What to look for in a painting quote

Most painting quotes in Adelaide fall into two buckets: professional documents that tell you exactly what you're buying, or single-page PDFs with a headline number and minimal detail. The first is always safer. Here's what to look for.

A professional painting quote should include

1. Painter identity

Business name, ABN, licence number (for SA painting work over $12,000), contact details. If any of this is missing, stop reading.

2. Scope of work

A proper scope breaks the job into sections (room-by-room for interior, elevation-by-elevation for exterior). Each section should say: what surfaces are being painted (walls, ceilings, trims, doors, gutters), what prep work is included, and what materials will be used.

3. Paint specification

Brand name and specific product (e.g. "Dulux Weathershield Low Sheen"), number of coats, and colour. "Premium quality paint, 2 coats" isn't a spec — it's marketing. Ask for brand and grade.

4. Prep detail

Prep is 70% of the job. The quote should describe what prep is included: washing, sanding, filling, caulking, priming. Vague phrases like "minor prep included" usually mean "whatever I feel like on the day."

5. Exclusions

A good quote says what's NOT included. Typical exclusions: lead paint removal on pre-1970 homes, scaffolding for unusual access, asbestos handling, replacement of rotted timber, structural repairs. Knowing exclusions lets you budget contingency.

6. Timeline

Start date, estimated duration, and what happens if weather delays exterior work.

7. Payment terms

Deposit percentage (ideally 10% or less), progress payments tied to milestones, and final balance on completion. No painter should ask for 50% up front.

8. Warranty

Minimum 3 years for interior, 5-7 years for exterior on a properly-prepped surface. The warranty should say what it covers (peeling, flaking, blistering) and what it doesn't (colour fading due to UV, third-party damage).

Comparing three quotes side by side

When the three quotes arrive, put them into a simple table: scope, paint brand, number of coats, prep detail, exclusions, warranty, timeline, deposit, total. The best-value quote usually isn't the cheapest — it's the one with the most detail and the clearest scope. A quote that's $2,000 more expensive but includes full prep and a 7-year warranty almost always comes out ahead over 10 years of ownership.