Painter charged $2000 for 12 hours of work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's his fee excluding materials. That works out to $167 an hour. I'm mad I agreed to the estimate, I assumed the work would be more time consuming. It involved painting some exterior walls (not tall) and one bedroom. I assumed he'd be sanding and repairing holes but we didn't discuss that in advance so I guess that's my fault. I don't mind paying fair wages, but I just hate this feeling of being taken advantage of.

So, would you rather be quoted an hourly rate?

In that case, are you going to post that it's taking too long and they've dragged out the job to pad the bill?

I'm sorry but all those saying that $2000 is fair wage for two days of very simple painting work are delusional.

Professional painters cost that much. OP could do it herself, hire someone who's just some handyman off nextdoor, a college kid on vacation...Lots of other options but that's the price of a professional painting service with insurance.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s high but my spouse is a contractor.
Just because he was at your house 12 hours doesnt mean that’s the only time he put into your job. My spouse spends a lot of time back and forth to Home Depot, working up quotes online, designing things, calling companies for supplies, etc…. Then people want to add work at the last minute for free, change the color from what was already agree, creating even more work……
Taxes have to be taken out, licensing and being bonded and insured doesn’t come cheap either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It included paint and he also had to go get it all himself too, plus supplies.

Paint is very expensive, good stuff could be $100 per gallon or more. Plus.the painter is running a business, paying taxes, insurance, travel time, gas, etc. And dont forget they also are working to make some profit they can save just like the rest of us.

Yes, you are paying for their commute to you. If you are 1 hour from them each way, trust me they are charging you somehow. I live in an area where it's a long drive around or you wait and take a ferry. Any contractor that is not "local" charges for the travel time to you and the ferry fees. So do interior designers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painting sucks! If you don't want to diy you pay the premium for the folks willing to do painting.

I DIY all of my painting. It is easy.

Every DIY paint job I have seen looks exactly like a DIY paint job.

Everyone who did it also hired a pro within two to three years to redo because they couldn’t live with their own mistakes.

You can't be serious. My cut ins are straight as an arrow, buddy. It just takes some practice to find a technique that works for you. And yeah, a little finess and confidence helps as well. Most pros don't pay attention to detail and are borderline sloppy.

You are one in a thousand. Most DIY paint jobs are terrible. The homeowners know it and only admit years later when a pro fixes it.

My DIY paint jobs aren’t terrible. Mediocre bordering on bad yes. I paint small, little used rooms myself; anything I want to look really good I hire someone.

[Anonymous]

That's high. usually, $30-35/hr for this kind of labor without materials is right about correct. Sorry, OP that you were taken advantage of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It included paint and he also had to go get it all himself too, plus supplies.

Paint is very expensive, good stuff could be $100 per gallon or more. Plus.the painter is running a business, paying taxes, insurance, travel time, gas, etc. And dont forget they also are working to make some profit they can save just like the rest of us.

Yes, you are paying for their commute to you. If you are 1 hour from them each way, trust me they are charging you somehow. I live in an area where it's a long drive around or you wait and take a ferry. Any contractor that is not "local" charges for the travel time to you and the ferry fees. So do interior designers.

Still, this is very high even after adding all the above items. Pay reasonable wages but don't get ripped off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s high but my spouse is a contractor.
Just because he was at your house 12 hours doesnt mean that’s the only time he put into your job. My spouse spends a lot of time back and forth to Home Depot, working up quotes online, designing things, calling companies for supplies, etc…. Then people want to add work at the last minute for free, change the color from what was already agree, creating even more work……
Taxes have to be taken out, licensing and being bonded and insured doesn’t come cheap either.

+1

Shopping for supplies, driving to/from the job, etc is all included in the costs. They don't work for free

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's high. usually, $30-35/hr for this kind of labor without materials is right about correct. Sorry, OP that you were taken advantage of.

I'd like the contact for your top quality painter who only charges $35/hour

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painting sucks! If you don't want to diy you pay the premium for the folks willing to do painting.

I DIY all of my painting. It is easy.

Every DIY paint job I have seen looks exactly like a DIY paint job.

Everyone who did it also hired a pro within two to three years to redo because they couldn’t live with their own mistakes.

Absurd. We’ve done both many, many times. My DH spends most of his time on the prep work. The “pros” just want to get it done. I stare at their uneven work because they didn’t even bother taping.
For exterior work, I fully expect to pay extra for the guys who risk life and limb and I don’t complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s high but my spouse is a contractor.
Just because he was at your house 12 hours doesnt mean that’s the only time he put into your job. My spouse spends a lot of time back and forth to Home Depot, working up quotes online, designing things, calling companies for supplies, etc…. Then people want to add work at the last minute for free, change the color from what was already agree, creating even more work……
Taxes have to be taken out, licensing and being bonded and insured doesn’t come cheap either.

+1

Shopping for supplies, driving to/from the job, etc is all included in the costs. They don't work for free

So your definition of a painter charging less than $1000 per day is "working for free?" Even if his commute is four hours per day, with six hours on the job that's still $100 an hour. How much time did he spend prepping for the job at home? It's not like he's simmering the paint on his stove over a slow-burning flame for two days...!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's high. usually, $30-35/hr for this kind of labor without materials is right about correct. Sorry, OP that you were taken advantage of.

I'd like the contact for your top quality painter who only charges $35/hour

There are tons of them out there. It is no big deal. Show them the job, offer your price and negotiate and make it flexible for them to get it done on their time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s high but my spouse is a contractor.
Just because he was at your house 12 hours doesnt mean that’s the only time he put into your job. My spouse spends a lot of time back and forth to Home Depot, working up quotes online, designing things, calling companies for supplies, etc…. Then people want to add work at the last minute for free, change the color from what was already agree, creating even more work……
Taxes have to be taken out, licensing and being bonded and insured doesn’t come cheap either.

+1

Shopping for supplies, driving to/from the job, etc is all included in the costs. They don't work for free

So your definition of a painter charging less than $1000 per day is "working for free?" Even if his commute is four hours per day, with six hours on the job that's still $100 an hour. How much time did he spend prepping for the job at home? It's not like he's simmering the paint on his stove over a slow-burning flame for two days...!

Yes, very very high, OP. Don't inflate labor to how worse it already is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's high. usually, $30-35/hr for this kind of labor without materials is right about correct. Sorry, OP that you were taken advantage of.

$35 an hour?? Maybe if it was 1992.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One guy working alone. It took two days, starting each day with paint purchase at 9am and wrapping up around 4pm. I’m just an idiot that’s all.

My painter charges similarly and drops off 2 guys who may finish in one day.

I don’t think you should think of it hourly but as a total job.

My dentist charged me 6k for like 3 hours of work. Does a dentist deserve $2k/hr?

[Anonymous]

I dunno my handyman charged me $2k for 2 days of work for mulch. I definitely don’t think he worked 12 hours.