$19 PDF guide
The Painting Pricing Guide
What paint actually costs. What labor actually costs. And how to tell if yours is using cheap paint at premium prices.
Get the guide, $1960-day money-back guarantee. Instant PDF delivery.
What's inside
Every chapter gives you the numbers your painter won't volunteer.
Brand comparison
Benjamin Moore Regal Select vs. Sherwin-Williams Duration vs. PPG Timeless vs. Behr Ultra. Cost per gallon and coverage per gallon.
Interior breakdown
Walls, ceilings, trim, doors. What each costs per room. Where painters pad the bid and where they cut corners.
Exterior breakdown
Siding, trim, soffits, fascia, doors. Prep costs for scraping, sanding, caulking, and priming. What's included and what's extra.
Interior prep checklist
Patching, sanding, priming, caulking. What good prep looks like so you know if your painter is skipping steps.
Exterior prep checklist
Pressure washing, scraping, sanding, caulking, priming. The prep that determines if your exterior paint lasts 3 years or 10.
Labor rates by region
Fair hourly and per-room rates for interior and exterior. What painters charge in the Midwest vs. coasts.
How to verify your painter's using the promised paint
The simple check that takes 30 seconds. If your painter won't name the brand, they're using cheap stuff at premium rates.
A preview of the real numbers
This is one example from the guide. There are dozens more inside.
Where your money actually goes
Cost breakdownA gallon of Benjamin Moore Regal Select costs $55-70 and covers 350-400 sq ft. A full interior uses 8-12 gallons: $440-840 in paint. On a $4,000 professional job, paint is 15-20%. Labor is 80-85%. If your painter won't name the brand they're using, they're using cheap stuff at premium rates.
The paint swap trick
Watch for thisA painter quotes you Benjamin Moore Regal Select at $55-70/gallon but actually uses a contractor-grade paint at $20-30/gallon. On 10 gallons, that's $250-400 they pocket. The guide shows you how to verify they're using what they promised.
Why $19 is a good trade
A professional interior paint job runs $2,000-6,000. Exterior: $3,000-8,000. A painter using cheap paint or skipping prep can cost you the whole job again in 2-3 years. This guide shows you what to check, for $19.
Without the guide
$1,000-3,000 redo
With the guide
$19 and you knew
Frequently asked questions
Is Benjamin Moore really worth the extra money?
Sometimes. The guide compares four major brands on cost per gallon, coverage per gallon, and durability. Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams Duration are premium picks, but Behr Ultra from Home Depot covers nearly as well for 30-40% less. It depends on the room and the surface. The guide tells you when to splurge and when to save.
How do I know if my painter is using cheap paint?
The guide includes a 30-second verification method. Short version: ask to see the cans on site. If they refuse or the cans don't match the brand in your contract, you have a problem. We also cover how to write the paint brand into your contract so there's no ambiguity.
What format is the guide?
A searchable PDF. Pull it up on your phone when a painter gives you a quote. Every number is there so you can check their math on the spot.
What's the refund policy?
60-day money-back guarantee. If the guide doesn't help you understand your painting quotes better, email us for a full refund. No questions.
Every brand. Every labor rate. Every prep step. One PDF.
Get the guide, $1960-day money-back guarantee. Instant PDF delivery.