Pricing
Honest Pricing. Clearly Explained.
No two homes are the same, so no two prices are either. Instead of a mystery number, we want you to understand exactly what shapes the cost of your project, so you can plan with confidence and choose what matters most to you.
- Room Example
- Painting Systems
- Preparation
- Painting
- Skim Coating
- Tile
- Millwork
- Lifts, Protection & More
- Comparing Quotes
Every Price Is Made of Four Things
Whether it’s a single accent wall or a whole-home transformation, every Placidity estimate is built from the same four parts. Once you see them, the number makes sense.
Labor & Time
The skilled hours it takes to do the work right. This is usually the largest part of any project, and it grows with size, detail, and difficulty.
Preparation
Patching, sanding, caulking, priming, leveling, and repairs. The condition of your surfaces decides how much of this is needed, and it’s the biggest reason quotes differ.
Materials
Paint, primer, compound, tile, setting materials, trim stock, and the everyday supplies that go with them. Better products cost more and last longer.
Site & Services
Lifts and ladders, protection for your floors and furnishings, cleaning products, scheduling needs, and the final clean. The things that keep the job safe, tidy, and on time.
We would rather explain a price than defend one. Throughout this page, every factor shows how much it tends to move the cost.
A Real Example: One Simple Room
Here is our starting point. One room, walls only, already perfectly prepared. Everything else on this page builds up from here.
The Room
- 12′ × 12′ bedroom, 8′ ceilings
- About 350 sq ft of wall
- Walls only: no ceiling, trim, or doors
- Smooth, sound walls with no repairs needed
- Same or similar color
- Room emptied before we arrive
- Signature System: two coats of premium paint
The Labor
| Setup, floor protection & masking | $60 |
| Cut-in at ceiling, corners & trim, two coats | $180 |
| Roll the walls, two coats | $180 |
| Touch-ups, cleanup & walkthrough | $60 |
| Labor for the room | $480 |
Plus materials: about two gallons of paint and the sundries, priced by the paint line you choose.
Then Add What Your Room Needs
Every room is different. These are typical ranges to help you plan; your written estimate is based on your actual space.
Choose the Finish That Fits Your Space
A painting system is the full recipe: how far we take the prep, which primer we use, how many coats go on, and which paint line we choose. Each one is right for a different room, budget, and expectation.
A Clean, Bright Renewal
For walls in good shape that simply need new life, or a color close to the one you have.
- Light prep: fill nail holes, spot patch, light sanding
- Spot-prime repairs only
- One to two coats of quality paint
- Brush and roll application
Best for: rentals, guest rooms, closets, quick updates before a sale.
The Placidity Standard
Our everyday recommendation for lived-in homes: thorough prep and a finish that holds up to real life.
- Full patch, sand, and caulk of gaps and seams
- Primer on repairs, stains, and color changes
- Two full coats of premium paint
- Crisp cut lines on trim, ceilings, and doors
Best for: living areas, bedrooms, kitchens, and full-home repaints.
Flawless, Lasting Craft
For the spaces you want to be perfect, where light hits every surface and every detail shows.
- Extensive prep, skim or spot-skim where needed
- Full prime coat on every surface
- Two to three coats of ultra-premium paint
- Fine-finish trim and doors, sprayed where it suits
Best for: entryways, staircases, statement rooms, cabinets, and fine millwork.
| What changes | Refresh | Signature | Heirloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Light | Thorough | Extensive |
| Primer | Spot only | Repairs, stains & color changes | Full coat |
| Coats | 1–2 | 2 | 2–3 |
| Paint line | Quality | Premium | Ultra-premium |
| Trim & doors | Brushed | Brushed, crisp lines | Fine finish, sprayed where suitable |
| Expected life | Good | Long | Longest |
Beyond interior walls, specialty systems carry their own products and timelines, and each is priced to match:
You can mix systems in one home. Heirloom in the entry, Signature in the living spaces, Refresh in the closets. We’ll help you spend where it shows.
The Part You Don’t See Is What You Pay For Most
A finish is only as good as the surface beneath it. Prep is often the largest share of the labor on a project, and it’s the main reason one quote can be very different from another. When a price seems low, prep is usually what’s been left out.
Light PrepSurfaces in Good Shape
A few nail holes, minor scuffs, sound paint. Fill, sand, wipe down, and spot prime.
Moderate PrepNormal Wear & Tear
Dings, cracked caulk, small drywall repairs, water or smoke stains, glossy surfaces that need scuff sanding or deglossing before paint will bond.
Extensive PrepSurfaces That Need Restoring
Peeling or failing paint, wallpaper removal, large repairs, rotted wood, mildew, texture to remove or smooth, or older homes that call for lead-safe work practices.
Common prep tasks we list separately on your estimate, so you can see exactly where the time goes:
Good prep is the difference between a finish that looks right for a month and one that looks right for years.
