Frequently Asked Questions

You have questions, we have answers! Below are some of our clients’ most Frequently Asked Questions about residential painting projects.

How long is the estimate good for?

A project estimate from CertaPro Painters® of the Upper Charles is officially good for 60 days (due to fluctuating material costs), but that aside will otherwise be honored through the season.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes. We have various standing discounts available on the promotions page, as well as certain seasonal promotions updated throughout the year.

Will you price match?

Yes, with caveats. We strive to “hit above our weight” by providing extraordinary service and quality work at a fair price. Pricing consists of three parts: labor, materials and overhead. Getting the job done right requires about the same labor and gallons of paint regardless. Those quoting markedly lower prices are likely cutting corners, whether short on prep and application, cheaper (aka inexperienced) labor, or lower grade paints. We don’t cut corners. That’s why our proposals spell out exactly what’s included (and what’s not), leaving nothing in doubt. As for overhead, it should go without saying that we are fully licensed and insured, above board in every respect. Bottom line, we’d be happy to help review a competitor’s proposal to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison, and we’d much rather earn your business and let our work speak for itself than lose the opportunity on pricing alone.

Does CertaPro Painters® of the Upper Charles provide free painting estimates?

Yes. You can schedule your free estimate online or give us a call at 508-538-8005.

How much do you charge per square foot?

This measure is not really applicable for residential work because every home and every room is different, and really works best for certain commercial settings such as professional office spaces, etc. Our painting estimates use sophisticated techniques that account for each surface being painted, its location within the home (e.g., 1st-floor vs. 3rd-floor exterior, the height of walls/ceilings), its type and complexity (e.g., ornate vs. simple woodwork, etc.), the amount of preparation and repair required and the amount and grade of paint to be used.

Can I get a rough quote over the phone if I give you the sizes?

Yes. Our team can provide remote 90% estimates for budgeting purposes over the phone, via smartphone conference app, or via photos/floorplans sent to us. Then we can quickly confirm with a firm quote after in-person review of the project.

How long does it take to paint a room?

The project timeline is always dependent upon a variety of factors such as size, complexity, etc. Very generally speaking, an average-sized room with ceilings, walls, and trim can be painted by one painter in one day.

How long does it take to paint a house?

Every project is different. It depends on the size and scope of the panting effort and can vary widely from just a few days to over a week. Exterior projects are most often completed in 4-7 days. When we provide our FREE estimates, we also give an expected range for project completion.

How often do I need to paint my house?

The frequency with which the exterior of homes should be painted depends on variables such as sun exposure, wind, weather or temperature changes, and humidity. Exterior painting should generally be done every 5-7 years with single coat matching color coverage or every 7-10 years with 2 coat coverage.

What is covered/included in the painting estimate?

Our estimates include all labor and paint/materials, and the price is clearly stated right up front. Any optional items are separately listed with corresponding prices. If desired, we can also break out prices by room, side or surface being painted.

How can I prepare for my interior painting project before it starts?

Our team will move furniture, cover and protect it along with floors, cabinets/countertops, fixtures and anything else that needs to be protected. We’ll also remove switch plates/outlet covers and window coverings and then replace everything when we’re done. We do ask that you remove paintings, wall decorations and any delicate or fragile items ahead of time or notify the Job Site Supervisor right away if something can’t easily be dealt with beforehand.

How can I prepare for my exterior painting project before it starts?

We take care of most everything but would appreciate it if you’d trim shrubbery, etc. at least 1-2 feet away from the house, clear all items off decks, patios, and porches, and remove any screens that must be accessed from within the home, and park vehicles well clear of the work area. On the day of the wash, all windows and doors must be closed and the water turned on, of course. If there are any other special considerations we’ll make every effort to accommodate them.

What kind of paint does CertaPro use?

We use premium quality paints and stains from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. Both product lines provide exceptional appearance, coverage, and durability. Different substrates and/or different conditions may dictate the use of specific products to ensure you get the best performance and longevity for your painting project. We will help you determine what product will work best based on your needs and budget constraints.

If you prefer a different brand of paint such as Behr, Cabot, Valspar, etc., we are happy to work with those products as well, although using certain brands and grades may impact the two-year warranty. Similarly, we can use paint supplied by our customers, but the warranty may not apply because we are not able to control the quality of the paint.

Also, note that it is possible to match specific colors in different paint brands/product lines because the major paint companies maintain their competitor’s color formulas as well.

