How to Write a Painting Contract - 8 Points Should be

Are you ready to seal the deal with your painting contractor of choice? Great, you’ve found the perfect contractor for your work after insane interviews, brainstorming, and whatnot. But before you get too happy to jump into the project, make sure you’ve got your contract with the painter right. A little ink on the wrong paper can make or break the colors of your walls. How? A contract is a formal document that lays down the foundation of your relationship with your painting contractor and determines the success of your project. If you sign a paper that understates your requirements, you might be at a loss later as the painter will not be legally obliged to go beyond the contract. Therefore, signing without checking whether it mentions the deadline, area to be painted, material to be used, moving of furniture and other details can cost you work quality and of course more money.

What Is A Painting Contract?

what should be included in a painting contract

It is a formal document or agreement that outlines the expectations and specifications of a painting job. It legally binds both the parties to perform the activities as stated, including the payment schedules and other expectations from a client and job objectives for a contractor. This agreement is sacrosanct to the project, legally obliging the painting contractor to deliver the promises, including the space under coverage, deadline & so on, to the other party.

Sometimes, this process is undermined by the client and painting contractor leading to problems during the course of the project as disputes arise. Having done thorough research about the contractor’s work experience, references, and other details, the client jumps into the process, failing to understand the importance of a contract. If it sounds like you, we suggest you look at the below factors, making you rethink your stand and leading you to the right way to begin your painting process.

What Should be Included in a Painting Contract?

The contract should be a detailed document stating whether you are hiring the contractor for interior or exterior painting, residential or commercial painting, space to be covered, deadline, and more. Here are the top things you must include in your contract with the painting contractor.

Do painters need to be licensed and insured

#1 Contractor and Client Details

This section includes the name, address, contact, and other details to determine the two parties involved in the agreement. It will also have an executive summary of the contractor, listing the contracting company’s opening hours, credentials, insurance, licensing, work specialties (like commercial painting, restoration, sealing, brick preparation and painting, stucco, etc.). Some contractors also add testimonials, pictures of previous work, reasons why a client should hire them, and more in the executive summary section of the contract.

#2 Licensing and Insurance Details

Is your painting contractor has the necessary licenses and insurance? In some states, having a license is compulsory for contractors and painters. Insurance is another necessity in such jobs that are prone to high risks. Your contract should mention the license and insurance details of your contractor. It will limit your liability and protect you in the case of any unfortunate event that may happen on your property during work. By checking your contractor is insured and licensed and including those details in the contract, you can avoid potential legal issues.

#3 Project Specifications

This part of the contract outlines the details of projects like the number of walls to be painted, whether in the exterior or interior, total square footage, lead check requirements, repair or wall preparation, and much more. Typically, you should include the following details:

What to paint? – It should cover the tiniest detail, making this simple-looking task a little complex. Anything you leave out can cause a problem later. For instance, if you expect the painter to paint the trim along with the siding, you must mention that in the contract to avoid extra costs later. Specify things like fence/garage painting instead of just mentioning exterior painting or cabinet painting (if required) instead of the bedroom to ensure there is enough clarity and no ambiguity for both parties.
How many paint colors and coats? – Restrain from assumptions based on vague definitions and jargon. Feel free to ask the painter how many coats are they planning to do. If they write Paint to Cover, it will mean one coat only, paint and backroll will mean one coat (some painters swear as they backroll, it will become two coats), Prime/2 coats can be either one coat each of primer & paint or two paint topcoats. Also, mention how many colors you want in a room. If your contract states one color for the bedroom, the walls, trim & ceilings will all be the same color. Make sure you understand every detail and modify the clause according to your needs.
What will they do in the prep stage? – The preparation will determine the durability and look of your final results. It can make a huge difference in your project. Thus, make sure you know how the painting contractor will prep your walls and get that written on paper. Some painters might trim this step to save money and win your bid. In the long term, it can create problems for you. An ideal detailed description of prep will include terms like “scraping loose paint,” “removing buckled caulked seams,” or “sand and fill.”
What and how much material will be used? – There are various quality grades in paint and primer. Mention in your contract the quality of paint you are expecting to use. Research well at this stage to understand jargon usage and save yourself from any fraud. For instance, if the contract mentions Benjamin Moore, it is only a brand manufacturing different paints. On the other hand, “contractor grade” stands for the cheapest variety of paint. Similarly, there are various quality grades in primers. You can discuss it with your contractor and ask them to include the brand name and quality grade of paint and primer for use in the process. You can maybe go for standard quality paint for exterior walls and high quality for interior painting. Also, ask them to specify the amount of material to be used in gallons so that he applies enough paint to last on your walls. Too thin paint layers will water down in no matter of time.
What is the application method? – Ask for the application method they are using. It could be spray paint, chip brush, and any other method they may use. Every method has an ideal application—know what is the right one for you and get that in the contract.

