Painting Trade – CSI Code 9 Finishes: 09 9000 – Paints & Coatings
If you’ve ever encountered challenges due to inaccurate paint takeoffs, you know how critical precise measurements are in commercial painting projects. Misreading measurements, double counting, and other errors can significantly impact your performance. Let’s take a closer look at the painting trade, the estimating process, and how Rocket Takeoff can assist you in avoiding these pitfalls.
Accurate estimates are essential in painting projects, especially when you need to exclude areas like doors and windows if they’re not part of the scope. Estimating for commercial paint jobs is particularly challenging, as it requires careful attention to detail while balancing other responsibilities such as project scheduling, contract management, advertising, and client consultations.
Whether you’re starting your own commercial painting business or struggling to manage the day-to-day tasks of a commercial painting project, this guide will provide valuable insights.
Commercial Painting Business Overview
Running a commercial painting business involves more than just registering your company. While the work can be exciting and requires minimal investment, success hinges on proper planning and execution. Without a clear strategy, things can quickly go awry.
Surface imperfections and watermarks can be particularly challenging in commercial projects, often requiring multiple coats to cover them effectively. Protecting surfaces is also crucial—no one wants to accidentally paint the carpet while working on a skirting board. Achieving a flawless paint finish takes years of experience, so it’s important to take your time and approach each task carefully. A quick, cost-effective paint job can easily turn into a much more time-consuming task if not done correctly.
Common Painting Techniques
Achieving a professional paint finish requires careful planning and the right techniques. Start by understanding your client’s desired outcome and the colors they want to use. Whether they prefer the same color on all four walls or an accent wall with a bold hue, it’s important to visualize the final result. Many paint manufacturers offer free online tools that allow you to see how different colors will look in a space.
Before you begin painting, clear the area of furniture and fixtures. If space is limited, cover the remaining items with drop cloths or lightweight plastic sheeting, and do the same for the floor. Use painter’s tape to protect borders, edges, base and crown moldings, and door and window casings. If necessary, seal the tape with a putty knife to prevent paint from seeping underneath.
Mix your paint thoroughly with a wooden stir stick, using a larger bucket if needed. The painting technique you choose will depend on the project requirements and your preferred method, but it’s essential to plan your approach before starting. Typically, you’ll work from top to bottom, beginning with the ceiling. Dark walls with a brighter hue may require at least three coats, including a primer, to ensure full coverage.
It’s best to tackle one wall at a time, cutting in paint along the molding and corners from top to bottom.
Common Painting Tools
Every painting job requires specific tools, but there are some essentials that should always be in your toolkit. These include paint, paint rollers, a paint sprayer, adjustable ladders, a paint roller extension pole, drop cloths, paint brushes, a paint tray, sandpaper, painter’s tape, rags, and a putty knife.
General Painting Estimation Process
Before starting any project, take the time to thoroughly review your plans and specifications to understand which areas require paint finishing. Accurate paint estimates are crucial for resource planning and determining project feasibility. As a commercial painting contractor, you’ll likely work on multiple buildings and rooms, often encountering non-rectangular wall surfaces that require more complex calculations.
Manual calculations can be time-consuming, so it’s important to use estimating techniques that save time while ensuring accuracy. Paint estimates also require knowledge of colors and shades, as different colors may require varying amounts of paint. For example, painting a charcoal-gray wall white may require more coats and additional colors.
Using Planswift Software for Digital Takeoffs
For residential or commercial painting projects, using software like Planswift can greatly simplify the takeoff process. Planswift allows you to quickly measure the required finish area and includes tools specifically designed to make paint takeoffs easier.
Too Busy? Let Us Handle Your Painting Takeoffs!
While software can expedite the estimating process, you may not always have the time to sit down and complete takeoffs or learn new software. Every second counts in business, and that’s where we come in. With our extensive experience in painting job estimate services, we provide accurate takeoffs promptly, allowing you to focus on other important aspects of your business.