What things should I consider when choosing paint or stain?

There are paints and stains to match every purpose and every budget, and we can help you choose the right paint for your needs. That said, there are a number of things to consider when choosing paint because paints are designed with different attributes to suit their intended purposes. Here’s a short summary:

Exterior primers, paints, and stains are designed primarily to preserve and protect surfaces from exposure to the elements or heavy use (such as foot traffic). As expected, some paints provide better coverage than others, but that’s not all. Certain primers and paints offer strong adhesion/bonding to different surfaces or substrates, such as metal, vinyl, masonry, concrete, or stucco. Paints used on vinyl need to be formulated with “vinyl safe” pigments to preclude any chance of warping or twisting from long-term exposure to sunlight. As well, some paints offer extra protection from mold and mildew, while others are specifically formulated for use in high temperatures or to provide faster dry times in higher humidity or colder temperatures, for instance. You can be confident that CertaPro uses only high-quality paints and stains that provide a lasting appearance and protection.

Interior paints have their own set of considerations. Again, paints are designed for their intended purpose, whether for use on ceilings, walls, trim/woodwork, or other special situations like cabinetry. Moisture, mold, and mildew-resistant paints are especially helpful for bathrooms, basements, and the like. Other things to consider are ease of application, coverage, ability to touch up without “flashing”, drying time for a recoat, time to fully cure, resistance to yellowing or fading, durability, and scrubbability. There are even paints that offer anti-bacterial or odor-absorbing properties and paints with low or zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are designed for environments with special health considerations.

How much does it cost to paint a room?

Cost per room varies of course with the area of the room, the height of the ceilings, and the number/type of doors, windows, and woodwork. Additional factors include the extent of surface preparation and/or repairs, the grade of paint used, and whether all surfaces are being painted to begin with. Of course, changing color and/or sheen generally requires two coats, vs. just one for a fresh coat of the same color. To fully paint an average size (e.g., 12’x12’x8’) bedroom, for example, the cost typically runs around $700-$800, while painting just walls and ceilings usually runs around $550, and refreshing just the walls around $400.

How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a house?

Costs can vary widely based on the size of the home, the extent of preparation and priming required (including any necessary lead-safe practices), the grade of paint or stain used, and whether one or two coats are desired (such as for a color change). Also, any needed carpentry repairs or additional items such as decks or sheds can have a significant impact. That said, the cost to paint/stain an average-size home with nominal preparation and negligible repairs typically runs from $7,000-$9,000.

What are the differences in sheens, and which sheen is best?

There is a wide array of sheens available for both interior and exterior surfaces to suit the type of surfaces being painted and personal and even regional tastes. Generally speaking, lower (less reflective) sheens hide surface imperfections better than higher (more reflective) sheens. Conversely, lower sheens are generally less durable or scrubbable than higher sheens because higher sheens produce a harder, longer-lasting finish. It should also be noted that durability/longevity also can vary substantially with the grade of paint or stain used, proper preparation and priming before painting, and the extent of sun and weather exposure. For interior projects, walls are most often flat, matte, or eggshell finish and trim is most often satin or semi-gloss. For exterior projects, siding is most often a flat finish, while the trim is most often a satin finish.

Can painting be done in cold weather?

Yes, within limits. We use quality paints from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore that can be applied at relatively low ambient and surface temperatures down to 35-40 degrees, but need to account for nighttime temperatures as well, with at least 24-48 hours continuously above freezing for the paint to properly cure. This is important, and not accounting for the overnight lows risks serious “paint failure”. Note that siding stains are generally less tolerant of low temperatures than regular latex paints, and certain deck stains even more so. Further, temperature swings and shorter days in Spring and Fall naturally limit the hours available for painting, so we monitor the temperature closely and avoid pushing the limits by adjusting the schedule accordingly to start later and finish earlier as needed to produce quality results. Sometimes this means a project completed in Spring or Fall may take a bit longer, but that’s to be expected.

On the other end of the spectrum, high ambient and surface temperatures above 90 degrees also need to be monitored, particularly when painting with darker/deeper pigments. It should be noted that there are now paints available that have been specifically formulated for use in high ambient temperatures. Nonetheless, when the weather is warm, we take extra care to “follow the sun/shade”, and monitor the weather to simply avoid painting in extreme temperatures regardless.