What Moves the Price in Each Craft
Each service is measured differently and has its own cost drivers. Here is what we look at when we price painting, skim coating, tile, and millwork.
Painting
- Surface condition & prep
How much patching, sanding, and priming is needed before the first coat.
- Color change
Dark to light, or a bold new color, often needs a primer and an extra coat.
- Ceiling height & access
Vaulted ceilings, stairwells, and two-story foyers need taller ladders, planks, or lifts.
- Trim, doors & detail
Baseboards, crown, window casings, doors, and spindles are slow, careful brush work.
- Paint system & product
Refresh, Signature, or Heirloom, plus the sheen and paint line you choose.
- Furnishings & occupancy
Moving and covering furniture, or working around a family living in the home.
- Number of colors
Each extra color adds cut-in lines, setup, and cleanup.
Skim Coating
- Starting texture
Smoothing orange peel is very different from covering heavy knockdown, popcorn, or damaged drywall.
- Level of smoothness
A full Level 5 finish, ready for raking light and high sheens, takes more coats and sanding.
- Number of coats
Most walls need two to three thin coats, each sanded between.
- Ceilings vs. walls
Overhead work is slower and harder, and high ceilings may need scaffolding.
- Dust control
Plastic containment, zip walls, and dust-extracting sanders protect the rest of your home.
- Drying time & humidity
Compound needs time between coats, which can add days to the schedule.
- Priming & painting after
New compound must be primed before paint. We price that step clearly.
Tile
- Tile type & size
Large-format, natural stone, handmade, and mosaic tile all take more time and care than standard ceramic.
- Substrate & waterproofing
Demolition, backer board, floor leveling, and shower waterproofing systems come before any tile goes down.
- Pattern & layout
Herringbone, chevron, diagonal, and stacked patterns mean more cuts and more planning.
- Niches, benches & cuts
Shower niches, benches, outlets, windows, and curves add detailed work.
- Edges & transitions
Metal trims, bullnose, mitered corners, and transitions to other flooring.
- Grout & sealing
Epoxy and urethane grouts cost more than cement grout; natural stone needs sealing.
- Who supplies the tile
Bring your own or let us source it. Either way, we plan for overage and breakage.
Millwork
- Profile & complexity
Simple baseboard is quick; layered crown, coffered ceilings, and wainscoting are detailed craft.
- Material choice
MDF, poplar, pine, or hardwoods like oak, each at a different price and finish quality.
- Walls out of level
Older homes need scribing and shimming so trim sits tight and lines read straight.
- Corners & joints
Every inside corner, outside miter, and return is a precise cut.
- Paint-grade or stain-grade
Stain-grade wood shows every joint, so it needs better stock and tighter work.
- Removal of existing trim
Careful removal, wall repair behind it, and disposal.
- Fill, caulk & finish
Filling nail holes, caulking seams, and painting or staining to a fine finish.
The Details That Keep Your Home Safe, Clean & On Schedule
These are the costs that often hide inside a single number. We show them on their own, so you know what each one is for and can decide what you need.
Lifts & Access
- Tall ladders & planks
Stairwells, vaulted rooms, and second-story exteriors.
- Scaffolding
Setup, teardown, and rental for long or high surfaces.
- Boom or scissor lifts
Rental by the day or week, delivery, and pickup. Priced at cost plus handling.
Cleaning Products & Washing
- Surface cleaning
Degreasers and cleaners so paint bonds, especially in kitchens and baths.
- Mildew & stain treatment
Mildewcide washes and stain-blocking for exteriors, baths, and water damage.
- Power washing
Siding, decks, docks, and concrete, with drying time before coating.
Protective Services
- Floor & furniture protection
Drop cloths, floor paper, and covers. Included on every job.
- Masking & plastic sheeting
Heavier masking for spraying, cabinets, and fine finish work.
- Dust containment
Zip walls, air scrubbers, and HEPA vacuums for skim coating, sanding, and lead-safe work.
Timing & Scheduling
- Phased or room-by-room work
Extra setups and cleanups when you need to keep living in the space.
- Evenings, weekends & rush
After-hours work or a tight deadline means a larger crew or premium hours.
- Weather & dry times
Exterior and skim work follow temperature and humidity. We plan around it.
Labor
- Project size
Total area and number of surfaces set the base number of crew hours.
- Skill required
Fine finishing, specialty textures, and tile layout call for our most experienced craftspeople.
- Crew size
A larger crew finishes sooner. The hours stay similar; the calendar gets shorter.
Materials
- Product line
Premium paints, setting materials, and trim stock cost more and last longer.
- Primers & specialty products
Stain blockers, bonding primers, and enamels for specific surfaces.
- Sundries & disposal
Tape, caulk, sandpaper, rollers, and responsible disposal of waste.
