Before you sign anything
How to read a painting quotation, line by line.
A single number tells you almost nothing. What actually protects you is what is written around it, and knowing what should be there lets you spot a quotation that is hiding something.
Reviewed 7 September 2026 by PremiumWalls commercial.
At a glance
What should a proper painting quotation include?
The surfaces being painted and how they were measured, what preparation each one needs, the products and number of coats, what is specifically excluded, the schedule, and who is responsible for the site. If a quotation is a single total with none of that stated, you cannot actually compare it to anything or hold anyone to it later.
How to Read a Painting Quotation
How was the area measured?
Ask whether the number is based on a site measurement or an estimate from your property's configuration, like '2 BHK'. A quotation given before anyone has visited the property is a guess, however precise it looks written down.
What preparation is included, specifically
'Surface preparation' as a single line hides more than it tells you. Ask what it actually covers: is crack repair included, is full putty and levelling included, is removal of any old coating included, or are these quoted as extras if they turn out to be needed?
What products and how many coats
The product name and grade should be stated, along with the number of coats. 'As required' is not a specification. It is a way of leaving the number open to be decided later, on terms you have not agreed to.
What is excluded
A good quotation tells you what it does not cover as clearly as what it does: structural repair, electrical work, deep cleaning, waterproofing. This is what stops an argument later about something you assumed was included.
The schedule and who is responsible
A start date, roughly how long the work will take, and a single named person accountable for the site are all things a serious quotation states plainly — not something you should have to ask for separately.
The warranty and its conditions
What a workmanship warranty covers, for how long, and what it excludes should be written down, not implied. 'Warranty included' with no further detail is not actually a commitment to anything specific.
How to Read a Painting Quotation — your questions.
Is a lower quote always worse?
Not automatically, but compare what is inside it before assuming it is the same job at a better price. A lower number with less preparation, fewer coats or vaguer exclusions is often a different, smaller job wearing the same headline price.
What if two quotations measure the area differently?
Ask both contractors how they arrived at their number. If one measured on site and the other estimated, they are not comparable, whatever the totals suggest.
Should I be worried if a quotation has no exclusions listed?
Generally, yes. Every real project has boundaries — something that would need a different trade, or work that is genuinely outside scope. A quotation with nothing excluded usually means it has not been thought through in enough detail, not that everything is included.
What is a reasonable amount of detail to expect?
Enough that you could hand the quotation to a different contractor and they would understand exactly what was agreed, without needing to ask you what 'as required' or 'standard preparation' was supposed to mean.
Let us look at your walls first.
Tell us about the property and we will set up a free colour and wall inspection. You get a written, itemised quotation afterwards, with no obligation to go ahead.
- We call you back the same day to get a picture of the property and the surfaces.
- We agree a time and come out for the free inspection.
- You get the written scope and itemised quotation.
- Nothing starts until you approve it.