Lastly, New England weather can be particularly difficult with the more humid conditions typical of shoulder seasons and summertime heat waves. In these cases, we can still get the job done right by using primers and paints formulated for fast dry times in higher humidity and taking care to finish up each day with time to spare before the dew sets.

Bottom line, we take extra care to get the job done right and always stand behind our work with our full warranty.

Can you match colors for us?

Yes, we can. If you choose to have a color formulated to match an existing sample, we cannot ensure 100% accuracy, but the match will be extraordinarily close. Color matching, though very accurate, is not an exact science, and human/mechanical error can come into play. One way to make sure a paint color will meet your expectations is to apply a Test Patch to the area that will be painted using a sample obtained from the paint store before making the final selection. Note that semi-transparent stains do not always result in uniform coloring or shading of stained surfaces. Also, note that matching colors across both horizontal and vertical surfaces results in an apparent difference in color and/or tone.

How long can we store leftover paint?

Paint left after a project has been completed is useful for later touchups, of course (lower sheens generally touch up better than higher ones). The key environmental factors in storing paint are temperature and air. Always store paints away from direct sunlight, especially in the summer months, and always store paint in a heated space. Paint stored in an unheated garage or shed will freeze, which alters the chemical properties of the paint to the point that it should not be used. Further, the more air left in the paint can, the more the paint will thicken/dry in the can over time. So a full can of paint stored at room temperature can last for years, while paint stored in extreme temperatures or small amounts of paint left over in a mostly empty can will deteriorate quickly and be rendered unusable in as little as some months or a year. As an aside, old waterborne paints can simply be left open to thoroughly solidify and then disposed of in the trash, while oil-based paints or stains must be disposed of properly, typically at a designated hazardous waste collection date/time for your local community.

How many people will you send to paint my house?
This will vary for each job based on several factors. Typically, no less than 2 painters will be on a job site at a time. We schedule each job with the appropriate number of painters.

Do you provide a warranty?
Of course. We offer a 2-year limited warranty. Details are provided with each of our proposals.

Do you have eco-friendly paint options?
Yes, upon request we can provide options of low and zero-VOC products.

Is there anything that can change the cost after a customer receives a quote?
Any requested changes to the scope of work or product selections will result in an adjusted price. Time is also a factor, as our proposals are valid for 60 days.

When is the best time to paint?
The “ideal” temperature for exterior painting is around 75 degrees with low humidity, but modern paints are formulated for use in a wide range of temperatures. Interior painting can be done anytime that is convenient for our customers.

How will my project be managed?
We have overlapping layers of project management. Each project is assigned a Job Site Supervisor (JSS) who will be the main point of contact during the project. In addition, our Office Manager and the Franchise Owner are in constant communication with the JSS and the customer.

Can the painters work alone in my house?
We work alone on many projects for many reasons, but nonetheless maintain regular customer contact throughout the project. Ultimately, this will be a decision for the customer.

What is your clean-up process?
After our work is complete, we remove ladders, equipment, and tools, clean our work area, remove trash and debris, and vacuum.

Can you paint vinyl and aluminum siding?
Yes, we can paint both vinyl and aluminum siding using the appropriate paint as long as the surfaces are clean and dry.

What is the minimum project size needed to schedule work?
We have virtually no minimum project size during the winter season but do loosely enforce a minimum job size during the warmer exterior painting season. Even in the summer months we can often take on smaller projects below $1000 if the customer can be somewhat flexible on project timing. These projects are much easier to schedule for a Saturday, for instance, or when we are already working on another project nearby, which saves on travel time. In addition, we offer special discounts for interior projects booked in the summer for completion in the winter, or exterior projects booked in the winter for completion in the spring/summer months.

How soon can my project be scheduled?
Once you’ve decided to move forward with your project, there are two things needed to schedule it. Projects are scheduled on a first come, first served basis when booked, defined as 1) receipt of an electronically signed contract, and 2) receipt of the required deposit payment. If you have any special considerations or deadlines that you need help with, please let us know and we will make every effort to accommodate them. Note that production delays can happen for a number of reasons. The length of our workday depends on the season of the year, and rain, of course, can stop us from doing any work on a given day, even in the case of a morning shower. Saturating rains may require additional drying days before work can proceed. Also note that while crews are assigned to one project at a time, extended periods of rain may afford the opportunity to leap-frog the schedule with interior work for the interim.