Why the Lowest Bid Often Costs the Most
When one quote comes in far below the others, the difference rarely disappears. It usually means something has been left out: insurance, experience, training, or time. Those gaps don’t show up on the estimate. They show up in your home.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Without itIf an uninsured painter falls from a ladder or is injured on your property, the medical bills and lost wages can come back to you as the homeowner, often as a claim against your own insurance.
With PlacidityEvery member of our team is covered by workers’ compensation, so an accident on your job never becomes your financial burden.
Liability Insurance
Without itPaint spilled on hardwood, a ladder through a window, a damaged countertop or fixture. Without liability coverage, repairs are paid out of your pocket, or argued over in court.
With PlacidityWe carry general liability insurance on every project, and we’re happy to send you our certificate before we begin.
Experience
Without itInexperienced painters learn on your walls. The wrong primer, paint over a glossy surface, or work in the wrong conditions can look fine at first and then peel, crack, or stain within months.
With PlacidityOur craftspeople know how each surface and product behaves, and they choose the right system the first time.
Placidity Academy Training
Without itCrews with no shared standard deliver results that depend on who shows up that day. Prep gets skipped, protection is an afterthought, and no one owns the final details.
With PlacidityEvery team member is trained through the Placidity Academy in our prep standards, protection methods, clean-line techniques, and respect for your home.
Painting Skill Level
Without itWavy cut lines, tape bleed, roller marks, uneven sheen, thin spots that show in daylight, brush marks on trim, and paint on hardware, outlets, and floors.
With PlacidityStraight lines at every ceiling and corner, an even finish wall to wall, smooth trim, clean caulk lines, and a space that looks right in every light.
Scheduling
Without itLow-bid crews often juggle several jobs at once. They arrive late, disappear for days, and turn a three-day project into three weeks while your home sits covered in plastic.
With PlacidityA set start date, a dedicated crew that stays until the job is finished, a written timeline, and updates along the way.
| What you’re paying for | Lowest bid | Placidity |
|---|---|---|
| Workers’ compensation | Often none | Every team member covered |
| Liability insurance | Often none or unverified | Certificate on request |
| Experience | Varies by who shows up | Experienced craftspeople |
| Training | Learned on the job | Placidity Academy trained |
| Preparation | Minimal or skipped | Listed and done to standard |
| Finish quality | Inconsistent | Clean lines, even finish |
| Schedule | Uncertain, often stretched | Written timeline, dedicated crew |
| When something goes wrong | Hard to reach | We return and make it right |
Questions to Ask Any Painter
- Can you send a certificate of workers’ compensation insurance?
- Can you send a certificate of liability insurance?
- Who exactly will be working in my home?
- How are your painters trained, and by whom?
- What preparation is included, surface by surface?
- Which primer and paint, and how many coats?
- When will you start, and when will you finish?
- What happens if I’m not happy with a detail?
A fair price pays for people who are protected, trained, and skilled, and for a home that’s cared for while they work.
Ways to Make Your Budget Go Further
Bundle Your Rooms
One larger project means one setup, one protection plan, and one cleanup, instead of several.
Mix Your Systems
Put the Heirloom finish where people gather and the Refresh finish where they don’t.
Clear the Space
Moving small items, art, and décor before we arrive saves time you’d otherwise pay for.
Stay in a Color Family
Colors close to what you have now often need fewer coats.
Be Flexible on Timing
Standard weekday scheduling avoids rush and after-hours costs.
Decide Early
Choosing colors, tile, and trim before we start keeps the schedule moving and avoids pauses.
Answers Before You Ask
Why don’t you list one price per square foot?
Because two rooms of the same size can need very different amounts of work. A flat price either overcharges the easy rooms or cuts corners on the hard ones. We would rather look at your space and give you a price that fits it.
Why do painting quotes vary so much?
Most of the difference comes from preparation, the number of coats, and the products used. When comparing quotes, check whether each one lists its prep, its primer, its coats, and its paint line. Ours always does.
Is the consultation free?
Yes. Your consultation and estimate are free, with no pressure. It’s simply a conversation about your space and what you want it to feel like.
Can I supply my own paint, tile, or materials?
Absolutely. Many of our clients bring their own tile, fixtures, or colors, and we design around them. Labor and preparation are priced the same either way, and we’ll let you know if a product isn’t right for the surface.
Will the price change once you start?
Only if we uncover something no one could see beforehand, like rot behind trim or damage under wallpaper. If that happens, we stop, show you, and agree on any change in writing before we continue.
Do you offer financing?
Yes, financing options are available. Ask us during your consultation and we’ll walk you through them.
Let’s Put a Clear Number to Your Vision
Every space is different, and the best way to know your price is for us to see it. We’ll walk through your home with you, talk through the options, and give you a written estimate that shows every part of the cost.
Free consultation. Itemized written estimate. No pressure, just a conversation.