As you specify all these details, this is how it will look like: “Application of 2 coats of Benjamin Moore satin by back brush and spray method on the four walls of a bedroom, which is square ft area and will require 10 gallons of paint to the body. The trim will have Benjamin Moore satin by brush in a second color, requiring 3 gallons of paint.”

#4 Project Cost and Terms of Payment

Various factors like the amount and quality of paint & primer labor and renting equipment expenses determine the project cost. You and your contractor must consider all the possible expenditures to estimate the cost. You must double-check for items that are wrongly added or missing from your contract to save yourself from shocks later.

Another crucial factor to add here is the payment and delivery schedule. You can distribute the entire project in milestones and schedule payments accordingly for your and the contractor’s convenience. The number of payments can depend on the allocation of resources and cost to the contractor for buying paint, equipment, and other materials for your project. You can also include the mode of payment, and in doing so, we recommend you avoid cash transactions. These have no records and are completely based on trust. However, if you insist on cash transactions, get a digital or written receipt of the payment by the contractor.

#5 Use of Premises:

Painting a space can be a time-consuming task, and as the project progresses, the process can get under your nerves when you come home to find a truck parked in front of your home, ladders hanging just outside the door, broken electrical connections or more. Shedding clarity on the use of premises when drawing the contract can make your experience seamless and happy. You can state whether and when they can go inside your house (like, only when a family member is present, with permission). As they work on your premises for long hours, will you provide for necessities like portapotty or should they make the arrangements by themselves? Also, add the maintenance expectations like not leaving lids or caps open, storing equipment in one specified place, cleaning requirements after and during the job, and more.

#6 Project Timelines:

Home improvements have a reputation of being dragged for a prolonged period. To avoid making your home the hangout place of contractors, discuss the various milestones and deadlines with your contractor and include them in the contract. Efficient planning can help you navigate the project smoothly and ensure timely completion. It is especially critical in the case of large and complex properties that can take 2-3 weeks to complete.

#7 Damage Control:

Post-painting, your house can be in flux. Added to this, inefficient or lazy contractor, you might as well be up for more expenses to cover for damages caused during the project. Damages could include the spoiling of floors from an accidental fall of the paint bucket or messed up the garden from lack of care. To avoid these unwanted expenses, specify damage control details in your contract so that you are not on the hook of all damages by your contractor (or a third-party subcontractor).

#8 Exit Clause:

While you and your contractor consent to enter the agreement, you don’t know what the future holds. Thus, you must add an exit clause in your contract if either party wants to back out before completion. It might include terms requiring the contractor to refund your payment to a certain amount if he exists, or you make payment for expenses incurred if you back out in between.

As you have seen here, there are many factors you need to take into consideration before signing the dotted lines on the contract. A little research and caution at this stage can go a long way, not only in determining the present success of your project but its longevity as well. For more information on things to include in your contract, you can refer to your state’s licensing board website or get in touch with their professional. In case you are still dicey about the contractor you are planning to hire, give a read to our previous blog on tips to hire the right contractor for you.

If the painter you choose is genuine, none of this could ever be a problem as they will be your safety net throughout the project and will not shy in going beyond the contract to deliver happy walls for your happy place. Are you looking for a professional and reliable painting contractor for your home or office painting?

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At Perrysburg Painting, we are a team of highly-trained and licensed painters dedicated to delivering unmatched results to our clients. We don’t just paint homes or offices but dreams that you will live in years to come. Our focus on quality and customer-centric approach allows us to bring the best results every time across all property types, including residential, business, complex buildings, or industrial plants. Whether it is just a wall or the entire home, we bring our best capabilities to the table for you. Connect with our experts today to know more.

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Think Before You Ink—Things that Should be in a Contract with Painting Contractors