Doors, furniture, gates and grills
What decides the cost of painting wood and metal.
Wood and metal are priced by item and by condition, not by area the way a wall is. Two gates of the same size can cost very differently depending on how much rust has to come off before anything goes on.
Reviewed 6 September 2026.
At a glance
Why is wood and metal painting priced differently from wall painting?
Because the quantity that matters is developed surface area and condition, not floor plan area. A grill or a bannister has far more actual surface than its footprint suggests, and the starting condition, rust, old varnish, chipped enamel, decides how much preparation it needs before the finish coats can go on.
Measured by item and developed surface, not by room
Gates, grills, railings, doors and furniture are counted and measured individually. A grill's developed area (the bars, the frame, both faces) is several times its outline dimensions, which is why it's quoted per item rather than folded into a wall rate.
In order of impact
What moves the number.
Listed largest first. If a quotation is silent on the ones near the top, that silence is itself the answer.
Condition of the existing finish
Sound old enamel needs a key and a recoat; rusted or peeling metal needs stripping back to bare material first. This is usually the biggest variable.
Rust grade on metal
Surface bloom is quick work; pitting and scale need mechanical preparation and take considerably longer.
Developed surface area
Bars, frames, mouldings and both faces of a panel all add up to more than the item's outline suggests.
System specified
Melamine, PU and enamel each need different preparation and application time, and PU in particular is slower to apply properly.
Whether the item can be removed
Fixed items are masked and worked in place; removable ones can sometimes be finished off site, where conditions are easier to control.
Number of coats and drying time between them
Enamel and PU both need time to harden between coats, which affects the schedule more than the cost of the paint itself.
Method
How we build the quotation.
There are no figures here because none has been approved for publication. What follows is the sequence, so you can check anyone's quotation against it.
- Each item inspected and its existing finish and rust grade recorded.
- Developed surface area estimated per item, not from its outline dimensions.
- Stripping, de-rusting or keying specified separately from the finish coats.
- System and coat count agreed per item type.
- Drying and recoat intervals built into the schedule.
- Exclusions listed: hardware replacement, structural repair, glazing.
Wood and Metal Painting Cost — your questions.
Why does a small gate cost more than expected for its size?
Because the price follows developed surface and rust grade, not the footprint. A decorative grill with a lot of bar work can carry more actual surface, and more preparation time, than a plain door twice its size.
Is it cheaper to paint over old enamel than to strip it?
When the old coat is sound, yes. Keying and recoating is quicker than stripping. Once the old finish is chipped, chalky or rusted underneath, painting over it just fails early, so we test it first rather than assume.
Do you charge more for rope-access or ladder work on gates and grills?
Only if the item is genuinely hard to reach, an upper-floor grill or a gate needing scaffolding, for instance. Most gate, door and window work is ground level and priced without an access premium.
A measured quotation costs nothing.
We measure the property, assess the surfaces and issue an itemised quotation you can hold us to. There is no charge and no obligation.
- 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.