. There are a few things contractually I need to finish, but I stated I need some indication from him that he will work with me on the extras. I think it's possible he has run out of money on the project. Allegedly, he has had 3 appraisers there, so that makes me think he's trying to get it appraised higher so he can take equity out. I've never had to file a lien, but it looks like I may have to. A sad lesson to learn and very unfortunate.

Paid $10k for painting work that wasn't completed? Stealing from Peter to pay Paul comes to mind. It sounds like everybody is trying to get on the gravy train. Wait to bill the extras til the end of the job is a ploy so the builder still gets his $ and everyone else is screwed.
Good luck and start filling out the lien papers..its not too hard to do.