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How to Calculate a Painting Estimate

Painting jobs can prove expensive. This is especially true if you purchase too much paint and later cannot return the paint to the place of purchase. Even if you can return the paint, you will have to waste time and gas money in order to do so. You should estimate the amount of paint necessary in order to avoid this waste of time and money. Your project will flow smoothly once you make an accurate estimate of the amount of paint you will need. You can also calculate the cost of a painting job if you wish to hire labor to complete the task.

Instructions

- 1
  Calculate the square footage of the area that needs to be painted. Measure your surfaces and write down the measurements. If you possess doors or windows that do not require paint, be sure to exclude those from your estimates.
- 2
  Calculate how many gallons of paint you need. The conventions hold that a gallon of paint can cover roughly 350 square feet of area per coat. Use this number to estimate your paint.
- 3
  Calculate labor costs. Figure out what rate the painting company will charge you. This will depend upon the company. If you wish to paint the project yourself, you will not need to calculate this cost.
- 4
  Add up the totals. Figure out how much your paint will cost based upon the number of gallons you will need to purchase. Add any labor costs to that sum. This should yield an accurate estimate of both the parts and labor of your painting project.

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